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Micro-Frets Spacetone Custom Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar, c. 1969, made in Fredrick, Maryland, serial # 2471, sunburst lacquer finish, laminated maple body, maple neck with rosewood fingerboard, original black hard shell case.

Some of the most unique and original American guitars of the late 1960's and early 1970's came out of Frederick, Maryland, where the small Micro-Frets company built their beautifully engineered if slightly oddball fretted offerings. This guitar, a second series Spacetone Model is a thin hollow body instrument with acoustic chambers routed out of solid wood body halves which are joined at the center of the rim. This particular Spacetone appears unique, and was certainly a custom ordered instrument; it is fitted with a Bigsby vibrato unit instead of the proprietary Micro-Frets Calibrato. This is extremely rare, as the original Micro-Frets company product was the patented vibrato and the company rarely used any other hardware. There is an specially designed milled aluminum roller mounted behind the bridge unit, and extra mini roller units on the headstock to enhance functionality on the Bigsby, all factory fitted. We've never seen another one like this, but it works very well and provides an interesting twist on the Micro-Frets sound.

The guitar has a bound-edge symmetrical double cutaway body with a single eccentrically shaped F-hole on the top haly finished in a vibrant 3-color sunburst. It carries the firm's trademark white plastic-encased pickups and the patented Micro-Nut, which allows harmonic compensation at the headstock.
The maple neck is natural with a thick unbound dot-inlaid rosewood fingerboard. The controls-tone, volume, pickup select and an extra tone modification switch are carried on the bi-level top-mounted pickguard. Tuners are the original Schaller with metal buttons and the sculpted space-age headstock also carries the brand logo and model name.

This is a very well-made and fine playing guitar with a slim, comfortable neck and very responsive pickups. The sound is crisp and hi-fi with surprising depth when needed; the tonal range is impressive. A number of prominent country artists endorsed the Micro-Frets line in the late 1960's including Carl Perkins. Micro-Frets may have had a fairly short history (although the company has seen a recent revival attempt) but the high-quality, well engineered instruments they left behind are very fine examples of American guitar ingenuity and worthy of the attention of both players and collectors.
 
Overall length is 42 1/4 in. (107.3 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 3/4 in. (4.4 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 in. (610 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.). Completely original, a few very minor finish dings but overall a super clean guitar, complete with a very fine early pattern Fender-style Microfrets-logo case. Excellent + Condition.

Prices subject to change without notice.
 

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