Standel 920-S Vintage Archtop Florentine Sunburst Sam Koontz ca. 1967

In the late 1960’s Standel, an amplifier manufacturer based in California, hooked up with the Harptone company of Newark, New Jersey which we all know from their cases. But a little known fact is that they also dabbled in making guitars so Harptone commissioned New Jersey luthier Sam Koontz, known for his original archtop creations, to design a line of hollowbody instruments and set up the production line. These guitars were offered in a range of models branded Standel, and distributed out of California. Sam Koontz is considered as a genuis by many, he was one of the few in his day who was building archtops before the big archtop builder boom. Certainly a luthier worth looking into!

One of their top of the line models was this Deluxe Artist 920S model, this one being from around 1967. The only model above this guitar in the line-up was the 18" 1000s model. The handbuilt 920S model is a 17" archtop acoustic with a Florentine cutaway, carved red spruce (Cello spruce, hand-selected by Koontz himself) top, carved flamed maple back and sides, 5-ply mahogany neck, D'Angelico style headstock, bound ebony fretboard with pearl split block inlays, 24 5/8" scale length (slightly shorten than the usual 24 3/4", also used in Gibson guitars of the period), gold hardware, grover tuners, hand-engraved tailpiece, adjustable ebony bridge and a single floating neck pickup with volume and tone knobs situated on the body. The top has quite a heavy, thick carve to make it perfect for use with a good Jazz amp. The original DeArmond pickup was replaced in 2017 with a Lollar Johnny Smith mini humbucker. A grand guitar in more ways than one with superb playability and looks but also a stunning sound both acoustic and amplified. Because of the early serial number it is pretty safe to assume that Sam Koontz was the main luthier building this guitar. Condition of this vintage beauty is Very Good; expected signs of use and finish wear, almost fully original except for the pickup, some sections of body binding have been reglued. Included is the original hardshell case. Consignment.

Specifications Model: 920s Finish: Sunburst Body Material: Caved Maple Top Material: Carved Spruce Lefty No Body Details: multi-layered body and F-hole bindings, black pickguard Neck Material: Maple neck Neck Profile: C-shape Fingerboard Material: Ebony Fingerboard Radius: 12” Neck Details: multi-layered fingerboard/headstock bindings, pearl split block inlays Nutwidth: 41.5mm - 1 5/8" Scale Length: 628mm - 24 3/4" Bridge: Ebony Compensated Tailpiece: Trapeze Pickups: Lollar Johnny Smith Tuners: Grover Imperial Controls: 1 Volume, 1 Tone Weight: 3.13kg Condition: Very Good Cosmetic Condition: Expected signs of use and finish wear for its age Modifications/
Repairs: Pickup replaced w/ Lollar Tech Notes: None Travels in: Original hardshell case Accessories: None