2000s John Kinnard Dell Arte Leadbelly-Style 12-String Acoustic Guitar

Overview: John Kinnard built his own-make, American-made guitars under the Dell Arte brand for a long time before then adapting the brand for a series of import, gypsy-jazz-style instruments. He's gone back to building just under his own name, lately, to avoid confusion. This big, Leadbelly, Stella-esque 12-string is one built in his California shop and it's as excellent in sound as it looks -- big, up-front, punchy, and retro.

Its design echoes the nicer-grade '20s Oscar Schmidt Stella and Sovereign builds, with a solid spruce top over solid mahogany back and sides, a longer scale length, wide nut, and jumbo (000+) body shape. This one has gotten a lot of play and has some "life wear" but is overall in good order and playing spot-on.

Repairs included: Molly gave this a level/dress of the frets and setup work. A longer hairline crack had been cleated on the top already. The bridge (with its fully-compensated movable saddle) and tailpiece are, apparently, non-original and were made for the guitar by a local, Maine luthier. We have reglued a few back-brace ends that were loose, too. It's playing bang-on and ready to serve. We currently have 47w-10 gauge strings on it and tune it down to D or C# standard, but heavier strings can get you much lower if desired.

• Weight: 4 lbs 12 oz
• Scale length: 26 5/16"
• Nut width: 2"
• Neck shape: slim-medium oval-C
• Board radius: 10"
• Depth at first fret: 57/64"
• Depth at seventh fret: 15/16"
• Body width: 15 3/4"
• Body depth: 4 3/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid mahogany
• Bracing type: ladder
• Bridge: rosewood w/bone saddle
• Fretboard: ebony with rosewood binding (looks like)
• Neck wood: mahogany
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: 47w-10
• Truss rod: adjustable
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium

Condition notes: There is a repaired hairline crack to the bass side of the tailpiece on top. The bridge may be original but the saddle and tailpiece are replacements. The finish has weather-checked here and there throughout but overall it glows nicely. There are four marks on the top-lower-bout from where the guitar got bumped/nicked on the sales floor and I had to drop-fill them. They're not obvious at a glance but can be seen easily as the light shifts.

It comes with: It's got a good hard case.

Consignor tag: HHBL