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michael stevens neo classic prototype. dotmarker meets burst!!!

ppgf

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
688
recently had the opportunity to acquire the proto for the stevens neo classic.
exceptional instrument by a legendary builder.

double white tom holmes (450 neck/455 bridge)
royalite binding
carved eastern red maple top
honduras mahogany back and neck
brazilian rosewood fingerboard
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ourmaninthenorth

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 28, 2009
Messages
7,119
That friend is beautiful.

Must confess to having zero knowledge of this builder, the shame is all mine.

Dripping in quality...superb.

Heartiest congratulations. :salude
 

ppgf

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
688
thanks for the good word. michael was tapped to open the fender custom shop.
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his knowledge of "50's explorers and v and his reproductions are legendary.
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That friend is beautiful.

Must confess to having zero knowledge of this builder, the shame is all mine.

Dripping in quality...superb.

Heartiest congratulations. :salude
 

ppgf

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
688
sympathetic jury!!!!

it's basically an lj in 335 clothing. michael and i started kicking the concept around in 2005-2006.

the flat back enables contouring for better upper fret access and comfort.

Great score Matte!!:salude
 

57gold

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Messages
692
Very sweet and historic!

First heard about Michael Stephens from Bill Collings, who at the time said he didn't know if he would ever build electrics. He directed me to Stephens as a master of the art form.

With JG's, Bartlett and a couple of Collings electrics on hand...last on the list is Stevens. Thought about the golden one that he recently posted for sale, but it had a pickguard mounted V control and a tremolo, neither of which have utility to me as a player of an ES meets LP style instrument...have enough trouble not hitting the V control on Strats. Some other lucky dog picked it up.
 

Mark Kane

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
5,742
sympathetic jury!!!!

it's basically an lj in 335 clothing. michael and i started kicking the concept around in 2005-2006.

the flat back enables contouring for better upper fret access and comfort.

Sympathetic is the word. I just picked up another early custom shop LJ from Jim:salude. Michaels guitars just amaze me.
 

ppgf

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 11, 2014
Messages
688

michael and johan are the dons in my world. here's the first guitar that michael ever built for me, back in the mid "90s.
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Very sweet and historic!

First heard about Michael Stephens from Bill Collings, who at the time said he didn't know if he would ever build electrics. He directed me to Stephens as a master of the art form.

With JG's, Bartlett and a couple of Collings electrics on hand...last on the list is Stevens. Thought about the golden one that he recently posted for sale, but it had a pickguard mounted V control and a tremolo, neither of which have utility to me as a player of an ES meets LP style instrument...have enough trouble not hitting the V control on Strats. Some other lucky dog picked it up.
 

Mark Kane

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
5,742
Very sweet and historic!

First heard about Michael Stephens from Bill Collings, who at the time said he didn't know if he would ever build electrics. He directed me to Stephens as a master of the art form.

With JG's, Bartlett and a couple of Collings electrics on hand...last on the list is Stevens. Thought about the golden one that he recently posted for sale, but it had a pickguard mounted V control and a tremolo, neither of which have utility to me as a player of an ES meets LP style instrument...have enough trouble not hitting the V control on Strats. Some other lucky dog picked it up.


That Classic with the guard mounted volume control is still on the market, Jim at PrimeGuitars has it now for sale. The first time I was made aware of Steven's guitars was from a red, curly maple top LJ Matte posted for sale somewhere years ago. I was totally enamored instantly and it's only gotten worse over the years as I've owned and played them. MS builds one hell of a guitar.
 

57gold

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 14, 2005
Messages
692
That Classic with the guard mounted volume control is still on the market, Jim at PrimeGuitars has it now for sale. The first time I was made aware of Steven's guitars was from a red, curly maple top LJ Matte posted for sale somewhere years ago. I was totally enamored instantly and it's only gotten worse over the years as I've owned and played them. MS builds one hell of a guitar.

On PrimeG's site, there is a 1999 pretty gold one with tremolo. The new one with V control on the guard is not posted.

Jim playing it a bit before selling?
 

Mark Kane

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Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
5,742
You're right, I misspoke. I get all wiggly looking at these things :spabout
 

abalonevintage

Active member
Joined
Dec 31, 2002
Messages
3,186
Michael Stevens refretted and shot a '52 Tele neck for me in 1990....one of the last repair orders he took.

Maybe the single best and most accurate work anyone ever did for me.
 

Dave P

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2001
Messages
976
​did dave get it from jimmy wallace? is there are chunk of wood missing at the point of the cutaway?
Not sure where Dave got it from, but he did tell me that Mike re-necked it. I can't recall if there was a chunk missing, but it would be easy to tell in hand.
 
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