Glenn Nichols is quickly becoming a force in the small shop lutherie world, and for good reason. His builds have their own distinct identity, and there’s always a sense of excitement and wonder with each piece that comes through our shop.
While this may look like a standard Cambridge model from afar, this is actually the very first semi-hollow version that Glenn has built! It’s got the typical features we love seeing, like the hand rubbed antique varnish finish on the beautifully flamed maple top, back, and sides, french polished mahogany neck, and large f-holes. However, this semi-hollow features a medium carve set neck (unlike the standard 3-bolt catalogue style neck joint) with a basswood center block, tun-o-matic bridge and stop tailpiece.
Another first with this Cambridge is that it’s sporting Glenn’s first-ever handwound P90 pickups! These Alnico 3 P90s are perfectly balanced with a sweetness and clarity that most long-time pickup winders are known for. Beautiful bloom and harmonics mixed with just the right amount of natural compression makes this guitar equally suitable for clean jazz and blues as well as rock and country. Glenn - if you’re reading this - make more pickups!
If a truly handmade guitar is your thing, then you’re bound to dig the custom vintage pearloid pickguard, custom made plastic volume and tone knobs, and a top shelf hand-applied finish. These provide just the right amount of aesthetic flair to be novel yet inviting and familiar, and play wonderfully into Glenn’s building sensibilities and style.
If you’re looking for a semi-hollow electric with vibe and versatility, this is the guitar for you. Retrogrades don’t hang around too often once they’re in the shop, so grab this one while it’s still available!
Price includes hardshell case.
- Color: Violin Finish
- Body Top: 5 Ply Flame Maple Laminate w/ Mahogany Core Laminate
- Back: Flame Maple Laminate
- Sides: Solid Flamed Maple
- Bracing: Basswood Center Block
- Neck: Mahogany
- Fingerboard: Granadillo w/ dots
- Headstock: Snakehead, Madagascar Rosewood
- Scale Length: 24.9”
- Nut Width: 1 11/16”
- Waverly Tuners
- Gotoh Hardware
- Pickups: Retrograde Handwound Alnico 3 P90s w/ Butyrate Covers
- Electronics: Volume, Tone, 3-way Switch
- D’Addario .11-.49 Strings
- Weight: 6lb 4oz