Goya TS5 12-string 1966 | $1150 | (v2342) The Goya brand harkens back to the 1950s, but the factory in which they were made was making guitars since the beginning of the 20th century. The company was founded by a Swede named Herman Carlson Levin, who produced a line of Levin-branded guitars. By the late 1950s, the Goya brand (named after the artist) was established and aimed at the burgeoning US 'folk' scene. In the early 1960s 12-strings began to appear in the catalogs and retail stores. The TS5 was Goya's flagship 12-string, marketed as 'Goliath size', and made with both quality materials and workmanship. Goya guitars are surely not in the mainstream of the vintage market today, but if you were a fan of the Ivy League Trio back in the day, you've seen and heard them played!
The back and sides are made from 'choice flamed maple'. The top is 'Alp spruce', trimmed in black and white purfling with black and white 'mosiac' inlay around the sound hole. The body is finished in a natural blond. The neck is mahogany and carved in a comfortable 'C' shape. The fingerboard is rosewood, bound in white celluloid with pearl position markers, offset in a sort of nod to European moderne style. The neck features an adjustable truss rod which, along with another bolt through the heel block, secures the neck to the body (only the fb extension is glued). A pretty clever arrangement. The profiled head stock is overlaid with rosewood veneer and features the Goya logo silkscreened in white paint. The classical-style bridge is made from rosewood and designed similar to the bridges Harmony was using in the 60s with the string passing through horizontal holes instead of the typical bridge pin arrangement. A nice design touch are the thin strips of white celluloid where the strings enter and exit the holes .. form and function! Another nice detail is the white cellulid heel cap. The top is ladder braced with multiple braces north and south of the sound hole, including small stiffining braces east and west, as well.
The broad-shouldered 'Goliath' body measures 15 7/8" across at the lower bout, and just about all of 5" deep at the end pin .. a big box, for sure! The fingerboard measures 2" across at the nut, with string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle. Scale length is 24 1/2", a nice short scale for easy picking. (These dimensions remind us of the early Holzapfels) Action is set at 6 & 7/64", with plenty of saddle.
The guitar came to us in original condition with some evidence of the bridge being reglued in its past and a strap button in the heel. There is a very tight 'grain' seam in the top on the bass side of the finger board. We reset the neck and made a new saddle; leveled and dressed the frets; cleaned and lubed the tuners. There are some obligatory nicks and dings from age and use, and finish checking throughout. The neck is straight, the finish original.
Overall, the guitar presents itself as a very nice package ... vintage vibe, quality materials and workmanship, playability .. and fantastic 12-string tones .. chimes on top and rumble down below. Plus, the original hard case, also in excellent condition! In a nutshell, this 12-string is one of the better ones we've encountered, and, considering its intrinsic value alone, should be priced three times its asking! It's voice is perfect for the folk music of the '60s, but has the beef to handle the music of maestros Leadbelly and McTell, including his slide work!
Comes with its original hard case.
Check the two demos!
The back and sides are made from 'choice flamed maple'. The top is 'Alp spruce', trimmed in black and white purfling with black and white 'mosiac' inlay around the sound hole. The body is finished in a natural blond. The neck is mahogany and carved in a comfortable 'C' shape. The fingerboard is rosewood, bound in white celluloid with pearl position markers, offset in a sort of nod to European moderne style. The neck features an adjustable truss rod which, along with another bolt through the heel block, secures the neck to the body (only the fb extension is glued). A pretty clever arrangement. The profiled head stock is overlaid with rosewood veneer and features the Goya logo silkscreened in white paint. The classical-style bridge is made from rosewood and designed similar to the bridges Harmony was using in the 60s with the string passing through horizontal holes instead of the typical bridge pin arrangement. A nice design touch are the thin strips of white celluloid where the strings enter and exit the holes .. form and function! Another nice detail is the white cellulid heel cap. The top is ladder braced with multiple braces north and south of the sound hole, including small stiffining braces east and west, as well.
The broad-shouldered 'Goliath' body measures 15 7/8" across at the lower bout, and just about all of 5" deep at the end pin .. a big box, for sure! The fingerboard measures 2" across at the nut, with string spacing 2 3/8" at the saddle. Scale length is 24 1/2", a nice short scale for easy picking. (These dimensions remind us of the early Holzapfels) Action is set at 6 & 7/64", with plenty of saddle.
The guitar came to us in original condition with some evidence of the bridge being reglued in its past and a strap button in the heel. There is a very tight 'grain' seam in the top on the bass side of the finger board. We reset the neck and made a new saddle; leveled and dressed the frets; cleaned and lubed the tuners. There are some obligatory nicks and dings from age and use, and finish checking throughout. The neck is straight, the finish original.
Overall, the guitar presents itself as a very nice package ... vintage vibe, quality materials and workmanship, playability .. and fantastic 12-string tones .. chimes on top and rumble down below. Plus, the original hard case, also in excellent condition! In a nutshell, this 12-string is one of the better ones we've encountered, and, considering its intrinsic value alone, should be priced three times its asking! It's voice is perfect for the folk music of the '60s, but has the beef to handle the music of maestros Leadbelly and McTell, including his slide work!
Comes with its original hard case.
Check the two demos!