Tell Me About Stephen's Tele Style's

[csapo]

While some coworkers were getting their Starbucks coffee, I wandered in a nearby music store and stumbled upon a used Stephen's Custom Tele.

I only had a minute with it (before they came to get me) but was intrigued. I didn't get to ask any questions, let alone play it or even plug it in.

One interesting feature was the very unique bolt on neck. The store is asking $800 for it (w/HSC). A fair price?

I've done a search, but haven't been able to find sites. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[BB]

Is it the extended cutaway one? I've played a few used ones at a local vintage store over the past few years. The $800 price tag seems equal to the ones I looked at.

One belonged to an employee there. He had it made for him. It sat for a long time and I think he finally dropped it down to the $600 range before it sold.

While I liked the guitars, ( well constructed, quality woods and parts, excellent build quality, etc ) they did not speak to me on a "I gotta have this thing " level. But thats just me.

If it speaks to you, that is the only thing that matters. The price is certainly in line with the ones I saw.

 

[csapo]

Is it the extended cutaway one? I've played a few used ones at a local vintage store over the past few years. The $800 price tag seems equal to the ones I looked at.

One belonged to an employee there. He had it made for him. It sat for a long time and I think he finally dropped it down to the $600 range before it sold.

While I liked the guitars, ( well constructed, quality woods and parts, excellent build quality, etc ) they did not speak to me on a "I gotta have this thing " level. But thats just me.

If it speaks to you, that is the only thing that matters. The price is certainly in line with the ones I saw.

Yes, it was the extended cutaway. It was in a music store in a suburb of Seattle.

I'm with you on the "if it speaks to you". As I said, I unfortunatly had no time with it.

I'm usually in Seattle once a month, and I usually stop by this store. If it is still there on my next trip, I'll give it a run through.

Any info on the builder??? Is he a NW builder, what other models if any, etc.???

Thanks.

 

[BB]

Yes, I do believe he is ( or was! ) a NW builder. He did work with Washburn a while back and did the exteneded cutaway thing on several models....the Nuno Bettencourt (sp? ) model being one. You can probably do a google search for more info on Stephens.

I know they were custom built instuments and probably in the $1,600 and up price range.

The extended thing is a cool design and works well if you need to get high on the neck.

What store is it in? The one the store employee in Tacoma had was a nice, natural finish ash body. It had a Gibson P-100 ( sounded BAD in that guitar I must say ) in the neck and I believe a Duncan in the bridge.

I hope it works out for ya!

 

[csapo]

What store is it in? The one the store employee in Tacoma had was a nice, natural finish ash body.

BB - Thanks for all of the info.

It is on consignment at A Sharp Music in Renton. It is an aged white and don't know if it is ash or not.

 

[BB]

BB - Thanks for all of the info.

It is on consignment at A Sharp Music in Renton. It is an aged white and don't know if it is ash or not.

Cool! A# is a great store. Good people and a great inventory. I hope it works out for you! Keep us aprised of what transpires.

 

[KokoTele]

Here's the website. Looks identical to the way it did 10 years ago!

http://www.seanet.com/~jsd/

 

[csapo]

Thanks eryque and a belated congrats on the 5K posts.

 

[Jerrod]

I had a maple top T style w/ a humbucker in the neck. The top was a sweet blue finish, but there were 2 things I didn't like. It was a floor model (at Stephens Stringed Instruments by Lake Union) and he buffed a scratches out for me... and turned those spots sort of reddish by hitting them too hard with the buffer. And it felt really tight with 10s. I sold it. But it was well made. I'm curious if you end up buying it.

 

[radionationals]

Jared's blue Stephen's T-model was a favorite in the shop and made it to a NAMM show, hence the well played look for a "new" guitar.

I would pay around $750 for a Stephen's T-style today. The natural tung oil finish guitars sound the best and give your the most green-indie cred.

Ryan made the coolest necks. He owns a couple of shoe stores in Ballard now.

John is the best luthier I've known and he can be found at Dusty Strings in Fremont.

Jay own's Emerald City Guitars and still sells a lot of used Stephen's Guitars.

The neck joint was marketed wrong. Shred was dead.

The Stephen's neck was much more stable than a four bolt design and had greater surface area in contact resulting in nice sustain.

Steve was a jazz player and made some nice hollow body T-style guitars with P-90's that sound great.

 

[Jerrod]

Jared's blue Stephen's T-model was a favorite in the shop and made it to a NAMM show, hence the well played look for a "new" guitar.

I would pay around $750 for a Stephen's T-style today. The natural tung oil finish guitars sound the best and give your the most green-indie cred.

Ryan made the coolest necks. He owns a couple of shoe stores in Ballard now.

John is the best luthier I've known and he can be found at Dusty Strings in Fremont.

Jay own's Emerald City Guitars and still sells a lot of used Stephen's Guitars.

The neck joint was marketed wrong. Shred was dead.

The Stephen's neck was much more stable than a four bolt design and had greater surface area in contact resulting in nice sustain.

Steve was a jazz player and made some nice hollow body T-style guitars with P-90's that sound great.

That sounds about right to me for the price. Thanks for the post. I wouldn't mind trying that guitar again.

 

[MANI206]

Jared's blue Stephen's T-model was a favorite in the shop and made it to a NAMM show, hence the well played look for a "new" guitar.

I would pay around $750 for a Stephen's T-style today. The natural tung oil finish guitars sound the best and give your the most green-indie cred.

Ryan made the coolest necks. He owns a couple of shoe stores in Ballard now.

John is the best luthier I've known and he can be found at Dusty Strings in Fremont.

Jay own's Emerald City Guitars and still sells a lot of used Stephen's Guitars.

The neck joint was marketed wrong. Shred was dead.

The Stephen's neck was much more stable than a four bolt design and had greater surface area in contact resulting in nice sustain.

Steve was a jazz player and made some nice hollow body T-style guitars with P-90's that sound great.

 

[MANI206]

HERE ARE SOME PHOTOS.

 

[MANI206]

While some coworkers were getting their Starbucks coffee, I wandered in a nearby music store and stumbled upon a used Stephen's Custom Tele.

I only had a minute with it (before they came to get me) but was intrigued. I didn't get to ask any questions, let alone play it or even plug it in.

One interesting feature was the very unique bolt on neck. The store is asking $800 for it (w/HSC). A fair price?

I've done a search, but haven't been able to find sites. Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

 

[MANI206]

PHOTOS.

 

[MANI206]

Is it the extended cutaway one? I've played a few used ones at a local vintage store over the past few years. The $800 price tag seems equal to the ones I looked at.

One belonged to an employee there. He had it made for him. It sat for a long time and I think he finally dropped it down to the $600 range before it sold.

While I liked the guitars, ( well constructed, quality woods and parts, excellent build quality, etc ) they did not speak to me on a "I gotta have this thing " level. But thats just me.

If it speaks to you, that is the only thing that matters. The price is certainly in line with the ones I saw.

 

[MANI206]

PHOTO.

 

[MANI206]

Yes, I do believe he is ( or was! ) a NW builder. He did work with Washburn a while back and did the exteneded cutaway thing on several models....the Nuno Bettencourt (sp? ) model being one. You can probably do a google search for more info on Stephens.

I know they were custom built instuments and probably in the $1,600 and up price range.

The extended thing is a cool design and works well if you need to get high on the neck.

What store is it in? The one the store employee in Tacoma had was a nice, natural finish ash body. It had a Gibson P-100 ( sounded BAD in that guitar I must say ) in the neck and I believe a Duncan in the bridge.

I hope it works out for ya!

 

[MANI206]

 

[MANI206]

SOME PHOTOS