Campellone - Deluxe Archtop 17" 1998, Rare Acoustic Commission Build, Exc + Condition, HS Case, Free World Wide Shipping !

A rare opportunity to acquire a 1998 Mark Campellone Deluxe 17" archtop in highly desirable acoustic only configuration, hand-built in the USA by one of America's most respected contemporary archtop luthiers, Mark Campellone.

Built during Campellone's highly regarded late-1990s period, this instrument is an unplayed, near-mint example, representing the traditional craftsmanship, acoustic responsiveness, and tonal refinement that have established his reputation among serious jazz musicians, collectors, and archtop enthusiasts worldwide. Produced in small numbers, to comissioned order, and built entirely by hand, Campellone guitars are renowned for their exceptional balance, projection, clarity, and playability.

The Deluxe 17" model embodies the classic American archtop tradition, delivering a broad, open acoustic voice with impressive projection, warmth, and articulation. The larger body size provides a rich low-end foundation while maintaining excellent note separation and clarity across the entire register, making it equally suited to chord melody, comping, solo performance, and recording applications.

This example is a true acoustic-only build with no pickup installed, a specification encountered far less frequently than floating-pickup versions. By allowing the carved top to resonate without interruption from electronic hardware, the instrument produces a remarkably open and responsive acoustic voice with enhanced resonance, dynamic range, and tonal complexity.

Examples combining the larger 17" body format with Campellone's acoustic-only specification are encountered only infrequently, with most remaining in long-term ownership among dedicated players and collectors.

Presented in near-mint, unplayed condition, the guitar remains exceptionally well preserved throughout. It has been professionally set up for comfortable, low action and effortless playability, with no structural or functional issues. Frets, hardware, finish, and appointments present at a remarkably high standard for a handmade instrument approaching three decades of age.

The tone is everything one hopes for from a premium carved archtop: warm, resonant, articulate, and highly responsive to touch. Complex chord voicings retain excellent definition, while single-note lines project with clarity and authority. The acoustic-only construction contributes a particularly organic and uncompressed character that will appeal to players seeking the purest expression of the carved archtop tradition.

Typical specifications for Campellone Deluxe instruments of this period include a hand-carved spruce top, hand-carved figured maple back and sides, maple neck, ebony fingerboard, ebony bridge, and traditional tailpiece construction, reflecting a fully traditional approach to American archtop building.

The guitar is supplied complete with its original fitted hard-shell case.

Please review all photographs carefully as they form part of the description. Additional photographs, measurements, or specific details are available upon request.

This is a serious professional-grade handmade archtop for the discerning player or collector seeking a traditional 17" acoustic jazz guitar from one of America's finest independent luthiers. Opportunities to acquire a late-1990s Campellone Deluxe in this specification and condition are increasingly uncommon, particularly in the sought-after 17" acoustic-only format.

Delivery Conditions: This guitar will be carefully packed before being despatched using the best couriers and shall be fully insured by a separate dedicated transit insurance policy for the purchase amount. Please contact us for specific courier / insurance rates to your destination. No returns.

CCG T&C's apply at all times (see shop policies)