Tom Bills Natura Deluxe 17” Archtop
2011 Tom Bills Natura Deluxe 17” Archtop
A delight to hold, play, and look at. The first thing that I was drawn to was the fineness of the materials and wood grain, the french polished finish, and the exquisite carve. Playing it is an even greater pleasure, with a satisfying acoustic voice.
Specs / Measurements
2011 (dated 12/29)
Sitka Spruce / Figured Maple
~1.76” nut
~25” string length
~2.19” string spacing at saddle
~17” lower bout
Binding / purfling throughout, including tailpiece and pickuard
French polished shellack
Leaf inlays
Bills branded floating pickup, volume / tone
Gotoh 1:21 Ratio Tuners
Hoffee case
Condition / Setup Notes
The guitar remains in excellent condition, even with its delicate finish. There is little wear, and takes raking light to really reveal. Light fret wear in lower positions. Nice light setup currently, string height about 4.5/64”-3/64”, just a touch of relief. I find it takes well to fingerstyle in addition to a pick, perhaps given the 25” string length. The Hoffee case has light wear, and has two stickers on it; one of a 1971 Newport Jazz Festival poster, and the other of Louis Armstrong.
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I’m an appreciator of acoustic archtops that shine as acoustic instruments, and I find that this is one of those guitars. It’s a pleasure to play without any amplification and gives an intimate feel that lends itself to playing solo guitar. In addition to its beauty of sound, it’s such a beautifully made instrument. The woods are about as nice as it gets, and the fine luster from the french polish is a fitting finish for such striking pieces. And especially nice to see, as it’s not the most usual finish choice for archtops. There are thoughtful design elements throughout too, like a pick guard that slopes downward to follow the contour of the body, and a take on the Sacconi loop that allows the adjustment of tailpiece height.
$15000
Thanks for looking, any questions please feel free to get in touch.
This instrument ships for free via UPS Ground.