1940s Sonata Leader Archtop Sunburst

This 1940s Sonata Leader is in good vintage condition. This instrument shows signs of extensive play wear and age throughout including lots of dings and scratches on the body, a large worn spot on the top of the guitar, and some slightly loose binding inlay beside the tailpiece. The heel cap is missing, the finish on the back of the neck is worn, and the end pin and the pickguard are missing in action. There is a small crack in the top where the worn spot on the top is (see photos). 

This instrument was built in Chicago sometime in the mid 1940s. It sounds and plays exceptional and has a really killer vibe. The previous owner of this old archtop went out of his way to tell us all about how he believed this instrument to be haunted and he wanted it out of his life. Maybe he was a paranoid conspiracy theorist… maybe he was high on bathtub crank… or just maybe it’s got some sort of spooky demonic spirit attached to it. Who knows? What we do know is that this guitar has a great feeling super chunky V shaped maple neck with a 1 11/16” nut width. The fret wire is in pretty good shape - it definitely shows some wear but still has some life left. We set this guitar up here at the shop and it plays excellent up and down the rosewood fingerboard with low comfortable action and good intonation. This guitar sounds exceptional and has a very dry articulate and balanced tone with lots of volume and projection. This is a perfect instrument for closed chord sock rhythm and jazz but also excels for hill country and delta blues. This guitar is super fun and inspiring to play with a supernatural tone! Sorry I had to… lol. This guitar is housed in a late 70s Japanese hardshell case that fits well and will ship out promptly and securely from our little shop here in Tennessee to your front door!