The Eclectic Electric Blog

1968 Guild ST-305 [studio 402 prototype] or custom order] impossibly rare!!!!!

A hollow body ‘barney kessel’ design, thickness is somewhere between a thinline and a full body. The studio series was made in 301, 302 and 303 models only. A factory St-305 special label is in this one. All major Guild authorites agree it is most likly a prototype of the Guild St-402 which also sports a thicker body than the others. Very nice sunburst with some checking on the back . Two guild mini-humbuckers and a very impressive ambient sound..W/ Bigsby, or without , original Guild tail in the case. a Guild collectors dream guitar. HC, $2795

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Diamondstrings enters the blog-o-sphere with a bang…

Bruce Diamond and His Assistant, Luke

Bruce Diamond has worked in stringed instrument repair for over thirty years, He worked fourteen years along side Bernie Lehmann in Lehmann stringed instruments before opening Diamond Strings in 1998. Mr. Lehmann is considered one of the finest luthiers and upper level repairman in the world. As a graduate of G.R.D. (Guitar Research & Design), Bruce learned stringed instrument building from Charles Fox, George Morris, and later, instrument repair from Peter Stokes of E.U. Wurlitzer Music in Boston, Mass. Bruce has worked on literally thousands of string instruments of all kinds. Some of the more illustrious names that he has repaired for or sold to are: Elliot Easton, Mark Knophler, Boyd Tinsley, Reeves Gabrells, Peter Wolf, Matt ‘Guitar’ Murphy, Gary Tallent, Brian Ray,[with Paul McCartney] , Midnight Oil, Mitch Easter, Carly Simon, David Grissman, Tom Petersson [ Cheap Trick], Film Director extraordinaire Jonathan Beswick and many others. When you buy from Diamondstrings, you get a guaranteed instrument that is truly ready to tune up and play.

A collector and player, Bruce has many unusual and interesting pieces for the beginner through the expert. He specializes in electric guitars, basses, mandolins,keyboards and assorted violins (and these are the instruments he currently plays in different bands). Diamond Strings is currently one of the largest ‘vintage’ Hagstrom guitar dealers in the modern world. Bruce Diamond started playing bass in 1965 . By 1967 he had acquired a Beautiful white F-400 [ hagstrom II] model and he’s been playing ever since. Finding time to play ain’t easy for us ol’sters but if you can, you check out his bands (and some great MP3s) at these web sites: www.insideoutrocks.net, www.rapiers.org and www.rustneversleeps.net.

Staying current in the working musical world keeps Diamond Strings in touch with every level of player and no one in the industry understands the needs of the musician better. This goes for the beginner to the weekend warrior to the pro’s and all levels of collectors.

The philosophy at Diamond Strings is as follows: ‘let the rest of the industry fight over Strats and Les Pauls’. Not that there is anything wrong with Fender or Gibson’s most popular models, it’s just that many of us like to get away from the herd and there is so much more great undiscovered stuff out there. We LOVE Hagstroms, Guilds, and Mosrites and are currently offering the largest stock of vintage Hagstrom guitars in the known universe! ! Diamond Strings is very often the place to find Hoyers, Hagstroms, Hofners and Hopf’s, it’s the place to seek Klira’s, Kay’s and Kustoms… In this world of insane vintage guitar prices , you will find it’s really nice to have found a website dedicated to keeping guitar buying fun and affordable. Browse the blog and get acquainted! Enjoy. If you don’t see it on the blog call anyway, Bruce may be able to help you locate it.