Hard-Edged Blues Rock "Tele" Sound with Real Vintage Attitude

This very special guitar weighs just 7.60 lbs. and has a full scale length of 25 1/2 inches. Hollow steel body with holey back, Hawaiian Koa neck with a huge soft "V" profile neck measuring one inch from the 1st to the 15th fret, rather like one of the earliest Esquires or 1950 Broadcasters and a nut width of just over 1 5/8 inches. Slab rosewood fretboard with 21 frets and clay dot position markers. Headstock with rusty "gator" steel plater engraved with James Trussart logo. Individual closed-back tuners with white plastic oval buttons. Rusty four-bolt neck plate engraved with James Trussart logo, serial number ("05 110"), and "MADE IN USA." Specially made with two Bare Knuckle "Yardbird" Single-Coil Alnico V Tele pickups with outputs of 6.89k and 7.48k. Rusty engraved "gator" steel pickguard. Two controls (one volume, one tone) and a three-way selector switch, all on rusty engraved "gator" steel plate adjoining pickguard. Brass knobs with flat tops and knurled sides. Individually adjustable six-saddle Vintage Bridge and "Tele"-style tailpiece. This guitar is in mint (9.50) "aged" condition. With the original printed certificate of authenticity dated "05/10/2005" signed by James Trussart, with the Model "Rusty Steelcaster: Holey Back: Koa Neck: Gator Pickguard" and Serial Number "05 110." Housed in the original G & G rectangular brown hardshell case with black ends and green plush lining (9.50).

"James Trussart is a luthier who in 2000 moved his headquarters from Paris to Los Angeles. A guitar builder since 1980, in recent years he has upped his profile and reputation by crafting custom steel-bodied copies of Teles and Les Pauls in three finishes: rusty, chrome, and brushed. Though they offer a very distinct physical presence, the tones these instruments produce are every bit as flashy, throaty, and attention-commanding…Trussart instruments aren't necessarily every day instruments suited to everybody, but if what you want is a great-feeling, great-playing instrument with tones that live up to true classic/vintage expectations, you might want to give 'em a roll. Every Trussart comes with a certificate of authenticity signed by the luthier" (Phil Feser and Bob Tekippe, "Trussart Steel: Classic Designs, Never Before Seen," at http://www.jamestrussart.com/Reviews/VintageGuitarMagazine.htm).

"This basic model is designed to have the look and feel of a vintage instrument with the added appeal of a metal construction. It delivers a uniquely announciated sound that, combined with the resonant qualities of the hollow steel body, can range from sweet, crystal clear tones to aggressive full crunch. More than any other model, this guitar has found it's way into the hands of many guitarists including Billy Gibbons, Robert Cray, Tom Morello (Rage against the Machine, Audioslave), Billy Corgan (Smashing Pumpkins), Pearl Jam, Marc Ribot, Metallica and Joe Perry, to name only a few" (James Trussart Custom Guitars at http://www.jamestrussart.com).