Alden H-45 Stratotone 1963 Tuxedo Black, (Kennedy Assassination Guitar)

ATTENTION SERIOUS COLLECTORS
OFFERS ACCEPTED                         

1963 ARDEN H45 STRATOTONE           
"KENNEDY ASSASSINATION DAY GUITAR"    
SERIAL: #11-22-63                                    
COLOR: TUXEDO BLACK                                        
SINGLE PICK UP
Condition: good, small binding separation
Will consider serious offers, THE 4K ASKING PRICE IS JUST A HAGGLING POINT. I like "the deal". I have lowered the price to get the interest moving. Make an offer!    
                                  
I am an old time collector, blues player, and owned a blues music/steak house. So I will describe this guitar as to what other old collectors would ask me (provenance, etc. )
       
I was 15 when I bought this guitar in the spring of 1964, with a case (it fell apart years ago). This guitar has a date/control/process number on the bottom of it's single pick up. It is stamped  "11-22- 63" (56 yrs. ago). The two control pots have dates on them that put their date of manufacture just days before the assassination (see photos showing how to translate their dates and the photos of the pots on this guitar). The pots were made in the 46th week of 1963 (November). Kennedy was killed in the 47th week. The date 11-22-63 was the day that president Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas.

This Arden guitar was made by Harmony, in Chicago. I purchased this guitar new in 1964, and played slide guitar on it for many years. Great sound. It does not have an original case. It will come with a high quality Gretsch hardshell case. The original tuners failed, and have been changed to period style tuners (originals still with the guitar and repairable).

Way back machine: I have been a collector and trader of quality electric guitars since 64', when I traded a cheap Japanese guitar and a fifteen dollar amp for a 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air. In the early seventies (when Goldtops were selling for $250 and Strats for $100) With every paycheck I got I jumped in my VW bus and hunted down and bought over one hundred and fifty of the finest, rarest, most sought after Gibson and Fender guitars in the world.  I still have three 54' Chevy's . Hey, I am a collector, aren't you? This guitar is the rarest piece I have ever owned (except for Frank Zappa's Baby Snakes SG, it was made for me and I sold it to Zappa). This Arden is a true museum piece. 

I have had access to many Harmony style guitars and have never found another pick up with that date stamped on it. It is of dual collector interest. Kennedy memorabilia collectors do not have "things" made on the day he was murdered except for printed newspapers. Guitar collectors who have all the fiddles they could get, do not have anything like this. It was made in the rush of early Rock and Roll music. It was stamped on the day a president was murdered. It makes music. It sounds the same as it did on that heavy day. it is a living icon of that day of history. Music was exploding. The Beatles were getting famous in 1963. Dylan, Beach boys, Elvis. All who were alive were affected by that day.This guitar bleeds history. I displayed it with photos and newspaper headlines under a glass coffee table. Very powerful!
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I have been parting with my collection to my private buyers but, I want the folks of Texas or any collector in the U.S. to have a shot at this piece of history. A collector in Japan, and one in Germany have offered real money. It belongs here in the U.S.A.. The Harmony auctions house wanted it ten years ago. Two Texas blues greats that have passed on had expressed a strong interest and love of this guitar. I was not ready. I would like it to go to a resident and lover of Texas. So, I am giving it a try here on Reverb. Texas buyers are preferred, but all serious collectors are very welcome to contact me about this piece. It should be proudly displayed and cared for by a smart collector who has all of those nice guitars he has chased for years..., sitting around looking good. 

SHIPPING: I have owned this guitar since 1964 . I am a patient seller. I am a very private collector, most of my sales have been sold through an owner of a famous guitar store in the U.S.. I do not connect names to  sales. This sale will be kept confidential. Serious inquiries and offers will be considered. I will provide free shipping. I am good at it, never damaged or lost one, been doing it for fifty years.

P.S. For you COLLECTOR folks I "had" added a rare photo of Zappa's Baby Snakes guitar. But the "censors" ripped that photo out. They say it would confuse you collectors.