Harvey Citron Baritone Electric Guitar

Condition excellent, no issues, recently refurbished by Citron

I've always been fascinated by Harvey Citron's work, but this baritone represents something truly special in his catalog. The fact that it was extensively played by John Sebastian himself adds a layer of musical history that you can actually feel when you pick up the instrument.

The story behind this guitar is as fascinating as the instrument itself. Harvey Citron and Joe Veillette built the first production baritone for John Sebastian back in the Veillette-Citron days, pioneering what would become an entirely new category of stringed instrument. John had been playing a Fender 6-string bass capoed at the second fret, tuned down to A, and wanted something purpose-built for that sonic territory. What Harvey created was revolutionary.

When I first picked up this particular baritone, I understood immediately why the ToneQuest Report called it "simply magnificent." The 27-3/4" scale length feels substantial but never unwieldy, and that 2-1/2" thick hollow mahogany body resonates with an authority that's impossible to ignore. The figured maple top adds visual beauty, but more importantly, it contributes to a tonal complexity that sets this apart from any standard guitar.

Harvey's custom-blended humbuckers are genuinely unique. He hand-winds them using two different gauges of wire on each coil, creating what he calls his own "recipe." The result is a pickup design that captures both the power you need for baritone frequencies and the clarity to keep everything articulate. When you add the EMG under-saddle piezo system with its separate 18-volt active EQ, you're looking at an instrument that can operate in stereo - magnetic pickups to a guitar amp, piezo to something with more headroom like a bass amp or direct to the board.

But here's what really gets me excited about this guitar: it's not just a novelty instrument. In B tuning, simple chord progressions take on an almost orchestral depth and presence. There's something transformative about hearing familiar harmonic relationships in this register. The hollow construction amplifies this effect beautifully - you feel the notes resonating through your body as much as you hear them.

The playability is spot-on, thanks to Harvey's architectural background and decades of refinement. The one-piece mahogany neck has that perfect balance of substance and comfort, while the East Indian rosewood fingerboard provides a familiar feel despite the extended scale. The compensated bone saddle and brass string termination block show the kind of attention to detail that makes a real difference in intonation and sustain.

Having John Sebastian's playing history embedded in this instrument adds another layer of significance. He didn't just own this guitar; he used it extensively, and you can sense that musical history in every note. What makes this offering even more special is the handwritten note from John that accompanies the guitar, sharing his personal thoughts about this particular instrument. Reading his words about how this baritone served his musical vision gives you a direct window into the creative process of someone who helped define what the baritone guitar could be.

It's one thing to own an instrument with provenance; it's quite another to have the artist's own reflections on what made that guitar meaningful to them. John's note provides insights that only the player himself could offer - the kind of personal connection that transforms an already exceptional instrument into something truly irreplaceable.

This Citron represents the intersection of innovative design, masterful craftsmanship, and genuine musical vision. It's an instrument that invites exploration and rewards creativity, offering sonic territories that simply don't exist in the standard guitar world.

The controls on this guitar include: Master Volume, Blend (magnetic pickup and piezo), Passive Tone (magnetic pickups), Three-Position Pickup Selector Switch (magnetic pickups), Stacked Treble/Bass Boost/Cut (piezo), Mono/Stereo Switch.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.