Bozo Podunavac 17" Acoustic Archtop with Calton Case

c1970 Bozo Podunavac 17” Archtop

One of my favorite archtop encounters. Its uniqueness is apparent from the first look, and exudes a fineness in hand. An earlier Bozo creation from his Chicago days, placing the date before 1975 when he moved to California. A picture of him playing this guitar is included with the sale. An archtop from this builder is a rarity as it stands, and even more so from this earlier era with a plainer aesthetic than is typically seen. The rims are relatively thin at 2.25”, but the overall depth is at least as much as a more typical build, with exquisitely carved deep arches on the top and back. Notably, Podunavac’s work had also been commissioned for the Chinery Blue Guitars collection.

Specs / Measurements

• c1970
• Spruce / Maple
• ~1.71” nut
• ~25.4” string length
• ~2.16” string spacing at saddle
• ~17” lower bout
• ~2.25” rims
• Gold Schaller tuners
• Non-original Calton flight case

Condition / Setup Notes

Excellent, The guitar is in incredibly clean shape for its many years. It only has the lightest of wear, and retains its overall luster. Filled in screw holes are evident where a pickguard bracket used to be. It’s totally playable now, but the frets are on the lower side. Perfectly fine for some and maybe even preferred, but for a more typical feel some may like to have bigger frets at some point; one of those things that will depend on preference. Set up with 13s, string height is currently just above 4/64” on the bass side and just below 4/64” on the treble side. There is just a touch of relief in the neck, and is in a great place given that there is no truss rod. If it is like the other Bozo builds of this era, there is a steel bar in the neck for reinforcement, which keeps things pretty stable.

***

For me this is a pretty exciting guitar, and its rarity and uniqueness only add to that feeling. There is so much visual appeal in its lines, arches, colors, and overall look, and its good sound feels like a direct reflection of its particular aesthetic. An acoustic archtop with a strong acoustic voice is such a pleasure, and this one doesn’t disappoint. If anything, it inspires. The parallel bracing and the unorthodox body style culminate in a big, clear, sound that is both familiar for an archtop but with something a little bit different going on. Quite the playing experience from this lauded luthier, whose work had been commissioned for the famed Chinery Blue Guitars collection.

Thanks for looking, any questions please feel free. 

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