Wandre Polyphon Beta Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1964)
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Wandre Polyphon Beta Model Semi-Hollow Body Electric Guitar (1964), made in Cavriago, Italy, natural finish, wood and plastic body, plastic sheathed aluminum neck with rosewood fingerboard, black soft shell case.
"What are those guitars -- man, we don't have those in the STATES!" So spoke Bob Dylan in 1965, captured on film looking into the window of an English music store full of Wandre guitars. These amazingly futuristic and completely original instruments were sold under different brand names in Europe through the 1960s. They have fascinated adventurous electric guitar fans since then, but most players have never seen or handled one. A few models were briefly marketed in the US just prior to the guitar boom period but they are extremely rare in this country. All Wandre instruments are eccentric, sometimes to the extreme. This one has many of the best of Italian artist/engineer Wandre Pioli's concepts wedded to a more functional semi-hollow guitar superstructure than some.
The Wandre story is a book-length epic tale of the battle between creativity and commerce, and there is a (unfortunately rare) 2014 book "WANDRE-The Artist Of The Electric Guitar" by Marco Ballestri available for the curious! This very rare guitar is a primo example of the three-pickup version of the "Beta Polyphon" model, one of the more varied series in the extensive Wandre line. Polyphon models were offered in a full line of pickup options and neck variations, all built on this semi-hollow plastic-sheathed body, in this case veneered with a wood-grained Formica face. One even had an internal reverb system!
The Polyphon body is 16" wide but thin at the rim, built of plywood and plastic with an arched back, flat top, and soft cutaway on the treble side. This particular Polyphon mounts three of the trapezoidal Davoli pickups that Pioli favored in a two-stage pickguard/pickup/bridge assembly made of vac-u-formed plastic. These are controlled by a single master volume and a tone knob, with a bank of three accordion-style selector switches below turning any pickup on or off. The jack is mounted in a raised plastic bay similar to Hagstrom practice. Wandre's proprietary plastic-sheathed aluminum neck is fitted here with a single-sided headstock; this style was designated the Polyphon "Beta". The "Alpha" models had the older standard 2-sided tuner arrangement.
The tremolo system and fully adjustable bridge are also unique Wandre creations. The bridge actually mounts OVER the strings, with small cradles for them hanging off the underside. It is fully adjustable for height and intonation, if very eccentric in feel. The vibrato assembly is solidly attached to the tail end of the central aluminum neck/body section, the simple mechanism covered by a black plastic cover.
This guitar is unlike any other in both sound and feel; the three pickups can be combined in any way desired, and the range of tones is greater then many Wandre offerings. We particularly like the slightly strangled twang of the two back pickups together! This Polyphon Beta offers the best playing and engineering features of the Wandre line combined with this extra sonic versatility.
In recent times Wandre guitars are most associated with Buddy Miller, who has exploited their unique sonic signature for many years. This Polyphon is very similar sonically to the three-pickup Soloist model he prefers, if a larger instrument all around. If not for his patronage, most American players at least would likely never have seen any of them! While a limited line was imported to the US by Noble around 1963, Wandre guitars are mostly only found in Europe unless an American collector has brought one to our shores. We are always on the lookout for the multi-pickup models with vibrato, and this Polyphon is one of the coolest and best-sounding we have found.
Overall length is 44 1/4 in. (112.4 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this rare guitar is in fine playing condition with no major damage or repair and, rarely and critically, all original hardware present and intact. This is no small feat for a Wandre guitar, which are notoriously prone to plastic parts breaking or tiny bits and pieces going missing. As is typical, the plastic sheathing on the body has some long checking lines but is fully intact and not separating anywhere. The original black lacquer paint on the headstock face is heavily checked; there is a teeny bit of what looks like clear nail polish on the back and edges of the headstock, likely an attempt to prevent further checking. This is sporadic and does not cover the whole of the area, and fortunately the Wandre logo sticker is intact.
The plastic neck sheath shows no aging distress at all, just a few small nicks and dings and still plays smooth and easy. The "natural" Formica top shows small nicks and dings, but no major wear; the back is in comparable condition. The "Polyphon Beta" applique is even wholly present, never having seen the paint scratched or rubbed off over the years as often happens.
The original bridge on this model is a rather complicated affair that involved individual saddles that hung downwards, with the strings passing through V-shaped apertures underneath. Often lost or replaced, this one is in good working order with noticeable wear to the plating on top where the player's hand rests. Wandre made several sizes of this bridge that are ever so slightly off while appearing nearly identical, making it a nice plus that this was never misplaced or re-outfitted with a different bridge as often happened with these models.
The somewhat fragile tailpiece cover is correct and original as are the knobs, the vibrato bar, and all other trimmings on the guitar. The 1/4" jack also appears period but may be an old replacement; the original was often a proprietary small-plug European style and a real headache in use. Overall, this is one of the best examples of one of this unique Italian gems one is likely to find, an excellent player and super versatile sounding guitar. It resides in a non-original but period softshell case; most of these came originally with flimsy plastic gig bags and original cases are nearly non-existent. Overall Excellent - Condition.
"What are those guitars -- man, we don't have those in the STATES!" So spoke Bob Dylan in 1965, captured on film looking into the window of an English music store full of Wandre guitars. These amazingly futuristic and completely original instruments were sold under different brand names in Europe through the 1960s. They have fascinated adventurous electric guitar fans since then, but most players have never seen or handled one. A few models were briefly marketed in the US just prior to the guitar boom period but they are extremely rare in this country. All Wandre instruments are eccentric, sometimes to the extreme. This one has many of the best of Italian artist/engineer Wandre Pioli's concepts wedded to a more functional semi-hollow guitar superstructure than some.
The Wandre story is a book-length epic tale of the battle between creativity and commerce, and there is a (unfortunately rare) 2014 book "WANDRE-The Artist Of The Electric Guitar" by Marco Ballestri available for the curious! This very rare guitar is a primo example of the three-pickup version of the "Beta Polyphon" model, one of the more varied series in the extensive Wandre line. Polyphon models were offered in a full line of pickup options and neck variations, all built on this semi-hollow plastic-sheathed body, in this case veneered with a wood-grained Formica face. One even had an internal reverb system!
The Polyphon body is 16" wide but thin at the rim, built of plywood and plastic with an arched back, flat top, and soft cutaway on the treble side. This particular Polyphon mounts three of the trapezoidal Davoli pickups that Pioli favored in a two-stage pickguard/pickup/bridge assembly made of vac-u-formed plastic. These are controlled by a single master volume and a tone knob, with a bank of three accordion-style selector switches below turning any pickup on or off. The jack is mounted in a raised plastic bay similar to Hagstrom practice. Wandre's proprietary plastic-sheathed aluminum neck is fitted here with a single-sided headstock; this style was designated the Polyphon "Beta". The "Alpha" models had the older standard 2-sided tuner arrangement.
The tremolo system and fully adjustable bridge are also unique Wandre creations. The bridge actually mounts OVER the strings, with small cradles for them hanging off the underside. It is fully adjustable for height and intonation, if very eccentric in feel. The vibrato assembly is solidly attached to the tail end of the central aluminum neck/body section, the simple mechanism covered by a black plastic cover.
This guitar is unlike any other in both sound and feel; the three pickups can be combined in any way desired, and the range of tones is greater then many Wandre offerings. We particularly like the slightly strangled twang of the two back pickups together! This Polyphon Beta offers the best playing and engineering features of the Wandre line combined with this extra sonic versatility.
In recent times Wandre guitars are most associated with Buddy Miller, who has exploited their unique sonic signature for many years. This Polyphon is very similar sonically to the three-pickup Soloist model he prefers, if a larger instrument all around. If not for his patronage, most American players at least would likely never have seen any of them! While a limited line was imported to the US by Noble around 1963, Wandre guitars are mostly only found in Europe unless an American collector has brought one to our shores. We are always on the lookout for the multi-pickup models with vibrato, and this Polyphon is one of the coolest and best-sounding we have found.
Overall length is 44 1/4 in. (112.4 cm.), 16 in. (40.6 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 1 7/8 in. (4.8 cm.) in depth, measured at side of rim. Scale length is 24 3/4 in. (629 mm.). Width of nut is 1 5/8 in. (41 mm.).
Overall this rare guitar is in fine playing condition with no major damage or repair and, rarely and critically, all original hardware present and intact. This is no small feat for a Wandre guitar, which are notoriously prone to plastic parts breaking or tiny bits and pieces going missing. As is typical, the plastic sheathing on the body has some long checking lines but is fully intact and not separating anywhere. The original black lacquer paint on the headstock face is heavily checked; there is a teeny bit of what looks like clear nail polish on the back and edges of the headstock, likely an attempt to prevent further checking. This is sporadic and does not cover the whole of the area, and fortunately the Wandre logo sticker is intact.
The plastic neck sheath shows no aging distress at all, just a few small nicks and dings and still plays smooth and easy. The "natural" Formica top shows small nicks and dings, but no major wear; the back is in comparable condition. The "Polyphon Beta" applique is even wholly present, never having seen the paint scratched or rubbed off over the years as often happens.
The original bridge on this model is a rather complicated affair that involved individual saddles that hung downwards, with the strings passing through V-shaped apertures underneath. Often lost or replaced, this one is in good working order with noticeable wear to the plating on top where the player's hand rests. Wandre made several sizes of this bridge that are ever so slightly off while appearing nearly identical, making it a nice plus that this was never misplaced or re-outfitted with a different bridge as often happened with these models.
The somewhat fragile tailpiece cover is correct and original as are the knobs, the vibrato bar, and all other trimmings on the guitar. The 1/4" jack also appears period but may be an old replacement; the original was often a proprietary small-plug European style and a real headache in use. Overall, this is one of the best examples of one of this unique Italian gems one is likely to find, an excellent player and super versatile sounding guitar. It resides in a non-original but period softshell case; most of these came originally with flimsy plastic gig bags and original cases are nearly non-existent. Overall Excellent - Condition.