Tom Ribbecke Testadura, 1996

Condition: Excellent plus - remarkable condition for a 25 year old guitar. The gold has tarnishing; the nitro finish has settled with little signs of being played. A fine guitar with no issues.

The Ribbecke Testadura is a semi-hollow body style guitar handcrafted by the legendary luthier Tom Ribbecke. I've known Tom, as well as owned his instruments, for over 25 years. He is one of the G.O.A.T.'s (greatest of all time) of modern-day guitar builders, having built instruments for the world's finest players and mentoring many of the new generations of luthiers. Tom is a high-quality individual who crafts high-quality guitars.

The Testadura is a testament to his supreme building skills and sensitivity to players' needs. This semi-hollow wonder is a carved archtop that works under any playing situation. This fine example was built in 1996, well before it became fashionable for boutique builders to use the 335 platform as the backbone of a guitar build. The Testadura is a brilliant instrument in every way, shape, and form.

The size is very comfortable and slightly smaller than a 335. Like a 335, there is a center block, but on the Testadura, the Brazilian wood block is removable thru the neck pickup cutout, giving you the additional flexibility of a totally hollow-body instrument, should you desire. The top and back of this beauty are carved from solid premium wood. The guitar is bound and features a 24.625" scale length, a traditional stop tailpiece/bridge, and Schaller-enclosed gear tuners. The neck is a two-piece laminate of maple with a center stripe. The peghead is laminated with layers of dyed veneers to reveal a curved decorative effect in the finished neck. The finish is a soft autumn-like sunburst highlighting Tom's choice of figured maple;  this beauty radiates a soft, warm glow.

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.