Supro Ozark 1560S 1956 Natural

IF YOU HAVE BEEN WATCHING THIS GUITAR, NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY IT.
Not to be confused with other Supro guitars from this era, this is a 1956 Supro Ozark 1560S.
Why NOT but the real deal...
Mojo galore!!!

The 1560S is an extremely rare vintage electric guitar. It has 11 gauge strings and employs a single pickup in the bridge.

The guitar is most famous for being the first electric guitar Jimi Hendrix owned. Jimi’s first electric was a 1957 Supro Ozark 1560S. His father bought it for $89 from Myers Music Store in Seattle 1958. The guitar got a run-out in The Rocking Kings, before being stolen from Jimi in The Birdland Club in 1960. If it ever surfaces at auction, expect a stampede of hedge-fund managers. Could this be Jimi’s guitar???

It is super rare to find AND very hard to find in ready to play condition.  So several luthiers are making new reissue Ozarks to capture that legendary sound. It was first recreated by Roy Dalvin in December, 1990 and more recently by John Bolin.  Bolin has recreated the 1560 S for Keef, Ronnie Wood and Joe Perry. More contemporary players like Mark Ford played an original 1560S while touring with the Black Crowes.

The pickup was recently serviced by Jason Lollar and had its magnets replaced. I still have the original magnets, one of which was not original. More over the neck is a very nice piece of slab rosewood with abalone inlays. I also had the neck refretted and service by the regions best luthier.  The guitar plays better than a Les Paul now. Tuners appear to be original as well as the control knobs. This Ozark lost its paint and pick guard a number of years ago. It is finished in a bueatful natural color and patina which I think adds character and looks to the guitar that is over 60+ y/o. I like the way it looks so much that I never thought twice about restoring it. 

The guitar sounds fantastic with the single ‘steel guitar’ pickup in the bridge. This pickup is what was used by Ry Cooder in his coodercaster and is coveted for its wide range of tones. It can be warm to biting.  While the guitar can be played with slide, it sounds and feels great with pick or fingers. Truly a great piece and part of rock-n-roll history.

There just are not that many of these guitars around and certainly not ready to play like this one is.  So if you want to get a hold of one, this is your chance...

Comes with non-original hard shell case.

Here is a short playlist of videos from YouTube featuring the 1560S:

Dirty slide with gain through a Granger m50

Dirty slide through a Garnet Herzog

Restoration of a 1959 Supro Ozark 1560S

1959 Supro Ozark 1560 S

Dale White playing some Jazz, on 1959 Supro Ozark 1560S

Aerosmith monkey on my back Joe Perry live intro cover Granger m50 Supro Ozark 1560S