New information supplied by Dan Erlewine, who has authenticated this Roy Smeck Radio Grande, stating this is the last Radio Grande made by Gibson in 1944.  Also stated this was a factory custom made, one of a kind, by Gibson in 1944.  The authentication by Dan is in the photos along with a picture of Dan inspecting the guitar.                                                                       I thought your enthusiastic readers would appreciate a story regarding my beautiful, unusual, and virtually unknown guitar. During World War II, Gibson made a very interesting guitar in 1944. I believe it is both one‐of‐a‐kind and the last Radio Grande ever made.    George Gruhn, from Gruhn Guitars, personally inspected and authenticated this Roy Smeck Radio Grande for me as being 100% original. George’s analysis, described below, is of this unprecedented Radio Grande, model designation displayed in red block numbering, by means of red pencil.   Upon inspection of this instrument we noted that it exhibits a 22 fret fingerboard, which George Gruhn had never previously encountered on a Gibson guitar made prior to the Les Paul Models of 1958. This is another unique trait, which places my guitar as the first with a 22 fret fingerboard made by Gibson.     George’s inspection further notates the sound hole measuring 1‐ 1/16 inches lower in the body, further substantiating this 22 fret fingerboard as being original.   The X bracing is lower than other Roy Smeck Radio Grande models. The bolts in the bridge were not installed in the bridge under the inlay, given that at 24‐¾ inch scale the bolt would interfere with the X bracing. Therefore, the bolts were installed on the wide part of the bridge.   This Roy Smeck Radio Grande features a Adirondack top with sunburst finish, mahogany neck and back, sides with walnut stain finish, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlay, and a Brazilian rosewood bridge. All other Roy Smeck Radio Grande possess back and sides that were crafted out of Brazilian rosewood.   The bridge has a saddle slant, with typical Spanish style, further categorizing my guitar in its’ own class.  All of the other Roy Smeck guitars were made with a straight Hawaiian style bridge. This Roy Smeck Radio Grande has a 1‐¾ nut with frets, so this guitar certainly was constructed to be played in typical Spanish fashion. All other Roy Smeck Radio Grande guitars have a 2 ¼ nut, a very wide neck, and were designed to be played in Hawaiian style.   The last known Roy Smeck Radio Grande was constructed in 1936; this guitar has a date of 1944, which makes this specimen the last Roy Smeck Radio Grande created.   Enjoy,   Lyle Collins  (708)997‐3675 If you would like to fly in and inspect this guitar, I can meet you at the airport.video available on you tube played by Jim Perona   Two videos to view on youtube, please  copy the link below and search on youtube.  Unfortunately, ebay no longer links you to youtube, you have to go to that website on your own. HD0qQcFC6mU rFLqIhaE2FY