Byrd Guitars

Instruments Available Now

NOS, (never been played) 7 year old 2nd series prototype Byrd Super Avianti guitar available:

This is an ASE (Artist Signature Edition, every option in other words), with a feather light one piece swamp ash body, tone chambers, figured maple neck, and scalloped maple fingerboard. It has 23 carat gold hardware, with a white Acrylite pickguard. It has an all lacquer finish in candy apple red over a copper pearl base-coat. It is offered with with a brand new Cedar Creek custom built hard shell case made to order so the buyer can choose many of the interior and exterior colors at no additional charge (a few of their exterior coverings cost slightly more for some reason). http://www.cedarcreekcases.com/optionc.php

A few varieties customers have ordered:

White with red crushed velvet interior:

Faux alligator:

Blue:

White with green interior:

These custom cases retail for $395.00 For those who care to read on...

This series 2 prototype was the final hand crafted prototype prior to the introduction of “production” models. The body and neck on this guitar were crafted by Lynn Ellsworth (CEO of Boogie Body Guitars). The neck maple came from figured maple stockpiles purchased by Lynn all the way back in the early 1970's.

If you don't know who Lynn Ellsworth is, in addition to forming Boogie Bodies guitars in the 70's, Lynn Ellsworth was Wayne Charvel's wood worker in the 1970's. Lynn made the body and neck for Eddie Van Halen's famous original black and yellow striped guitar (and as it happens, from the very same stock of neck maple). http://www.wayneguitars.com/history.html

After Ellsworth provided me with the body and neck, this guitar was hand built by me, it's finger board scalloped, lacquered, and the body was also finished by me in lacquer. It was completed in 2003 with the exception of the installation of the pickups and electronics. What can I say; I had so many guitars, this one just happened to sit in a case in the corner all these years. It is absolutely identical to the main red guitar stilled featured on byrdguitars.com and was built and finished at the same time.

Slight differences in extensive detail between this guitar and current “production” models:

The neck on this guitar, is 1.75 wide at the nut, (Fender called it a 'C') which is one size wider than the production model's 1.65 width. It's shape is a thin (front to back), with a slightly flattened back. Depth at the first fret is approximately .770. This is a fairly thin neck in other words.

The fingerboard radius is straight at 9.5 inches (like the American Standard Strat). Current prodution models feature #6000 fret wire (unless otherwise specified). This fret wire is #6105, which is the same height as a #6000, but just slightly narrower than the #6000. The production models feature three separate water-slide decals under the lacquer on the head-stock, with a metallic gold “Byrd” logo. The series 2 prototypes feature a single laminated head-stock decal containing all three elements, with different font, and the “Byrd” logo is a reflective gold-leaf:

Series 2 prototype headstock:

“Production” head stock:

In addition, this prototytpe features some very trick “bullseye” side position markers inlayed by Ellsworth, which feature a white marker with a black marker inside to make it pop visually. It's a neat little detail:

The above photo also shows the UDC fingerboard scalloping I performed. Production model bodies and necks are (of course) manufactured for me on CNC machines by USA Custom Guitars, and bodies are finished in polyester by a very high-end guitar finishing company. Current models have a contoured 4 bolt neck joint. The series 2 prototype bodies were finished by me in lacquer, and feature a slightly longer (.75 inches) 5 bolt contoured neck joint with recessed neck bolts: Series 2 prototype:

The production models have a dual action truss rod assembly adjustable at the head stock. Series 2 instruments have a single action vintage Fender style truss rod. Production instruments have compound radius necks (unless specified and custom ordered otherwise). The series 2 prototype features a straight radius fingerboard.

Many of the differences in specification between this prototype, and current production models, are based upon current “default” specifications. In other words, a production model can be ordered with a slightly wider neck, a straight radius fingerboard, and #6105 frets.

Prior to USA Custom Guitars manufacturing my bodies and necks, there were a total of 14 Super Avianti prototypes built by Lynn Ellsworth and I, beginning in 1997, and of those, 7 instruments were series 2. Of the 7, just 3 were built with ultra light swamp ash once piece bodies. Of those 3, only two featured a scalloped maple finger board.

This guitar is light as a feather at around 5 ½ lbs, which is comparable to current versions. Pickups and control placement are identical to current models. I believe the serial number of this guitar is 12, but I won't be certain of that until I remove the pick guard to install the pickups for the buyer.

Delivery time to buyer is dependent upon delivery time to me of the case, which typically takes 4-6 weeks. This guitar would have been priced at $4195.00 plus case in 2003. This is below the cost of the just the parts and case, but I have plenty of guitars to play and I want to sell this quickly, so this can be yours for only $1800 INCLUDING the custom made to order hard-shell case.

Please inquire to super_avianti@yahoo.com for more information or to order this instrument.

The terms "Super Avianti" and "Balance Compensated Wing" are registered trademarks of Byrd Musical Instrument Company. When referencing them, they should be accompanied by the (R) symbol.

Prices, specifications, and availability of options are subject to change without notice.