Rockbridge
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Rockbridge Guitar Company began in 2000 and since then have made a strong presence in the bluegrass, country, rock, and americana worlds with custom guitars in dreadnought, jumbo, and OM styles. A three man custom shop, Rockbridge Guitars only produces about 40 high quality instruments per year. Making a variety of sizes, the standard string length is 25", though the new Advanced Jumbo model will have a 25 3/8" string length. Exclusive to Steve Swan Guitars is the 12 fret Smeck style Jumbo, developed from my experiences with the classic Gibson Roy Smeck Stage De Luxe and Radio Grande models from the 1930s. Performing artists currently using Rockbridge guitars include Dave Matthews, Ray LaMontagne, Dave Stewart, Waddy Wachtel, Ben Harper, Jim Hurst, Roy Curry, and Rolly Brown. Rockbridge guitars made for my shop always include specially selected back and side sets and aged tops from my personal supply of tonewoods. Coming Soon: Honduras Rosewood Smeck style 12 fret Jumbo.
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For more
complete description or questions, please email
steve_swan@earthlink.net
or call (650) 515-1014.
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 2005 Custom D (63/05) |
A superb sounding custom 14 fret D made for flatpicking great, Roy Curry. Vertical grain Brazilian Rosewood back (a little swirly at the bottom) and sides and butt wedge, Even grain Adirondack Spruce top, Waverly 4060 tuners, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl "Rockbridge" logo and tortoise binding, 1 11/16" nut width, Tortoise bound Ebony fingerboard, 25" string scale, Tortoise bound body and heelcap, Herringbone top purfling and rosette, Ebony bridge with 2 1/8" string spread and ebony pins, Tortise pickguard, Ebony endpin, Strap button added on treble side of heel. No repairs and light pick wear. Very light neck finish give a more natural feel. A fine all around dreadnought, especially good for flatpicking. With hardshell case. | $4950 |
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New Advanced Jumbo (296-12) |
This is my first
14 fret Rockbridge guitar, a huge sounding Advanced
Jumbo model. 100% vertical grain African Rosewood
(I've been saving this set for 13 years), Stiff
European Spruce top specially selected from my supply,
Mahogany neck with round profile and some nice flame
figure, Waverly 4060 G-98 style tuners, Ebony
headstock overlay with script pearl "Rockbridge"
inlay, Bone nut, 1 3/4" nut width, Ivoroid bound Ebony
fingerboard with historically accurate pearl advanced
jumbo style inlay, 25 3/8" string scale, Ivoroid body
binding and heelcap, Black and white top purfling,
Cream-black-cream soundhole rosette, Ebony bride with
drop-in saddle and 2 1/4" string spread, Ebony bridge
pins, Tigerstripe pickgurd with historically accurate
shape, Turtle-oid strap button and endpin, Rosewood
butt wedge. The bold, solid voice is everything that I
expected from this great new design for Rockbridge.
This rosewood set has really found a guitar worthy of
its rarity and tonal quality. With Cedar Creek hard
case.
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$5250 |
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New 12 Fret Jumbo (Smeck) (286/11) |
An exceptionally lively
and tonally complete example of my favorite Rockbridge
model. My own supplied heavily quilt figured african
Sapele (similar to Mahogany) back and sides, My own
supplied stiff and brilliant sounding bearclaw figure
European Spruce top, Waverly tuners with metal
buttons, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl
"Rockbridge" logo, 1 3/4" nut width, Ivoroid bound
Brazilian Rosewood fingerboard (my supply) with small
pearl dots, Ivoroid bound body, Black and white
multiple purflings, Brazilian Rosewood (my supply)
bridge with drop in bone saddle, Ebony pins, Tortise
tiger strip pickguard, Brazilian Rosewood heelcap,
Black line backstrip, Turtle-oid strap buttons,
Voicing for light guage strings. This gorgeous looking
guitar is also spectacular sounding, with broad
range of tone color available. One of the best yet.
With hardshell case. |
$4650 |
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Previous offerings
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Used Smeck Radio Grande style 12 Fret Jumbo (261/10) |
This is the first Rockbridge Brazilian
Rosewood "Radio Grande" style 12 fret Jumbo. Builder
Randall Ray tells me that this is his favorite guitar
that Rockbridge has ever produced. A good part of the
great sound comes from the Artist Grade Adirondack
Spruce top and dense, ringing dark Brazilian Rosewood
back (60% vertical grain)and sides (100%) vertical
grain) that I supplied from my own wood stock. Other
features include Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons,
Ebony headstock overlay with pearl script "Rockbridge"
logo, Ebony fingeboard with 2 mm pearl dots inlay,
Ivoroid binding with black and white purfling on the top
and soundhole, slightly shallower side depth, Ebony
rectangular bridge, Beautiful tiger strip pickguard,
Tortoise colored strap button and endpin, and matching
Brazilian Rosewood heelcap and butt wedge. As with the
original Radio Grande models, the top finish is clear,
revealing the beautiful grain of the Adirondack Spruce
top. The sound is spectacularly crisp, even, and very
loud. It will be very hard for me to let this one go!
With Cedar Creek hardshell case. |
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Used Smeck Radio Grande style 12 Fret Jumbo (261/10) |
This is the first Rockbridge Brazilian
Rosewood "Radio Grande" style 12 fret Jumbo. Builder
Randall Ray tells me that this is his favorite guitar
that Rockbridge has ever produced. A good part of the
great sound comes from the Artist Grade Adirondack
Spruce top and dense, ringing dark Brazilian Rosewood
back (60% vertical grain)and sides (100%) vertical
grain) that I supplied from my own wood stock. Other
features include Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons,
Ebony headstock overlay with pearl script "Rockbridge"
logo, Ebony fingeboard with 2 mm pearl dots inlay,
Ivoroid binding with black and white purfling on the top
and soundhole, slightly shallower side depth, Ebony
rectangular bridge, Beautiful tiger strip pickguard,
Tortoise colored strap button and endpin, and matching
Brazilian Rosewood heelcap and butt wedge. As with the
original Radio Grande models, the top finish is clear,
revealing the beautiful grain of the Adirondack Spruce
top. The sound is spectacularly crisp, even, and very
loud. It will be very hard for me to let this one go!
With Cedar Creek hardshell case. |
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Used 12 Fret OOO (228-09) |
A balanced voice Mahogany 12 Fret OOO. Dense slightly figured Honduras Mahogany form my own wood supply, Medium grain artist grade Adirondack Spruce chosen from my own wood supply, Slotted headstock with Waverly G-98 style tuners, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl "Rockbridge" logo inlay, 1 23/32" nut width, Ebony fingerboard with 2 mm pearl dots inlay, Ivoroid body binding with black and white top purfling, 25" string scale, Ebony belly bridge with 2 1/4" string spread, Tortoiseshell strap buttons installed, Ebony endpin and bridge pins. A great fingerstyle instrument. With hardshell case. |
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Used Roy Smeck style 12 Fret Jumbo (215-09) |
This guitar is one of the first three prototypes of this new Rockbridge model. Very dense lightly figured Honduras Mahogany selected from my own supply, Artist grade Adirondack Spruce selected from my own supply, Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl "Rockbridge" logo inlay, 1 3/4" nut width, Full round neck profile shape, Ebony fingerboard 2 mm pearl dots, 25" string scale, Ivoroid body binding, Black and white line style purfling and rosette, Ebony heelcap, 1934 Gibson style sunburst top finish, Scalloped voicing on tonebars, Treble leg of X-brace tapered voiced, Bass leg of X-brace scalloped voiced, Top and braces voiced for light guage strings, Ebony rectangular bridge with 2 5/16" string spread, 4" soundhole, Plain Ebony bridge pins, Tortoise colored strap button and endpin. Cedar Creek hardshell case. This great example responds with a loud, rich voice with a slightly brighter tone than #214. An excellent flatpicking guitar for playing in the style of Norman Blake or an excellent fingerstyle guitar. |
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| New Smeck style 12 Fret Jumbo
(256/10)
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A very strong-voiced example of my favorite Rockbridge model. Artist grade Adirondack Spruce top supplied from my stock, Very dense "tiger claw" figured Mahogany supplied from my stock, Mahogany neck, Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl script "Rockbridge" inlay, 1 13/16" nut width, Ebony fingerboard with 2 mm pearl dots inlay, 25" string scale, Ivoroid body binding with black and white purfling, Black and white line purfling soundhole rosette, 4" soundhole, Ebony bridge with drop-in saddle and 2 5/16" string spread, Ebony bridge pins, Tiger stripe pickguard loose in case pocket, Tortoise plastic strap buttons at heel and endpin, Sunburst with larger pattern and lighter red color than previous examples. The voice is very strong and colorful, a joy to play. With Cedar Creek case. |
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| New 12 Fret Smeck style Jumbo
(237-10)
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Another great example voiced for light guage strings,
denoted by the rectangular bridge. Quilt figured dense
Honduras Mahogany selected from my own stock, Stiff
Adirondack Spruce supplied from my own stock, Waverly
tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock overlay
with script pearl "Rockbridge" logo inlay, 1 3/4" nut
width, Round neck profile, Ebony fingerboard with pearl
dots, Ivoroid body binding, Black and white top and
rosette purfling, Rectangular Ebony bridge with 2 1/4"
string spread, Tiger stripe vintage style pickguard,
Early 1930s style dark sunburst top finish, Brazilian
Rosewood heelcap and butt wedge, Black line backstrip,
Tortoise strap buttons at butt and neck heel. The
combination of light guage string voicing for the top,
the standard 25" Rockbrdige string scale, and the dense
Mahogany give this guitar a strong even voice the has
great volume and clarity with very little effort. As
fine a combination flatpick and fingerstyle guitar as I
have in the shop. This is was lightly built Smecks are
all about. |
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New 12 Fret Smeck style Jumbo (229-09) |
Voiced for light guage strings, this guitar has the rectangular bridge. Dense figured Honduras Mahogany supplied from my own stock, Stiff Adirondack Spruce top supplied from my own stock, Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl "Rockbridge" logo inlay, 1 3/4" nut width, Ebony fingerboard with small pearl dots, Round neck profile, Ivoroid body binding, Black and white purfling on top edge and soundhole rosette, Dark early 1930s style sunburst top finish, Ebony rectangular bridge with 2 1/4" string spread, Tiger stripe pickguard, Brazilian Rosewood heelcap and butt wedge, Black line backstrip, Ebony bridge pins, Turtleoid strap buttons at butt and neck heel. Voiced for light guage strings, this guitar has great volume, clarity, and even balanced response across the strings. A joy to play. |
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Used 12 Fret OOO (224-09) |
My first example of this exciting new model from
Rockbridge. Flame figured copper-brown-tan Koa selected
from my own stock, Master Grade Adirondack Spruce top
selected from my own stock, Slotted headstock with
Waverly tuners, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl
"Rockbridge" logo inlay, Ivory nut, 1 23/32 nut width,
Ebony fingerboard with small pearl dots, 25" string
scale, Ivoroid body binding, Black and white line
purfling, 4" soundhole, Ebony belly bridge with dropin
saddle and 2 1/4" string width, Ebony bridge pins,
Pickguard left loose in the case pocket, Ebony heelcap,
Black line backstrip, Koa butt wedge. With a bold, yet
refined voice his guitar as as fine a new fingerstyle 12
Fret OOO as I've had come through the shop. A real joy
to play! With hardshell case. |
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New Brazilian Rosewood/ Adirondack Spruce 12 Fret OOO (226-09) |
A magnificent sounding 12 fret OOO made with Adirondack Spruce top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides chosen from my own supply. Waverly slothead tuners, Ebony headstock overlay with pale abalone script "Rockbridge" logo inlay, 1 23/32" nut width, Medium neck profile, 25" scale length, Ebony fingerboard with pale abalone dots inlay, Ivoroid body binding, black and white top purfling and rosette, Ebony belly bridge with dropin saddle and 2 1/4" string spread, Ebony bridge pins, Tortoise colored strap buttons, Brazilian Rosewood heelcap and butt wedge. This guitar is quite powerful and even in response. The tone is full and rich on the bottom, with a solid ringing treble. A great fingerstyle instrument, this one will also work for flatpicking styles and accompaniment. With Cedar Creek hardshell case. |
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New Smeck style 12 Fret Jumbo (216-09) |
A spectacular sounding clear finished top example of this great new Rockbridge model. I supplied the Artist Grade Adirondack Spruce top and the very dense slightly figured Honduras Mahogany back and sides. Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock overlay with pearl "Rockbridge" logo, 1 3/4" nut width, Round vintage style neck profile, Ebony fingerboard with small pearl dots, Ivoroid body binding, black and white purfling and rosette, Clear top finish on this one, Ebony bridge with 2 1/4" string spacing, Tiger stripe pickguard left loose in the case, Brazilian Rosewood heelcap and butt wedge, black line backstrip, Ebony bridge pins, Tortoise colored strap button and endpin, Treble leg of X-brace tapered voiced, Tone bars and bass leg of X-brace scallop voice, Top and braces voiced for light guage strings. This is a very responsive guitar, making a superb fingerstyle instrument or a Norman Blake style flatpicking guitar. With Cedar Creek case. |
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Roy Smeck style 12 Fret Jumbo (214 09) |
This guitar is one of the first three prototypes of
this new Rockbridge model. Very dense lightly figured
Honduras Mahogany selected from my own supply, Artist
grade Adirondack Spruce selected from my own supply,
Waverly tuners with ivoroid buttons, Ebony headstock
overlay with pearl "Rockbridge" logo inlay, 1 3/4" nut
width, Full round neck profile shape, Ebony fingerboard
with 2 mm pearl dots, 25" string scale, Ivoroid body
binding, Black and white line style purfling and
rosette, Ebony heelcap, 1934 Gibson style sunburst top
finish, Scalloped voicing on tonebars, Treble leg of
X-brace tapered voiced, Bass leg of the X-brace
scalloped voiced, Top and braces voiced for light guage
strings, Ebony rectangular bridge with 2 5/16" string
spread, 4" soundhole, Plain Ebony bridge pins, Tortoise
colored strap button and endpin. Cedar Creek hardshell
case. This guitar fully achieves my conception for this
model in providing an easy response to light guage
stringing and a loud, rich voice with a balanced treble
to bass tone. I find this guitar to be absolutely
delightful when played either fingerstyle or in
flatpicking mode. An exceptional instrument.
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