nevusofota
Well-known member
For those of you in the know the first run of N4's (1991) were hand built in a small Seattle shop by the extraordinary luthier, Stephen Davies. I purchased my first Davies N4 in 2009 and was blown away by everything about the guitar. I frequent the internet every few months looking for another early N4. Usually I'll see a picture on a music store's website with a vague discription followed by an email asking for more info. The response usually reveals a "modern" production version. So last week I was on a major retailers website panning through the used N4's when I came across blurry pics of an N4 that I couldn't date from the photos. Like usual I sent an email asking for the serial#.
My jaw hit the floor when the numbers ran across the screen indicating a '91 N4!!! Only 12 away on the production line from my current '91 N4!!!! I immediately wrote back asking for better photos. I received them a few hours later and was even more in shock. The pics were still not perfect but I could tell it had the "T" shaped trem cavity, large pu selector cover, and some brass showing through the fine tuners. This is beginning to look like a true '91 N4!!!!
I immediately called the salesman. I asked him to read the wording on the SEC (Stephen's Extended Cutaway). I heard the awesome words "......pat. pending....." (as the modern versions have the actual patent number). Yeeesssss! I then asked what trem/bridge was installed. He then began telling me that someone told him that the trem was not original...........................BECAUSE IT WAS A KAHLER!!!! Early N4's had Kahlers installed! Needless to say my jaw hit the floor for the second time today. He then proceded to tell me how great the conditioin of the guitar was in, as to try and not lose the sale due to the "aftermarket" tremolo. This situation proves that these salesmen really do not have a clue what comes through their doors.
However, the real craziness comes into play with how much I eventually paid for the guitar. It was a steal! It didn't come with the trem cavity cover, trem arm, or the original case. I actually thought this deal had to have a hickup just because it seemed too good to be true. Well, I received it this evening and the thing is in awesome shape for a 21 year old guitar. Basically not a major blemish on it.
Here are some quick iphone pics of the unveiling.
My jaw hit the floor when the numbers ran across the screen indicating a '91 N4!!! Only 12 away on the production line from my current '91 N4!!!! I immediately wrote back asking for better photos. I received them a few hours later and was even more in shock. The pics were still not perfect but I could tell it had the "T" shaped trem cavity, large pu selector cover, and some brass showing through the fine tuners. This is beginning to look like a true '91 N4!!!!
I immediately called the salesman. I asked him to read the wording on the SEC (Stephen's Extended Cutaway). I heard the awesome words "......pat. pending....." (as the modern versions have the actual patent number). Yeeesssss! I then asked what trem/bridge was installed. He then began telling me that someone told him that the trem was not original...........................BECAUSE IT WAS A KAHLER!!!! Early N4's had Kahlers installed! Needless to say my jaw hit the floor for the second time today. He then proceded to tell me how great the conditioin of the guitar was in, as to try and not lose the sale due to the "aftermarket" tremolo. This situation proves that these salesmen really do not have a clue what comes through their doors.
However, the real craziness comes into play with how much I eventually paid for the guitar. It was a steal! It didn't come with the trem cavity cover, trem arm, or the original case. I actually thought this deal had to have a hickup just because it seemed too good to be true. Well, I received it this evening and the thing is in awesome shape for a 21 year old guitar. Basically not a major blemish on it.
Here are some quick iphone pics of the unveiling.
