The First Quality Music Blog

This 1930’s Gibson TB-11 Conversion Banjo features a one-piece flange and has been retrofitted with a prewar 40hole archtop tone ring, with a Mitch Meadors Tone Ring Mate installed. It has been converted to a five-string with a presentation-grade curly maple neck. This consignment piece is in great condition and sounds as good as it looks!

You can learn more about this 1930′s Gibson TB-11 Conversion by giving Murrell a call at (800) 635-2021.

The Taylor 514CE Spring Limited Acoustic guitar is one of several beautiful guitars Taylor has crafted for there annual Spring Limited series. This guitar, known as the Tasmanian Blackwood 500 Series, features amazing Tasmanian Blackwood back and sides with a Sitka Spruce top and a tropical american mahogany neck at 1 3/4 scale. Its sound is accented by forward shifted bracing patterns and features the patented Taylor Expression electronics package.

You can learn more about the Taylor 514CE Spring Limited by clicking here or by giving J.C. a call at (800) 635-2021.

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

Inspired by Dave Matthews’ 914ce, the Dave Matthews Signature Model is an Indian rosewood/Sitka spruce Grand Auditorium. A custom fretboard inlay blends elements of the popular “Cindy” inlay, which graces Matthews’ 914ce, with a design that pays tribute to the band’s longtime sax player, LeRoi Moore, who passed away in 2008. Based on a sketch that Matthews provided, a crown inlay between the 11th and 12th frets honors Moore, incorporating ball-tipped points with one ball partially missing in his memory. A nickname of Moore’s within the band, “Grux,” is inlaid between the 13th and 18th frets. The headstock inlay also was developed from a sketch by Matthews. The guitar top was shaded with an aged toner to approximate the patina Matthews has on his older 914ce.

Each Dave Matthews Signature Model acoustic guitar comes with a custom guitar label and a certificate of authenticity, both personally signed by Matthews.

You can learn more about the Taylor 914ce Dave Matthews Signature Model by clicking here or by giving Corey a call at (800) 635-2021.

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

The Gibson John Hiatt J45 features the sweet tone of the best pre-War Gibson flat-tops but is a top-flight performance machine for today’s professional singer-songwriter. Featuring Hiatt’s own specifications of solid Sitka spruce top with the lines of the J45 round-shouldered, the John Hiatt J45 has excellent projection and is comfortable to play. Additional features are solid mahogany back and sides, one-piece mahogany neck with modified V profile and 24 3/4 inch scale Madagascar rosewood fingerboard.

Upgraded details such as advanced, scalloped X bracing, the unparalleled Fishman Ellipse matrix blend and preamp system, a bone nut and Tusq saddle all work to ensure rich, resonant tones, either unplugged or fully amplified, while a hand-sprayed nitrocellulose Triple-Burst finish, multi-ply top binding, double-ring rosette, fire-stripe pickguard, mother-of-pearl dot inlays, and John Hiatt signature engraved truss-rod cover all declare that this is a rare and exclusive instrument.

Only 100 John Hiatt Model guitars will be produced by Gibson, and each one comes with a formfitting hardshell case with plush blue lining, an owner’s manual, and Gibson’s Gold Warranty.

You can learn more about the Gibson John Hiatt Signature J45 Acoustic Guitar by giving JC a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7124

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

The J-45 is one of the most beloved and played acoustic guitars in the history of modern music, and the icon of Gibson’s round-shoulder dreadnought acoustic line ever since its introduction in 1942. In recognition of this distinguished rank, Gibson is proud to present the J-45 Custom – one of the most elegant and best-sounding versions of this classic model produced by the Gibson Acoustic Custom shop in Bozeman, Montana. The J-45 Custom features great tone and powerful sound with Indian Rosewood on the back and sides and a solid Sitka Spruce top. This headstock inlay designed by master luthier Ren Ferguson is one of the most beautiful we’ve seen and is coupled with an double-ring rosette with an abalone center. The J-45 Custom comes equipped with the popular Element Active Acoustic Pickup System from L.R. Baggs, which features a low-profile undersaddle element combined with an onboard preamp with an unobtrusive and removable volume control mounted just inside the soundhole.

You can learn more about the Gibson J-45 Custom Acoustic Guitar by giving JC a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7124

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

The DCPA1 is the dreadnought version of Martin’s newest line of innovative acoustic/electric guitars, the performing artist series. This series features a combination of Martin’s legendary tone and styling with advanced electronics and on-stage performing ability. Featuring east Indian rosewood back and sides with a solid sitka spruce top and wood binding, this guitar has some beautiful pearl and abalone inlay featuring the block-style peghead inlay made famous by some of Martin’s high-end acoustics. Also worth mentioning is the redesigned neck profile for this cutaway series, offering a more parallel neck profile and a slimmer taper at the 12th fret.

The DCPA1 is loaded the new Fishman F1 Aura electronics package, featuring a digital chromatic tuner, volume and blend controls, independent 3-band EQ for both pickup and image signals, compressor, phase control, and an automatic anti-feedback filter with three levels. The heart of this system is in its ability to replicate the sound of nine different world-class studio microphones, giving you the sound you’re looking for in any situation.

You can learn more about the Martin DCPA-1 Acoustic Guitar by clicking here or by giving JC a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7124

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

This week Murrell is playing a used 2005 Gibson F-5 Master Model Mandolin signed by Danny Roberts. This is a consignment piece that was purchased from us a few years back and is still in great shape. It recently went back to Gibson for a fret replacement and sounds great!

You can learn more about this Gibson F5 Master Model Mandolin by giving Murrell a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7156

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

This week Murrell is playing the Martin HD-28, one of the best known Guitars in the world. The HD-28 features east indian rosewood back and sides with a sitka spruce top and is adorned with Herringbone purfling. This guitar’s signature stylings hide a powerful sound with Martin’s X-braced interior. The HD-28 is a staple of Bluegrass music and this is one of the best we’ve had through our doors.

You can learn more about the Martin HD-28 here or by giving Murrell a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7156

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

This week we’re showcasing JC’s favorite guitar: the Taylor 35th Anniversary Armrest Cocobola. Like the other 35th Anniversary model’s we’ve featured, there are only 35 of this guitar in existence. It is unique in that, combined with some of the most beautiful cocobola we’ve seen, it features an edge bevel on the bass side of the guitar (AKA The “Armrest”). Inspired by luthier Grit Laskin, this treatment offers players the “coolest, most complex binding treatment you cna get on an acoustic”, as Bob Taylor describes it. This guitar has a Sitka spruce top with CV bracing, an abalone rosette, Gotoh tuners, and the Taylor Expression Electronics package. Check out the video below, or come in to take a look at this beautiful guitar!

You can learn more about the Taylor 35th Anniversary Armrest Cocobola Guitar here or by giving JC a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7124

Welcome back to another Vault Friday! Each Friday I’ll venture into the Vault with one of our instrument specialists to showcase some of the cool stuff we’ve got hidden away in there.

This week we’ll be looking at something a little unique: The Composite Acoustics Legacy Performer. This guitar is made completely out of carbon fiber, meaning that there is no wood on the Instrument. This frees you from dealing with neck bend and humidity: You could theoretically play this guitar in a rainstorm and remain in tune! (Your electronics package, however, may argue). This is the same stuff that next generation racing bikes and yachts are made out of, making your instrument practically impervious to the wear and tear of touring. This particular model is packed with a Fishman Prefix Premium Blend electronics package, making it perfect for the musician who wants their Guitar to perform on demand.

You can learn more about the Composite Acoustics Legacy Performer Guitar here or by giving JC a call at (800) 635-2021 Ext. 7124