Vintage & rare instruments – Leadmusic https://leadmusic.com/en Sun, 05 Oct 2025 16:04:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=5.6.16 Schecter 2006 Limited Edition Custom Shop 30th Anniversary Classic https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/schecter-2006-limited-edition-custom-shop-30th-anniversary-classic/ Sun, 05 Oct 2025 16:04:53 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39278 Oh man, this one really pops… Ok, I know I say that pretty often, but here we’re talking about a truly stunning instrument – and such a rarity. You could count these Custom Shop Limited Editions on the fingers of a Martian hand – only 12 ever made, all built by hand in 2006 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic Californian brand. And Schecter really went all in: top-notch craftsmanship, insane tonewoods, and premium components. Rare, gorgeous, and absolutely classy.

This 2006 Schecter Limited Edition Custom Shop 30th Anniversary Classic comes with a jaw-dropping figured walnut top. At first glance, it looks like koa, but the color tells the truth – it’s walnut. The patterns, the veins, the wild figuring – and all in a single piece top! The only other 30th Anniversary Classic you’ll see is in Schecter’s 2006 catalog, but it’s a two-piece top and nowhere near as striking. Ours just crushes it. The two-piece walnut body is just as crazy figured, and the three-piece neck (flamed maple sides with a mahogany core) is pure class. Add a perfectly jet-black ebony fretboard with a massive abalone inlay, serial number #8 on the headstock, and Michael Ciravolo’s signature (yes, the Schecter boss himself). The pickups? Seymour Duncan Custom Wounds, signed by Seymour Duncan, with covers featuring an inlay that mirrors the 12th fret design. This guitar is an artwork – visually stunning, but also a monster player: fixed bridge, locking tuners, custom Seymour Duncan pickups that roar… simply a gem.

And here’s the kicker: this beauty has clearly been a collector’s piece, barely played at all. No marks, no scratches, nothing – it looks like a true New Old Stock. An incredible piece, complete with its original case, hangtag, and purchase invoice.

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1966 Gretsch Country Gentleman https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1966-gretsch-country-gentleman/ Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:47:24 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39093 How beautiful, what style, with this inimitable patina and such a distinctive design! Gretsch has produced many historic models that became true classics and have been seen on stages all over the world for decades… And the name Country Gentleman has had many variations. These instruments from the mid to late 1960s are considered the last truly great Gretsch guitars before the brand faced the difficulties and production issues of the 1970s.

Here is a stunning Gretsch Country Gentleman from 1966, a guitar with an incredible presence that, thankfully, is not just beautiful to look at but also a fantastic instrument. It offers remarkable playing comfort, particularly thanks to the original low frets. It comes with its original case and documents, making it already a rare and desirable piece. The neck pickup and its frame come from another Country Gentleman of the same year, 1966, perfectly coherent and true to the spirit of the time, while the original Super Tron in the bridge, also from 1966, remains untouched and delivers all the richness and precision that made this model famous. The solder joints on the pickup connections were worked on when the neck pickup was fitted. Apart from that, everything is original: frets, hardware, parts – and of course the case and papers.

The result is a Country Gentleman with irresistible charm – noble, elegant, and with that warm, spacious, refined tone that has carried through the decades. A true Gretsch collector’s guitar, certainly, but above all a guitar that is meant to be played.

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1951 Gibson ES-5 Natural finish https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1951-gibson-es-5-natural-finish/ Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:32:57 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39102 Here’s a truly stunning and exceptional vintage Gibson ES-5. Compared to many other ES-5s we’ve seen or tried, whether at collector shows or in top-tier shops, this 1951 Gibson ES-5 stands out as a beauty. Clearly, it’s only ever been in the hands of very careful players — and when you remember that only 77 ES-5 Natural models were produced in 1951, you get just how rare this one is.

The guitar is almost entirely original, with only light traces of play visible as a gorgeous natural finish and a beautiful weather check on the lacquer. Apart from one or two tiny dings — one visible on the lower back of the body — these are the only marks you’ll find. The original frets are still high, with no grooves or heavy wear. A few faint playing marks and fine lines here and there, but overall, the condition is simply exceptional, almost unheard of for a guitar from the 1950s. The only changes? One replaced pot — the middle pickup’s, dated 1377921 — and the tuners, which are currently waffle repros. At one point it had Schallers, with the screw holes neatly filled and touched up in black, practically invisible. Finding an original set of gold waffle tuners isn’t too hard, but to keep this guitar at such an attractive price, we’ve left it as is.

Introduced in 1949, the ES-5 comes with a rosewood bridge and base, and of course the P90 pickups. Unlike the ES-175, the laminated maple body is built from figured maple. The flames and figuring on this guitar are absolutely beautiful, deep and consistent throughout. The gold hardware has aged very little and still shines brilliantly. Tailpiece and tuners are fully functional. Electronics are original — except for that one 1979 pot on the middle pickup — and the P90s are in excellent condition, strong and noise-free, delivering a perfectly balanced tone. Output is spot-on, and the sound is exactly what you’d expect: wide and round, with that woody midrange focus. Jazz is right there in the tone, of course, but this model has always been beloved by a wide range of players, and the ES-5 fits just as well in Jazz as it does in Rockabilly or straight-up Rock.

This exceptional piece comes with its original pickguard and a 1960s Gibson case, also in excellent condition.

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1980 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Standard 80 Elite https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1980-gibson-les-paul-heritage-standard-80-elite/ Sun, 05 Oct 2025 15:11:41 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39071 Ok, where to start with such an amazing guitar… the top maybe? The looks? The rarity? Nah, let’s dive into a bit of history first before we rave about that insane quilt maple top! This Gibson Les Paul Heritage Standard 80 Elite is a rare bird, made only between 1980 and 1982 and directly inspired by the legendary ’59 Les Paul Standard. It’s actually Gibson’s very first official ’59 reissue. The Heritage Series Standard 80 was the first Les Paul since 1960 to bring back a bookmatched figured maple top and a one-piece mahogany body, finished in a cherry sunburst that often faded into those gorgeous shades we know from the late ’50s Bursts. The brains behind this series are legends at Gibson: Tim Shaw, who joined in ’78 and teamed up with Bruce Bolen in R&D at Kalamazoo (which would close just six years later). Along with Chuck Burge and Abe Wechter, Shaw built prototypes, artist models, and developed new and revised designs – including Gibson’s very first real attempt to faithfully reproduce the original Burst. That wasn’t a production guitar though, more of a limited run. But in 1980, Gibson finally brought out a Les Paul worthy of the “Burst” name – in tone, in looks, and in vibe. A real gem, and an absolute must for any serious player or collector.

Our 1980 Gibson Les Paul Heritage Standard 80 Elite, first year of production, is simply stunning: flame maple top to die for, one-piece mahogany body, ebony board. That maple is just nuts – honestly the most outrageous quilt I’ve seen on a Gibson, comparable only to some PRS Private Stock pieces. The vibe is off the charts! This is a killer example of Gibson’s first serious attempt at a proper vintage ’59 reissue, at a time when the brand was finally stepping up its game across the board. The Elite was the top-of-the-line: best woods, ebony fingerboard with trapezoid inlays… This one has the “HSB” (Heritage Sunburst) pencil marking in the neck pickup cavity, and its burst, now slightly faded into a sweet Honey Burst, shows off maybe the nicest quilted maple top ever seen on a Gibson. The back isn’t left behind either – transparent finish over figured mahogany with killer grain. This guitar was born under a lucky star. And… its only owner, a customer and tech I’ve known since the ’90s, one day decided to take a router to it and add a third pickup. Yep, it happened. But honestly, the pickup isn’t even wired, the original soldering is untouched, and it actually gives this already unique guitar a one-of-a-kind look.

Tone-wise, the Tim Shaw PAF replicas are slightly hotter than the originals, but still clear, sweet and musical. With less than 3000 made, this series has become super sought after by Burst fans who don’t want to sell a kidney for an original. Hardware? Rock solid: two Shaw pickups with original pat. #, original pots, Nashville Tune-o-Matic and stop tailpiece, Grover tuners that hold tune perfectly. And yes, this is a one-piece mahogany body, at a time when Gibson was under fire for its “sandwich” bodies. Here, it’s one-piece body, one-piece neck, 1980 serial and specific run #0073 – one of the very first ones ever built.

In short: a killer guitar, in superb condition, complete with its original brown Tolex case and the original Gibson warranty card with the serial number. If it didn’t have that third pickup mod, the price would already be sky high. Still, this one’s a serious piece of history.

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1997 Heritage H575 Antique Natural https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1997-heritage-h575-antique-natural/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 20:08:22 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39065 A splendid take on the H575, straight from Heritage, built on the classic blueprint of the legendary Gibson ES-175. Stunning finishes, top-class craftsmanship, premium tonewoods, superb playability, and—most importantly—huge tone. No surprise here: the founders of Heritage were all ex-Gibson employees from the Kalamazoo factory.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: the Heritage H575 is the true continuation of the Gibson ES-175. Laminated figured maple body, lightweight and perfectly selected, carved figured maple top, set neck with a 17° angle, rosewood fingerboard, fixed bridge, and a pair of Schaller humbuckers with classic Gibson-style controls.

This particular H575 comes with a gorgeous flamed top, gold hardware, and a beautiful Antique Natural finish. Condition is very good to excellent—clearly barely played by its previous owners and most likely kept as a collector’s piece. Just a bit of light playwear and a few small marks here and there, but no lacquer chips. The frets have been repolished and show only minimal signs of use.

Delivered with its original case.

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2018 Taylor Presentation PS12ce 12Frets https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/2018-taylor-presentation-ps12ce-12frets/ Thu, 02 Oct 2025 18:26:13 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39259 The very top of the Taylor line!!! This concept, called Presentation, has been part of the famous American brand’s catalog for more than 30 years, and in recent times, it’s the Sinker Redwood and African Ebony that have taken center stage. Gorgeous finishes, exceptional tonewoods, stunning craftsmanship—and the sound!!! Among Taylor’s Grand Concert models, the 12-fret neck configuration has always been a player favorite, and this PS12ce 12-Fret is a masterful showcase of that tradition. This guitar delivers massive volume and a breathtaking richness that will make you forget that it’s actually compact and incredibly comfortable.

Here, a beautifully variegated Sinker Redwood top is paired with a striking set of West African ebony back and sides. The result is a guitar that’s both elegant and full of character, instantly inspiring from the very first note. Tonally, this compact beauty is a true gem: warm, responsive lows, sparkling highs, and charming overtones courtesy of the redwood. The 12-fret neck joint brings a relaxed, unique playing feel, while the slightly shifted bridge boosts midrange punch and projection.

And because a Presentation Series guitar isn’t just about great tone, this one looks absolutely stunning: paua abalone purfling and rosette, a sculpted ebony armrest, and exquisite Nouveau fretboard inlays. Add in Taylor’s ES2 electronics for a natural amplified sound, plus a deluxe hardshell case for peace of mind on the road, and you’ve got a dream guitar designed for both collectors and tone enthusiasts alike.

This 2018 pre-owned guitar comes from a remarkable collection and has remained in mint condition, carefully cherished by its previous owner. Delivered in its original case.

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1929 National Tricone Style 1 https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1929-national-tricone-style-1/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 19:06:01 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39099 Wow, it’s rare to come across an old National in such great condition and still so perfectly playable. This exceptional National Style 1 Tricone Square Neck dates back to 1929, and you can truly say you’re holding a piece of history here. Entirely original, this instrument has carried its charm and character across nearly a century. The body is German Silver — that solid nickel alloy with nickel plating that gives these guitars their unmistakable shine and projection. No flashy engravings or over-the-top decorations, just the purity of a clean, elegant design, with an ebony fingerboard, simple dot inlays, and a tasteful binding framing it all. The square neck, built for slide playing, is also German Silver, topped with a mahogany headstock in the classic Hawaiian squareneck style, complete with vintage slotted peghead. The look is simply stunning.

The tuners carry lightly engraved plates with lovely white buttons, and under the hood you’ll find the heart of the beast: three resonator cones tied together with the famous metal T-bar, a maple bridge saddle — all ringing and resonating as if it were still 1929. This Tricone was expertly re-coned by Matz Pulfer in 2018 or 2019, and you can feel it: it plays with effortless ease, remarkable accuracy, and a resonance that’s pure magic, ready for stage or studio. And yes — the original cones come along with it.

Sure, time has left a few little marks, a missing logo, a couple of playwear spots and light dings, but honestly, none of that takes away from the style or the beauty of this guitar. To round it all out, it comes with its original case, a faithful witness to its long history.

A superb guitar, authentic to the core, and above all, an absolute joy to play. With a square neck, you’re not just the player — you’re the very first listener of the instrument, with the sound projected right at you. And believe me, that’s a real thrill.

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1970 Fender Precision Bass Olympic White https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1970-fender-precision-bass-olympic-white/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:37:15 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39114 A gorgeous 1970 Fender Precision Bass, all original, with untouched solder joints, original finish and its original Swiss-distributed case in way-better-than-excellent condition. Nothing has been modified or changed on this instrument. The only tiny finish chips came from the bass beeing probably restingon the flor a few time, there are some light dents and scratches on the side of the bottom of the body, and from a neck removal during a setup back in 2017… which says a lot about how spectacularly well-preserved this beauty is.

What’s truly impressive is the overall condition. This bass is near mint, with a finish so clean it looks like it’s only a few years old. The Olympic White is crisp, barely aged, and paired with the Tortoise Shell pickguard, it delivers the stunning look of Roger Waters’ ’62 P-Bass. Olympic White P-Basses with tortoise guards are rare enough – but in this kind of condition, they’re almost unheard of.

The neck is fabulous, super smooth and comfortable. The original frets show minimal wear, only polished. The feel is great, but so are the weight and resonance: just 3.90 kg including the bridge cover. And the sound? Well, words fall short… it’s that classic rock ’n’ roll Precision tone – big, round, and reference-level. This bass simply resonates differently than modern ones, and its light weight is a real advantage both on the shoulder and in its tone. The wide C-profile neck is the icing on the cake – pure joy to play.

The pickup is original with untouched solder points, pots are CTS (1377005) from 1970, and the body is in outstanding shape – you’ll need a magnifying glass to spot the few minor scratches. In short: truly near mint.

Delivered with its original bridge and pickup covers, plus the original Swiss-distributed case in excellent condition. A dream instrument, for both collectors and players.

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1972 Fender Stratocaster Sunburst https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/1972-fender-stratocaster-sunburst/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:19:29 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39090 The seventies weren’t exactly the golden years for many guitar makers, and Fender, like others, didn’t always put out their very best at the time. But every now and then, an instrument comes along that proves us wrong… Here’s a stunning 1972 Fender Stratocaster in Sunburst, with a beautifully figured maple neck that gives it a ton of charm. At just 3.5 kilos, with its great overall condition and original case, this Strat is a true little vintage gem.

Everything is 100% original except for the tremolo arm. The pots are dated 1377210, and the neck is stamped 22 JUL 72B. The pickups show perfectly period-correct readings: 5.94 kOhms at the bridge, 5.85 kOhms middle, and 5.85 kOhms neck, with various original stamps still visible (5302, 7/1 9302, and an unreadable one under the bridge pickup). The tremolo once had a broken arm inside, which was repaired and re-drilled, and now comes with a replacement arm.

The lightly flamed maple neck is gorgeous and super comfortable, with a rosewood fretboard that adds warmth and balance. The original frets are still there – fairly low, as is typical for the period – but still very playable. The finish is in good shape, with some honest armwear on the front that just gives this Strat incredible vibe. The edges show some wear too, nicely smoothed out, making the whole look very consistent. No doubt, this guitar has been played – and that’s exactly what makes it so great.

It’s really a joy to see a Strat from 1972 that’s this authentic, lightweight, responsive, and full of character. Add in its killer looks, and you’ve got an instrument that’s both a collector’s piece and a fantastic player. Comes with its original case.

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Vigier Passion IV 5 strings Deep Burgundy https://leadmusic.com/en/produit/vigier-passion-iv-5-strings-deep-burgundy/ Tue, 02 Sep 2025 06:20:25 +0000 https://leadmusic.com/?post_type=produit&p=39043 Oh, what a beast! Vigier didn’t just make killer guitars – their basses are legendary in the Metal scene and in modern playing. And this Passion IV 5-String NOS 2020 from the old Swiss distributions is a perfect example. Another one of those stunning Vigiers that Leadmusic – official Vigier distributor from 2003 to 2013 – is proud to have bought back in 2025 with the entire Swiss stock. Production has stopped, and that’s a real shame, because these instruments are absolute bombs – and this bass is just mind-blowing…

This Vigier Passion IV 5-String Deep Burgundy (2020) is brand new, straight from the Swiss Vigier stock. Super comfortable, ergonomic, and above all, the tone is massive!!! Alder body with gorgeous flamed maple top and back, bolt-on maple neck with Phenowood fingerboard. Thanks to its 24 medium stainless frets and 11.81’’ radius, playability is just insane: shredding, tapping, you name it – effortless and smooth. The 33.8’’ scale feels closer to a 4-string, making it way more comfortable than the usual 35’’ 5-strings, yet delivering a sharper, more precise attack. Vigier’s own pickups are huge – wide tone, never muddy or greasy – combined with the onboard 3-band EQ and versatile pickup positions, the tonal range is massive.

Brand new Swiss stock, NOS 2020, excellent condition with only minimal showroom traces. Delivered with original hard case and papers.

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