Daniel Clark is selling his 1989 Model 1 Sicilian. I recently re-fretted it and replaced the truss-rod; I was able to check it over and found it to be in excellent structural condition.

Daniel says:
I am selling my Sobell Model 1 Sicilian. This is a near perfect example of Stefan’s iconic classic. Made in early 1989, with Indian Rosewood back and sides, a German spruce soundboard and a mahogany neck.

It plays beautifully, with great action and ergonomics. Sound-wise it’s faultless – clear controlled bass, thick broad trebles, extraordinary sustain and almost hi-fi like mid’s. There is a soft roundness to its tone, and it has clearly been well cared for and loved during its years.

Having recently been worked on by Stefan (see his news post 17^th October 2024) it has had a dual action truss rod fitted and been re-fretted with Evo Gold frets, leaving the guitar sounding and playing better than ever. Stefan has checked it over and given it a full clean bill of health.

It has a few tiny dinks and a very light scratch – less than you would expect from a 35-year-old guitar, all of which I have tried to photograph. It comes with its original Jack Clark case.

I’m looking for offers around £6500. If you would like to know more information and are interested in purchasing it, please contact me on danielmarcusclark@gmail.com. I am based in Bath, but also often travel to Oxford if that helps. 

 

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One of my early Appalachian style dulcimers has come up for sale at St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England.  It has a hand written label ‘Stefan Sobell, Black Gate, Newcastle upon Tyne, March 1974’  It is being sold on behalf of the hospice charity.  It looks to be in excellent playing condition.

The Black Gate was the gatehouse to Newcastle castle (now separated by a railway viaduct).   Liz and I and our son Jason lived there from 1969 until 1975.  We had an oddly shaped flat at the top of the building and Liz was responsible for the library and museum on the floors below.  Liz received a tiny wage, but it was a fantastic place to live.

I built my first dulcimer there in around 1971 (and my first cittern in 1973), so this is one of my later Black Gate dulcimers.  Early versions were all different from one another, but by the time this one was built the design was settled and remained unchanged.

It has a Western Red Cedar top, mahogany back, sides and headstock, and ebony fingerboard and tail.  The nut and saddle are bone.  I bought the bone from the local butcher and boiled it to try and bleach it, before cutting it up by hand; pre internet, all sorts of things were hard to source.

Unless it has been refinished, which is unlikely, it will have before been lacquered with a thin coat of shellac.

 

For more information, contact Peter Bower by email:    peter.bower.bower@btinternet.com    or telephone 07850 760365

Information about St Luke’s Hospice here:  https://www.stlukeshospice.org.uk/

 

 

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Priced at £11,000 ($15,000 to the US including shipping), £4000 below new list price, this is an opportunity to buy a very special Brazilian rosewood guitar immediately.

For any queries, please contact me by email stefan@sobellguitars.com or telephone me on 07740 600 282.

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As mentioned in my news page item, Rod Paterson sadly died recently.

Paul Mckenna is selling Rod’s 1987 Sobell Model 1 Guitar on behalf of Rod’s family. Paul says:

This is a stunning instrument with a few bits of wear and tear but nothing you wouldn’t expect from a guitar of this age. This guitar has been used live and in recordings with The Easy Club and Jock Tamsons Baird’s, among others.

The guitar has recently been fitted with a K&K Pure Mini pickup and sounds fantastic plugged in.

Any further questions please contact Paul McKenna at paulmckenna86@gmail.com