Fairbanks F-35 Super Smeck - Old Growth Adirondack Spruce & Brazilian Rosewood

The Fairbanks F-35 Super Smeck is an instrument born of history and devotion, carrying forward the great tradition of the Gibson Roy Smeck stage guitars while breathing new life through the artistry of Master Luthier Dale Fairbanks. For years, Fairbanks has become a guardian of the golden era of American acoustics, not merely recreating the past but refining it with his meticulous hands and ear for tone. In the F-35 Super Smeck, his vision finds its fullest expression, blending reverence for the classics with the nuanced elegance of modern craftsmanship.

The top is fashioned from old growth Adirondack spruce, a wood revered for its power and complexity. Time has imbued it with character, and under Dale’s touch it becomes a soundboard that responds with depth, authority, and shimmering clarity. It is paired with Brazilian rosewood back and sides, perhaps the most legendary tonewood of them all, prized for its ability to produce an endlessly rich voice with a balance of low-end warmth and sparkling overtones. Together, these woods create a tonal palette that is commanding yet nuanced, capable of filling a room with sound that is both thunderous and refined.

The neck is itself a work of art, crafted from curly maple and East Indian rosewood. Shaped into an easy V profile, it rests comfortably in the hand, offering both stability and effortless playability. The Madagascar rosewood fingerboard and bridge add another layer of resonance, their density enhancing sustain while their dark beauty complements the guitar’s striking aesthetic. Mother of pearl diamond and block inlays gleam across the fretboard, guiding the eye and hand in timeless style. At a 24.75-inch scale with a 1.75-inch nut, it offers a classic feel that welcomes both fingerstyle nuance and the driving power of flatpicking.

Every detail of this instrument has been chosen with care. Red spruce braces lend strength and responsiveness to the top, ensuring that its voice is as dynamic as it is enduring. The nitrocellulose lacquer finish allows the woods to breathe freely, aging gracefully over decades of music-making. An ivoroid binding frames the body with vintage elegance, while the tiger’s eye celluloid pickguard lends a striking touch of color and character. Grover Imperial tuners crown the headstock, marrying utility with the grandeur of tradition.

Weighing only 4 pounds 13 ounces, the guitar is light in the hands yet full in its resonance. It rests within a TKL hard case, ready to travel safely from stage to studio to quiet moments of inspiration at home. The Fairbanks F-35 Super Smeck is more than a guitar. It is the continuation of a legacy, a voice for songs waiting to be written, and a testament to the enduring power of wood, wire, and the human touch guided by a master’s vision.

Other specifications include:

• Old Growth Adirondack Spruce Top
• Brazilian Rosewood Back & Sides
• Curly Maple & East Indian Rosewood Neck
• Nitrocellulose Lacquer Finish
• Tiger's Eye Celluloid Pickguard
• Grover Imperial Tuners
• MOP Diamond/Block Inlays
• Ivoroid Binding
• Red Spruce Braces
• 24.75" Scale
• 1.75" Nut Width
• Easy V Neck Shape
• Madagascar Rosewood Fingerboard & Bridge
• TKL Hard Case
• 4 lbs 13 oz
• #0923293

For more information about the Fairbanks F-35 Super Smeck, please contact us.