Tonemaster by Imperial Model 20 Silver Sparkle Guitar Original Strap & Case 1965
$1,675.00No sales tax for customers outside California.
This Tonemaster from 1965 is a killer guitar that is as clean as can be. It plays better than I imagine that you think it does while you're looking at this listing.
The frets show very little wear. That is the case with the whole guitar, actually. It looks like a recent reissue hanging in the shop. It also sounds better than you might think.
There are no issues with the guitar whatsoever. The output jack was changed - the original was retained and is in the case. Everything else is original.
The original hardshell case is in great shape.
This crazy sparkly super groovy guitar is the product of the Italian Crucianelli Accordion company's need to diversify their business when the accordion industry took a dive in the early 60s. It's no coincidence that many Eko and Crucianelli guitars have very similar designs and came out one after another in the mid sixties. Both companies were involved with Vox and were trying hard to hit the US market. Many different brand names were used for the US market and this one in particular, "Tonemaster", used the Crucianelli designs and were distributed by the Imperial Accordion Company of Chicago.
With a plywood semi-hollow body and plastic coated silver sparkle top its a wonder it has managed to stay in such good shape. All original except for a changed output jack, and it even has the chrome bridge cover and original strap in the original case!! Switching for "All" both pickups on as well as individual "T" treble, "B" bass on/off and an "O" (for off I assume) quick kill switch. As groovy as it gets. I have an employee that goes crazy for these old Italian guitars and he would very much appreciate it if we can find this guitar a good home so he doesn't have to buy it himself.
We of course gave it our top to bottom detailed check and set up; it is in complete working order. Even the truss rod has room for future adjustments.
- Color: Silver Sparkle
- Weight: 6lbs 11.8ozs
- Top: Italian plywood
- Body: Italian plywood
- Body Date/Code: 52
- Neck: Maple
- Neck Date/Code: 52
- Neck Profile: See pictures
- Fretboard: Rosewood
- Inlays: White dots
- Frets: Original
- Fret count: 21
- Nut: Zero fret
- Nut width: 1 3/4"
- Scale: 24 3/4"
- Radius: 7 1/4"
- Neck thickness at 1st fret: 0.89"
- Neck thickness at 12th fret: 0.98"
- Action 1st String at 12th Fret: 5/64"
- Action 6th String at 12th Fret: 2/32"
- Total length: 40 1/8"
- Lower bout: 13 3/4"
- Waist: 9 7/8"
- Upper bout: 12"
- Body depth/thickness outside edge: 1 1/4"
- String gauge: .010-.046"
- Hardware Color: Chrome and gold
- Bridge Pickup: Original
- Bridge Pickup Reading: 12.25k
- Neck Pickup: Original
-
Neck Pickup Reading: 11.93k
- Pickguard: Original
- Bridge: Original
- Tuners: Original
- Switch: Original
- Pots/Codes: Original
- Case: OHSC
- Notes: New output jack, original in case
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