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Ribbecke Testadura Thinline Semi-hollow Guitar #314 - Used  From Tom Ribbecke

Tom Ribbecke's 335-style masterpiece at a pre-loved price!

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Tom Ribbecke Guitars

"Gone, Baby, Gone"

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What We Think

Weight: 7.7 lbs

Condition: Used, Great - A few very minor finish dings

Manufacturer's Description from Tom Ribbecke

This design is based on the venerable Gibson 335. The top and back are carved from solid wood. The top is spruce, with a center lamination of western maple. The back is either figured curly maple, quilted bigleaf maple or birdseye maple. The sides are either maple matching the back or in some models, Brazilian rosewood. The instrument is bound in wood or plastic and features a 24.625" scale length, traditional stop tailpiece, bridge, Schaller enclosed gear tuners.

The neck is a laminate of mahogany with a center stripe of curly koa. The peghead is laminated with layers of dyed veneers to reveal a curved decorative effect in the finished neck; much like the old banjo technique seen in modern instruments such as the Alembic Bass. This assures an unbreakable, energy efficient peghead design and is absolutely guaranteed against failure or fracture.

All instruments have a panel in the back to allow for easy access to the wiring. Some models have removable blocks to allow conversion from semi-hollow to truly free top design. This feature is unique to these instruments. Graphite epoxy is used in the neck and in some cases the bracing for these guitars. An adjustable, advanced design truss rod ensures control of action in all climates. The frets are polished to the 12,000 grit level, approximately the level of optical clarity. Finishes are either clear or sunburst.

Tom Ribbecke Guitars

About Manufacturer

The Halfling project The Halfling is a unique and proprietary design of guitar or Bass that uses the concepts of advanced luthiery design to create a more versatile and efficient stringed instrument by combining the flat bass side of a Steel string or Classicalguitar top with the carved or arched treble side of the soundboard, to create an instrument that is capable of large full fundamental bass response with the separation of course (ability to hear and distinguish all the notes of a complex chord when ringing together. The traditional way of looking at the soundboard dictates the concept of either a flat thin top as in the Martin style steel string guitar, or the arched top for Jazz like the DAngelico or Gibson instrument. We have combined the best of both worlds for the contemporary guitarist whose literature now crosses over into both worlds( see artist quotes in the testimonial section) This is the logical conclusion of years of research and development beginning with the Sound Bubble guitars in the 80's and when Paul Szmanda gave me the opportunity to build something that I always wanterd to do The first Halfling was created. I also had the opportunity to work with the incredible Bassist Bobby Vega for whom I could not just build an oversize guitar with four strings, this is an artist who really required something special and he was patient enough for me to build the Bobby Vega model Halfling bass!

All of this led to the founding of a new company : the Ribbecke Guitar Corporation , wholly a separate entity from my private practice( Ribbecke Guitars) This new company was founded to bring a domestically built less expensive instrument to be built on a production basis. Dealer inquiries are welcome and the Bobby Vega Halfling Bass will be ready to ship by June of 2005. Available in either a fretted or unfretted model watch the site and we will update the project regularly These instruments are identified as Hafling guitars and basses. The Bass will be the only model available for the next year or so with guitars coming on line in about 18 months. A Halfling model guitar or Bass can be ordered from my own private practice as well and of course these are direct order instruments built to your specs and with all hand processes at a substantially higher price point. They are hand voiced and fussed over as are all my private practice instruments! And are only available direct from me?. We have a quartet under construction! A true collectors group!

Specifications

2001

Serial Number: 314

Spruce Top

Natural Finish

Custom Birdseye Maple Back

Koa Binding

24.625" Scale Length

1 11/16" Nut Width

Gold Hardware

Original Hardshell Case

 

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Tom Ribbecke Guitars Hafling Thinline 16" at NAMM 2010

Tom Ribbecke, Legendary Guitar Builder, shows of the new Ribbecke Guitar Corp 16" Hafling Thinline Archtop Guitar to Chris with Sound Pure Guitars. This amazing new instrument features some beautiful Brazilian Cherry wood, and the extraordinary build quality that the Ribbecke name has come to mean. The entire Ribbecke line is available through Sound Pure who is always glad to answer any questions that you have about Jazz guitars, archtops, acoustics, and electrics, as well as the amps that make them the best that they can be, or the best recording techniques that Sound Pure has come to know in their legendary recording studio, the Sound Pure Studios. Please contact Sound Pure today with any questions you have about the Ribbecke line, toll free 888-528-9703.