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Dutch Auctions at Gryphon Stringed Instruments! |
New Santa Cruz VJ Figured Koa (Gryphon Stash) 1 11/16" Nut |
This is a custom Santa Cruz Guitar Co. Vintage Jumbo (VJ) model made with highly figured Hawaiian koa top, back, and sides. This exceptional set of guitar wood had been in Gryphon's attic stash for several years before we decided it was finally time to have a guitar made out of it, so off we went to Santa Cruz.
Their VJ model is based on the classic slope-shouldered dreadnoughts that Gibson made throughout the 1930s and '40s. Although the VJ is about the same size, with the same deep sides, as the more typical square-shouldered dreadnoughts such as Martins, there's something about the unique shape (and the high sound hole) that gives a distinctly different sound. We thought the koa top would bring out even more of that woody, mid-range rich tone, and we think you'll agree that we were right. You can use this VJ for strumming back-up chords, but it's equally content being fingerpicked for slack-key or even blues. The heavier wood used for the top (when compared to spruce) gives lots of emphasis on the fundamentals, making it perfect for recording or for use as an acoustic/electric (fewer harmonics equal less feedback).
We'll admit to being enthralled with the appearance of this dark, highly figured set of koa, which is probably why we couldn't resist splurging on gold Waverly tuners. Please note that the top matches the back, and that both the top and back match the sides. Gryphon paid the wood broker lots of extra $$$ for this "flitch set" with matching top, which means that the top, back, and sides were successive cuts off the same log. When completed with SCGC's all nitro lacquer finish, the result is a lustrous finish that shows off the beautiful colors. The deluxe Ameritage hardshell case is included, and the guitar is fully covered under the Santa Cruz warranty.
Whether on your wall or hanging from your strap onstage, this all-koa Santa Cruz VJ makes quite a fashion statement.
nut width: 1-11/16"
Saddle spacing: 2-1/4"
Scale length: 25.4" | Today's Price: $5,471Thu, Mar, 11
Todays Price Drop: $102
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history
Wed, Mar, 10 - $5,573 - drop $31
Tue, Mar, 09 - $5,604 - drop $36
Mon, Mar, 08 - $5,640 - drop $43
Sat, Mar, 06 - $5,683 - drop $74
Fri, Mar, 05 - $5,757 - drop $34
Thu, Mar, 04 - $5,791 - drop $35
Wed, Mar, 03 - $5,826 - drop $28
Tue, Mar, 02 - $5,854 - drop $83
Mon, Mar, 01 - $5,937 - drop $33
Sat, Feb, 27 - $5,970 - drop $38
Fri, Feb, 26 - $6008 - drop $37
| Previous Auctions
Remember, these instruments have been sold.
We post them here simply so you can see how previous auctions turned out | Used Martin MC-DSM (#4) koa/Italian spruce with Highlander pickup |
SOLD
| History Mon, Feb, 15 - $4,354 - drop $29
Sat, Feb, 13 - $4,383 - drop $27
Fri, Feb, 12 - $4,410 - drop $131
Thu, Feb, 11 - $4,541 - drop $26
Wed, Feb, 10 - $4,567 - drop $28
Tue, Feb, 09 - $4,595 - drop $39
Mon, Feb, 08 - $4,634 - drop $96
Sat, Feb, 06 - $4,730 - drop $23
Fri, Feb, 05 - $4,753 - drop $28
Thu, Feb, 04 - $4,781 - drop $27
Wed, Feb, 03 - $4,808 - drop $84
Tue, Feb, 02 - $4,892 - drop $24
Mon, Feb, 01 - $4,916 - drop $34
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What is a Dutch Auction?
How is Gryphon Stringed Instrument's Auction different?
Traditionally, a Dutch Auction is where the item being auctioned has a starting price and then every day or week the price drops by a fixed amount. As the price gets lower more people become interested in the instrument. At some point you won't be able to resist purchasing it. But while you are making up your mind somebody else might be deciding that the price is already a bargain and so they make the purchase, and you lose.
Gryphon, has had traditional Dutch Auctions in the past. This time we've decided to harness technology to spice things up and add a bit of randomness to make things more interesting. This is how we've set it up, so pay close attention to these "rules":
1) The prices are updated by the computer every day we are open at 12:00 noon Pacific Time according to the computer's clock. The computer's clock might be off a few seconds, or more, so we can't guarantee a universal time sync. Keep reloading the page until you see the daily update. That means 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, there will be a price drop right at noon.
3) Most days the price will fall by a set amount but on random days (probably once per week, maybe more,) the price will drop by a larger amount. How much larger? We don't know. It might be 10% or 50% more, it might be 300% or 400% more. This is where the irritatingly fun part comes in. The Geek has been instructed to make it random and surprise us. We dont know when, or how much the next "Wildcard" discount will be. We can't give you advice because we don't know what the next day's discount will be. Maybe you'll save $50 by waiting another day, maybe you'll save more than that, and, maybe someone else will buy it and you'll miss out.
4) The best way to monitor our Dutch Auctions is through the website. Here in the store we don't know any more than you do about tomorrow's price. Remember, you might need to refresh your browser to see the latest price.
5) The current price is the only price we will honor until the next price update. The price does not include any applicable sales tax nor does it include shipping costs. Because of the difficulties and delays with bank wires and other forms of payment from foreign countries, we will restrict Dutch Auction sales to forms of payment that can be verified the same day.
6) When you realize you want to buy the instrument, CALL GRYPHON. Yep, this is when you need to pick up the phone, rather than sending an email. Be ready to pay with credit card or PayPal. For credit cards the billing & shipping addresses must be the same or the shipping address needs to be added to your credit card first. For PayPal you must have a verified shipping address.
7) All Dutch Auction Sales are final. We guarantee the instrument is as we represent it and is in healthy, playable condition - as we do with all of the instruments we sell. We will pack it carefully and ship it to you fully insured. When it arrives you'll have a great instrument in your house, at a bargain price, and you can be sure that other potential buyers waited one day too long and lost the auction.
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Gryphon Stringed Instruments
Our Hours
Monday through Thursday
10:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
10:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.
Contact us
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Our Location
211 Lambert Avenue
at the corner of Park and Lambert
Palo Alto, California 94306
650.493.2131
Toll Free: 888.493.2131 |
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Gryphon Exhibits |
 Here at Gryphon Stringed Instruments, we're all about learning stuff. From learning about the latest and greatest Martin Guitars, to learning about better ways to repair guitars that were run over by trains. We are firmly convinced that the more you learn, the more you know! |
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Richard Visits Martin Guitars |
 Richard went back to Nazareth for Martin Guitar's 175th birthday party and it wasn't just for the cake. Part of the festivities for Martin dealers was a more in-depth tour than what you would normally get when visiting the factory. So Richard joined about a dozen others for a tour led by our long-time pal Mike Dickinson. RJ tried to take photos when possible but, of course, was not allowed to use the flash on his digital camera and sometimes the tour was moving too quickly to get photos of every stage of construction. There are gaps, but here are a selection of the photos that turned out to be viewable. |
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Modern Era Koa Guitars (Koa - part 2) |
 The craze for koa instruments died in the 1930s, along with the Hawaiian music fad in general, and after the bombing of Pearl Harbor there wasn't much koa wood being shipped to the US for several years. Although Martin returned to selling lots of ukes after the war was over (during Arthur Godfrey's heyday), it didn't bother trying to get koa again as mahogany ukes sold just fine. Of course the ukulele makers in Hawaii, especially Kamaka, never stopped using koa for ukes. Shown here is a set of raw curly koa for a uke, and a current Kamaka tenor ukulele [31891]. But throughout the '50s and '60s there were no new guitars made of koa to be found, until that changed in the 1970s as independent guitarmakers like the Santa Cruz Guitar Co., and even the much larger Gurian Instruments on the opposite coast, offered guitars with koa backs and sides as an alternative to East Indian rosewood or mahogany. |
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We Write the Words that Make the Whole World Read |
 Well, Richard did it this time... and it's nice prose, not cheezy lyrics like our paraphrase in the title. The November issue of Acoustic Guitar has an article titled "7 Guitars that Made History." The editors of the magazine asked Richard to write the sections on the Martin D-18 And the Gibson L-5. |
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Open Back Banjos at Gryphon |
 The subject of the banjo covers much history, and a number of similar but different instruments have shared the name 'banjo'. From the 19th century minstrel players to the razzle dazzle vaudeville acts of the Roaring Twenties on through contemporary bluegrass, the banjo has been a part of folk and popular music for over two hundred years. Various types of instruments and the styles played on them have gone in and out of fashion over time and each new generation seems to find a way to use the banjo for its own musical expression. |
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