Weekly StringTree Update

Closing Soon: Harden, Lawsuit Ibanez, Golden-Age Epiphone, and more!

December 16, 2025

Auctions Live This Week:

NO RESERVE

From the dawn of the electric guitar, this c.1939 Epiphone Electar Model M captures a moment when amplification itself was still being invented. Built in New Jersey during the Great Depression, it features a 14” hollowbody archtop and a single horseshoe pickup positioned near the bridge, reflecting the experimental thinking of early electric design. The result is a clear, lively voice that bridges Hawaiian, swing, and early jazz traditions. Finished in an Art Deco–correct sunburst with its translucent tortoise pickguard intact, this example remained in one family for more than 80 years before recently changing hands. Original hardware, pickup, and case make it an unusually complete survivor. A rare, playable artifact from the very beginning of electric guitar history.

This boutique set-neck Tele from Harden Engineering pairs a lightweight 5.5-pound paulownia body with a one-piece maple neck and 14" radius for modern comfort and fast playability. The handwound 43AWG bridge pickup delivers a fuller, darker twang while keeping classic Tele clarity. It’s freshly set up, shows only the builder’s intentional light relic treatment, and remains structurally clean with no repairs. Nut measures .87 inches, tapering to .93 at the 12th fret. Includes hard case, Harden’s lifetime warranty, and free domestic shipping. A resonant, under-6-pound custom Tele built for players who want boutique craftsmanship with unmistakably Tele character.

A late-’70s golden-era Ibanez build, this Artist pairs a carved figured mahogany top and 5/8" maple cap with Super-series humbuckers for the clear highs and warm mids these models are known for. The transparent amber refinish is clean and highlights the grain, while upgraded Gibraltar II and Quik Change II hardware replace the often-corroded originals. The lightly scalloped rosewood board and Velve Tune tuners give it a smooth, easy feel, and the guitar has been professionally checked for playability. A strong, player-priced example of classic Japanese craftsmanship.

A fully original late-run Custom Agent, this 1977 Model 2405 captures Ibanez’s most ornate answer to the mid-’70s single-cut era, featuring its arched birch top on a mahogany body, laminated neck, ebonized rosewood board, and the signature mandolin-inspired scroll headstock. The Super 70 humbuckers deliver the warm, open tone that made these FujiGen builds cult favorites, while the gold hardware and banjo-style inlays underscore its top-tier positioning in the Artist line. In very good condition with light cosmetic wear, clean electronics, solid fret life, and its original hard case, this is a standout vintage Ibanez for players and collectors alike.

Handbuilt in Germany, this Orca 59 is Nik Huber’s refined take on the late-’50s single-cut, executed with boutique precision and restraint. A flame Eastern maple top over Spanish cedar delivers warmth, clarity, and remarkable resonance, paired with Huber’s hand-wound 1959 humbuckers for balanced mids and smooth, articulate highs. The ’59-profile mahogany neck and Brazilian rosewood fingerboard give it a familiar, effortless feel. Finished in a beautifully subtle Faded Sunburst and kept completely unplayed since new, this example remains factory-fresh and includes an autographed original hardshell case. A rare opportunity to acquire a modern master build in untouched condition.