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Here and Gone: Vintage 1965 Gibson Firebird & Fender Strat

1965 Gibson Firebird Gold Mist in case

The '65 Firebird in a plaid vintage case

From Mass Street Music owner Jim Baggett:

Vintage 1965 Gibson Firebird Gold Mist finish - closeup

Very, very cool finish checking on this '65 Gibson Firebird in Gold Mist!

Vintage 1965 Fender Strat Sunburst

This 1965 Fender Strat Sunburst was in amazing condition - what a classic

The 1965 stars were aligned last week!  We were fortunate enough to have a 1965 Fender Strat Sunburst and a 1965 Gibson Firebird custom color Gold Mist pass through our hands at Mass Street Music. We took some photos of these guitars for the website, but they sold before we had a chance to list them on our Vintage page, so all we can do is share the cool pics here. We are always looking for nice examples of great guitars for our wish list customers and for our website. Enjoy the photos and keep checking our site as we never know when something like these two beauties will show up!

1965 Gibson Firebird Gold Mist full body

The full on '65 Gibson Firebird

closeup of the Fender 1965 Strat Sunburst

Folks thought the Firebird was cool, but I think Jim loved this '65 Strat more!

Neck stamp on a 1965 Fender Strat

Jim often checks the neck stamp date as well as the pots and pickups on vintage electrics.

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Boss Jim Baggett, Tommy Emmanuel, and PBS KTWU!

Jim Baggett visits with KTWU

Jim helping drum up memberships for PBS affiliate KTWU

Were you watching tv Sunday night? You might have caught our own boss Jim Baggett lending a hand to PBS Topeka affiliate KTWU, Channel 11, during their recent fundraising campaign on Sunday, June 5th.   Jim was co-host  for the evening concert of Tommy Emmanual and friends and Mass Street Music offered a challenge grant for new and existing public television supporters. The concert was great and if you missed it, it will be rebroadcast this Wednesday evening (June 8th) at 8:30 pm on channel 11. The Mass Street Music challenge grant of $20 for each membership will still be in effect, so your pledge can go even further in supporting public television funding. Plus you can see Jim Baggett in a suit and tie – and isn’t that worth a look-see?

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Mass Street Music’s Custom Collings Acoustics

If you’ve been a friend of Mass St. Music for a while now, you’ve no doubt noticed we’re giant fans of Collings Guitars.  They’re simply impeccable.  We’ve been dealers for years (for both their acoustics and electrics), and are continually impressed with the craftsmanship and tone that is a trademark of this great Texas based company.  Of course that doesn’t stop us from dreaming even bigger…Tim and Jim here at Mass St. put their heads together recently and came up with a few special custom order Collings acoustics with one specific thing in mind – the best resonance available.

Collings Acoustic guitar OM1 Custom with sunburst

Our Collings OM1 Custom Acoustic

We haven’t reinvented the wheel here, anyone can order Collings with special options, but we have made the choice to do so with some very specific options on several models in our ongoing quest for the perfect tone.  Considering the great tone of some vintage, pre-war acoustics and the options Collings currently offers, Tim ordered several with a Vintage Now neck, no tongue brace, Adirondack bracing, and Sitka tops. The Vintage Now neck was chosen for a little bit wider playing area and comfort in playing, as well as for making the guitar perfect for a variety of playing styles – equally fantastic for fingerstyle or strumming.  This neck also, we believe, will give you a smidge more sustain.  We also ordered these with no tongue brace, which lightens the weight of the guitar and in doing so gives the top another wee bit of resonance as well.  Add in the Sitka Spruce top and you’re firing on all cylinders.  Small choices that add up to a noticeable difference.

The result is an even more open, mature sounding instrument.  If you’re in the area, stop by and play one of our Custom Collings and judge for yourself if you can hear and feel a difference.  Currently two, the Collings OM1 VN and the Collings D1V Custom, are available. We have also had a D2H VN,  an OM2H VN Custom, and a spectacular OM1 V SB in the past. We plan to continue adding more Custom Collings with these great attributes.  While each of the guitars is different, they all share a truly spectacular sound and great feel with that unnameable mojo.  We think you’ll be pleased.  Questions about Collings or these Custom Collings?  Just give us a call at 1-800-747-9980 or shoot us an email at info@massstreetmusic.com.

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Loss of a great friend and talent – Gary Palsmeier

The musical community lost one of the good ones today, Gary Palsmeier of Wichita, Kansas.  Gary was a fine mandolinist and guitarist.  He always approached music with enthusiasm, great taste, and a desire to share  the experience with others.  He had  the mark of a fine musician in making his music seem effortless.  His smiling face and kind nature will be missed by all that knew him.  We will post plans for services  as we become aware.  – Jim Baggett

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Collings Winfield CW Acoustic and MF Mando for Winfield Winners

Winfield Flatpick 1st Place Champion with his new Collings prize guitar

1st Place National Flatpick Champion Jason Shaw with his new Collings CWMHA presented by Jim Baggett on behalf of Collings

Our own Jim Baggett presented the prizes to the top three 2010 National Flatpick Championship winners at last week’s Walnut Valley Festival in Winfield – the first place winner, Jason Shaw, had his pick of three very cool acoustics and took home the Collings CWMHA – a custom made beauty. Check out the wheat headstock inlay on this!  This was the third time Jason won the title, an honor once held only by Steve Kaufman. Continue Reading →

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