Artur Lang Archtop 1965

This Artur Lang archtop is a particularly special guitar. Lang built only two examples of this type without f-holes. The instrument is featured in the German book Elektro-Gitarren - Made In Germany and is a fascinating example with an interesting history of modifications over the years.

Dating from 1965, this archtop features a flamed maple back and sides, paired with a spruce top and cream-coloured binding. The engraved chrome headstock plate is a particularly striking detail, and the remaining specifications are equally noteworthy.

The included receipts document a considerable amount of work carried out on the guitar in 1995 and 1996. The original pickups were replaced with Gibson 57 Humbuckers, the bridge was replaced with an ebony example, and the tailpiece was swapped for a vibrato. The fingerboard was also levelled before a refret was carried out.

Artur Lang is regarded as one of Germany's most prominent archtop guitar builders. Born in 1909 in Schönbach, one of Europe's most renowned centres for stringed instrument making, Artur attended the School of Musical Instrument Making and trained under several local master builders.

After the Second World War, he eventually settled in Garmisch and resumed guitar building on a very small scale. Within just a few years, he had established an impressive reputation among a select group of professional guitarists. Between 1949 and 1972, Artur built approximately 800 guitars in his one-man workshop.

This archtop therefore comes with a fascinating history. It can also be returned to a largely original configuration, should that be desired, as the original bridge, tailpiece and pickups are included. The guitar shows the playing wear one would expect from an instrument of this age, but is undoubtedly a fine guitar!

This guitar has been carefully inspected for condition and playability, then set up to our Gold Standard by a luthier. We make sure it arrives in your hands exactly as it should: sounding its best, playing effortlessly and ready to be enjoyed from the very first note.