Sold!
Description

The stuff that people have brought in here to sell over the years, you never can tell and it never ceases to amaze me. About twenty-five years ago, maybe a little more, someone brought in this gorgeous, hand-built solidbody electric guitar, with not one bit of metal on it. No strings, no frets. no tuning machines, no electronic parts, nothing, the reason being that it had been made in prison, and you can figure out the rest. It is made from very fine maple, with laminates in the body, all cut for a Humbucker pickup with matching controls; beautifully inked in script on the truss rod cover in black and red is a feathered eagle, and “D. Nelson”, the maker, and similarly a beautiful rose on the pickguard. Now the case, that’s something special too. It is rock maple with what appear to be rosewood veneers, perfectly and beautifully lined in fine red felt, has a hinged accessory compartment with white ceramic lift knob. The hinges and latches are top-grade. This is beyond carpentry; it is an extremely professional piece of cabinet making. The notes that accompany the guitar, written by the person who sold it to me, read as follows: “Guitar made by David Nelson Cedar Rapids Iowa 1987. Now serving time in Iowa State Reformatory at Ft. Madison, Iowa. Made in Ft. Madison Prison workshop. Sold to me by his mother so he could get a port. TV for his cell. No frets or strings as they can’t have them in prison because they would be used to kill each other. Dulcimer made by same guy, would sell for $50, equally strange”. You just can’t make this stuff up; it’s a window into the American culture and very special. Offered as is at $1500 w/ohsc

Matt Umanov Guitars

Matt Umanov Guitars

1987
Prison
Excellent
Original Hard
25 Years
Matt Umanov Guitars
Matt Umanov
(212) 675-2157
New York, NY
11:57 AM
By appointment.

All major credit cards, checks, wire transfers.

Free domestic shipping via FedEx Ground. Worldwide shipping available.

24 hour approval.