 FENDER | | ELECTRIC: D'AQUISTO, JAMES SERIES | James D'Aquisto Signature models were designed by Master Luthier James D'Aquisto, following his initial designs for the Master Series (1984-1985). James D'Aquisto Signature Series models were handcrafted in Fender's Custom Shop.
In 1984, Fender contacted D'Aquisto to design three arch top guitar models to be produced in Japan under the Master Series designation. The top-of-the-line Ultra was an acoustic model with a 17 in. body width, carved spruce top, carved figured maple back and sides, 25.5 in. scale, and an optional floating pickup attached to the raised pickguard. The Elite has a 16 in. body width, 24.75 in. scale, arched spruce top, one humbucker, and ebony tailpiece/bridge/fingerboard/pickguard. The Standard model has a laminated maple top and back, and features two humbuckers and rosewood instead of ebony. All Japanese-built Master Series models feature a "Designed by D'Aquisto" headstock engraving. It is estimated that only thirty Ultra models were built, and 1,000 Elites and Standards. For the D'Aquisto Ultra model see the Blue Book of Acoustic Guitars. | | D'AQUISTO STANDARD (JAPAN MFG.) | | - single round cutaway laminated maple body, laminated maple top, f-holes, maple neck, raised bound solid rosewood pickguard, 20-fret bound rosewood fingerboard with pearl block inlay, adjustable rosewood bridge/rosewood trapeze tailpiece, bound peghead with pearl fan/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with ebony buttons, gold hardware, two humbucker pickups, four knobs (two v, two tone), available in Black, Natural, or Violin Sunburst finish, mfg. 1984 only. |
| D'AQUISTO CLASSIC ROCKER | | - aditional hollow body jazz design, 17 in. laminated maple hollow body with black and white "Checkerboard" multi-bound top, set three-piece figured maple neck, rosewood fingerboard with special "diamond" inlays, multiple binding, two Custom DeArmond 2000 single coil pickups, Bigsby vibrato tailpiece, chrome hardware, three-per-side tuners, available in Amber, Black, or Crimson Trans. finish, disc. 2001. |
| D'AQUISTO DELUXE (U.S. MFG., NO. 010-2030) | | - single round cutaway laminated figured maple body, f-holes, maple neck, raised black pickguard, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, adj. rosewood bridge, rosewood trapeze tailpiece, black peghead with pearl fan/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners, chrome hardware, humbucker pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Antique Burst, Black, Natural, or Crimson Red Transparent finish, 15.75 in. width, mfg. 1994-2002. |
| D'AQUISTO ELITE (JAPAN/U.S. MFG., NO. 010-4050) | | - single round cutaway hollow figured maple body, arched bound spruce top, bound f-holes, maple neck, raised bound ebony pickguard, 22-fret bound ebony fingerboard with pearl block inlay, adjustable ebony bridge/ebony trapeze tailpiece, bound peghead with pearl fan/logo inlay, three-per-side tuners with ebony buttons, gold hardware, humbucker pickup, volume/tone controls, available in Natural finish, mfg. 1984, 1989-1994, 1999-2001. |
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