Johan Gustavsson Bluesmaster Custom 59 LTD

I just love Johan Gustavsson's Bluesmaster Limited. In fact, for the last several years that model has been my Bluesmaster of choice.  

In my opinion, Johan is the preeminent builder of vintage LP style guitars. He just nails that platform, plain and simple. And to those who know, his finish aging work is second to none. He takes a deep dive into that world with meticulous skill and accuracy, ultimately bringing out the timeless feeling of a guitar that has been lovingly cared for yet soulfully played. It's hard to explain but like I said, those who know, know. Think of it as a perfectionist's version of a Gustavsson 59 Bluesmaster.  I can't think of a higher accolade than that.

When this offering showed up at the shop, I was thrilled. Not only is this a sublime Bluesmaster — a one piece old growth top and back!! — it is the very first Limited that Johan built.

The celebrated guitarist Matte Henderson worked closely with Johan in developing this model. Here is what he has to say about it:

"This is one of two Bluesmaster Limited prototypes. They were built by Johan Gustavsson in 2014.

"Johan spec'd one of the prototypes to have a .820" to .950" neck, no back contours and a two piece top. The guitar you see here was spec'd by me with a one piece top, a .950" to 1" V neck (I'm looking at you, John Gilmour) with cutaway and back contours. Both guitars have sun faded Sunburst finishes, custom wound Throbak double white hums, Gibson font serial numbers, and NOS bumblebee caps.

"The idea behind these guitars was to take advantage of Johan's celebrated burst finishing techniques. Binding ridges, fading cherry under plastic, accurate aging which one would see in a well played guitar from 1958-1960, shrunken, and aged celluloid inlays. It's the kind of aging which one would see in a well played guitar from 1958-1960. It has all the subtle touches that contribute to the allure of a real burst.

"I've owned several Limiteds. This one is still my favorite."

Bottom line, if you are looking for THE guitar to carry you to vintage 'burst nirvana, this just might be it.

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.

ABOUT JOHAN GUSTAVSSON GUITARS
It's probably fair to say that there have been few builders who’ve made as deep an impact on the contemporary guitar world as quickly as Johan Gustavsson. He’s taken the ’59 burst to a level that you likely haven’t experienced from any other builder. Johan's first exposure to a fine guitar was via his teacher, Robert Larsson, who had (as Johan puts it) “an old beaten up 1960 Les Paul Standard.” It was then he realized just what a great guitar could be. The experience continued when Johan got a part time job at one of the few places importing vintage guitars to Sweden from the U.S. (fifties Gibson Les Paul Goldtops, Juniors, pre-CBS Strats, Teles and Jazzmasters, etc). The exposure to that level of guitar and to that many great instruments had a great influence on his work as a guitar maker. Again – the quality of those guitars showed the possibilities inherent in the instrument. Johan has always been more attracted to the Gibson style of making guitars (with carved maple tops and glued in necks), and this is reflected in his most famous, and current model, the Bluesmaster Custom 59. A Gustavsson guitar is a Gustavsson guitar. His shop consists of Johan and an able assistant who was trained at the London Guild Hall University (and is a wonderful guitarist). That’s both good and bad news. The good news is that Johan’s genius is evident in every guitar he creates. The bad news is that since he makes them all himself, there are never many available. It’s a rare treat to play one. Simply superb.