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VOX CHALLENGER GUITAR 1964. ONE OF THE RAREST VOX GUITARS. By CRUCIANELLI ITALY
Estimated price for orientation: 2 595 $
Category: Electric Guitars
Class:
Description
Description VOXCHALLENGER1964CRUCIANELLIEXTREMELY RAREBATWING PICKGUARDNOTE: PLEASE LOOK AT OUR OTHER AUCTIONS FOR MORE GREAT GUITARS.NOTE: Attention VOX Collectors. Here is an opportunity to fill in your collection with ONE OF THE RAREST VOX GUTIARS FROM 1964.VOX:As I have already shown by my relish for Burns guitars, I have a definite bias in favor of UK guitars from the 1960's. Why?Quite simply, because I remember them. They have become part of my life experience because I experienced them directly through the music of those who played them, i.e., Beatles, Rolling Stones, Shadows, et al.Honestly, can anyone who loves the music of those times, hear the word "VOX" or see those three letters on a guitar or amp, and not be taken back to the avalanche of UK groups that changed the culture of music and popular life forever? They gave us the music, the look (hair/boots/jackets), and the excitement that America, and the rest of the world, needed to wake up from the doldrums of the 1950's in music and in our lives. I believe the music of the Beatles, and those following them, marked the real end of World War II for the world. Finally, we were allowed to enjoy ourselves without guilt and fear of conscription.But for VOX, it is a story within a story.The first story is one of amplifiers. Hearing them behind the Shadows and seeing them behind the Beatles. A background story.The story within was the introduction of an art form which was unfairly labeled a "guitar".As with Jim Burns, the VOX designers had real imaginations. From those real imaginations came real iconic art pieces with strings and electronics that made "artful" music, but more importantly brought the usually drab and distant guitar to the frontline. The guitar became fashionable. While we were seeing the black and white images of the Beatles with their VOX amps, we started staring at Brian Jones in full color playing a VOX guitar (colorful white) -on the frontline (and keeping with his defiance of the ordinary, we saw him play the Firebird-another art piece). A guitar never looked better. It became a member of the Stones. That was carried over to Bill Wyman, with one of the first "artist" designed guitars, the VOX WYMAN BASS (did he play it or not?-who cares) which defined "coolness" to an extreme (understated like Bill but so cool-just like him). From there, we saw the Hollies, Fang from the Raiders, and others who really understood that image was important to a rock star and that VOX was the new and fresh object that best fit that image. And it sounded pretty cool as well.In my personal collection of guitars I own 100+ VOX guitars and a lot of VOX amps and keyboards. I bought them because I like them but also because they have been a very good investment for me. From that winter's day in the early spring of 1965 when I sat alone in a movie theater with five other people in a small North Carolina town to watch the T.A.M.I. show and waited anxiously to see the Stones come on-only to be knocked out of my seat by James Brown -not because he was great-I knew he was great-but because he was one of our guys-who came to town and played at the Armory-and then to see Brian step out playing that white VOX teardrop guitar was the beginning of my own personal cultural revelation and revolution. And I had to have one-and now I have several of them.But do they qualify as "vintage collectible guitars"?Without question, they are "vintage" both in age and culturally. We remember Brian Jones and his on stage appearances with the Stones playing his VOX on the Ed Sullivan show and in the TAMI show. Those images surpass a simple definition of "iconic". They are defining images of a cultural mash up-the freedom of the Stones to wear what they wanted and play whatever guitars they wanted and to be simply unruly. After the incredible freshness of the Beatles in their Black and White (and gray) matching suits and matching haircuts, the "odd out teens" needed a "way out", or as is so cliché today, they needed an "ALT". The Stones were their (our) ALT and they are still, fifty years later, our ALT.And helping them along the way was the "ALT" VOX guitar.So, yes, I believe without a doubt that ALL VOX GUITARS are collectible. They were born of an cultural paradigm shift that will never be duplicated. They are authentic because their birth was authentic. They came from the music that was surrounding the designers at VOX (and at Burns). UK music created VOX guitars. Aside from celeb owned guitars and the odd off "historic oddity", buyers determine the value of an object, electric guitar or other, based on their past experiences. That's why we collect. To remember. To recreate. To experience a happy time long past but not deleted from our brain (and our soul). That's why so many new guitars are being sold as "aged" (relic'd). Because they remind us of the past. We are old and we want to remember our youth. I think this trending will only expand so that those items that are "personally iconic" will increase in value because more of us will want to own a part of our past but those parts are becoming rarer every day.The VOX CHALLENGER GUITAR:with the RARE "BATWING" PICKGUARD.1964This model, THE CHALLENGER, is one of my personal favorite CRUCIANELLI built in Italy VOX branded guitars. I love the style of this guitar. The horns remind you of an SG but it's hollowbody with "f-holes" take it into ES territory. Most people are not familiar with the "battle" between the Italian guitar builders CRUCIANELLI and EKO in the 1960's. Here is more information. taken from online sources, about this guitar, THE CHALLENGER, and the these companies:"The idea of making a compact florentine semi-acoustic (some kind of inflated SG) was certainly inspirated by Eko. However, instead of the kitschy toylike appearance of the Eko Florentine, Crucianelli choosed to give its guitar an image of seriousness, just enriched by a touch of originality with the Batwing pickguard. The mother-of-pearl inlays and the tasteful lacquer finish exsude high quality craftmanship. All in all, this a rock'n roll instrument any jazz musician could be seen with without being ashamed. The first generation was fitted with the pickups introduced in 1964 on the older solidbodies. The trem device offered as an option is actuated by a nonsense very long bar (approximately same system as the old Eko Barracudas). Later on typical Crucianelli humbuckers were mounted. Take notice that the earliest examples have a nearly triangular headstock, narrower at the base, soon substituted by a more Gibson.ish design. This primitive version is pretty rare in the real world but most frequently reproduced in catalogues. Those guitars are mainly known under the names Élite andTonemaster (mod. 502). They also entered the Vox range under the model name Challenger. Extremely rare in Europe, the one-cutaway version is fairly common in USA where it was specific to PANaramic(though it was featured also in some Tonemaster catalogues, but everyone knows catalogues are not to be trusted). A Escort Bass was also manufactured for Vox. ABOUT CRUCIANELLI: The Crucianelli company was founded in 1888 in Castelfidardo by Sante Crucianelli, a former partner of Paolo Soprani and also a pioneer of the regional accordion industry. Facing the crisis that hit the sector in the early 60's the company diversified its business in guitar manufacturing following Oliviero Pigini's example with his Eko company.The relationship to Eko determines Crucianelli's whole guitar history. During the glitter celluloid era of the first half-decade the two companies are in tough competition, for every Eko model comes out a matching Crucianelli instrument. From 1965 on both companies increasingly specializes in its own field, Eko focuses on acoustics and solidbodies, Crucianelli on semi-acoustics, and both cooperate with Vox. Technical contributions of Eko and Crucianelli melt together on certain Vox (and even Eko ) models. Olivieri Pigini was planning a merger of both companies' guitar operations. His sudden death in 1967 didn't allow the project come to reality.On the international market any six-stringed thing with a colourful plastic coating is called an Eko. Crucianelli guitars are very often confused with Eko and sold as such. Those guitars seldom confess readily their true origine, they hide inside a maze of brandnames. Some belonged to Crucianelli, especially Élite and the rarer namesElli-Sound and Custom Built. There were brandnames given by the official American distributors, PANaramic (by PANcordion Inc., NYC) and Tonemaster (by The Imperial Accordion Co., Chicago), more or less special models supplied in contract manufacturing to big OEMs like and Baldwin, there were the brands applied by American traders such as España, Ardsley,FH, and a crowd of minor U.S. distributors. "This guitar is in GOOD COSMETIC CONDITION. The knobs are not original, but it appears everything else is-including the presence of the always lost bridge cover. The ever present FINISH CRACKS are found on the body of this guitar. On the back, it appears that some of the cracks are actually minor wood breaks that have "bowed up". The hardware has some tarnishing but is still very bright. It works and plays as well as it did when it was built. The case may, or may not, be original to the guitar. It is a VOX case and came with the guitar but I have no way to certify that it is original to this guitar mode. Please look closely at all of the photos here to assess its condition. I can also email access to more photos should you wish to see them.If you are a VOX collector, and you have a hole in your collection for this piece, it will suit you. It is not the best example of this guitar that I have seen but it is the only one that I have seen that is branded VOX. About TUNE YOUR SOUND.More information about this guitar and others can be found at: tuneyoursound.comTYS is a joint venture between a couple of guitar collectors who both share a passion for rock and roll music and the instruments used to make that music. Fortunately the two of us have been able to afford to buy the best examples of these instruments we could find. Many are one off, celebrity owned, and unique. And yes, we own a lot of guitars-together we are closing in on the 2,000 mark. But we have decided it is time to share our the fruits of our passion with other likewise smitten players and collectors, so please keep checking our auctions for more unbelievable pieces.Beginning Fall, 2012, many of our instruments will be made available for rent in the USA and Europe. Please check our site for more information. SHIPPING:FLAT SHIPPING CHARGE OF $65.00 FOR SHIPMENT TO ANY US CONTINENTAL LOCATION BY USPS (and please understand that your tracking number may not show shipment progress within the first 72 hours of the shipment-I consider that a bit idiotic but they tell me that "they cannot track every package every minute").INTERNATIONAL BUYERS MUST CONTACT ME BEFORE BIDDING TO RECEIVE A QUOTE FOR SHIPPING COSTS.GUARANTEE:NO REFUND.BUYER HAS 48 HOURS TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL GUITAR REPAIR PERSON OR LUTHIER. IF ANY DEFECTS ARE FOUND IN THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE INSTRUMENT (NOT DISCLOSED IN THE AUCTION AD), BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US BY EXPRESS SHIPMENT USING THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND ANY ADDITIONAL PACKAGING TO INSURE ITS SAFE RETURN. IT MUST BE FULLY INSURED. BUYER PAYS ALL COST TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US. WE WILL REPAIR THE INSTRUMENT WITHIN TEN DAYS OF RETURN RECEIPT AND SHIP IT BACK TO THE BUYER AT OUR EXPENSE. THIS ASSURANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO KNOBS, STRINGS, HARDWARE DISCOLORATION, STRAPS. CASES, OR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR AFTER RECEIPT BY BUYER. ALL INSTRUMENTS ARE FULLY PHOTOGRAPHED PRIOR TO SHIPMENT. IT IS THE BUYER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY SELLER IMMEDIATELY IF THE INSTRUMENT HAS INCURRED ANY DAMAGE DURING SHIPMENT. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH DAMAGE, PLEASE RETAIN ALL SHIPPING MATERIALS FOR INSPECTION.FULL DETAILS INCLUDED IN AD. BUYER HAS 48 HOURS TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL GUITAR REPAIR PERSON OR LUTHIER. IF ANY DEFECTS ARE FOUND IN THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE INSTRUMENT (NOT DISCLOSED IN THE AUCTION AD), BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US BY EXPRESS SHIPMENT USING THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND ANY ADDITIONAL PACKAGING TO INSURE ITS SAFE RETURN PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BID.SHIPPING CHARGES. The charges listed in this ad are for the continental US only. Shipment outside that area is at actual cost and Buyer must pay all tariffs, duties, and other charges that may be levied on the item when it is imported into its final destination. And for foreign buyers, please request a quote for shipping cost before you bid. No surprises are always good. And please do not ask that we use a lower value for an export shipment. NOTE: NO THIRD PARTY SHIPMENTS-WE ONLY SHIP TO THE BUYER WHO PAYS FOR IT. -PLEASE NO OFFERS BASED ON "BLUE BOOK VALUES". Those values are as correct as the predictions that Gov. Romney would wind the US Presidential election. If you want to know the true value of this guitar, or others, ask Nate Silver.
Description
Description VOXCHALLENGER1964CRUCIANELLIEXTREMELY RAREBATWING PICKGUARDNOTE: PLEASE LOOK AT OUR OTHER AUCTIONS FOR MORE GREAT GUITARS.NOTE: Attention VOX Collectors. Here is an opportunity to fill in your collection with ONE OF THE RAREST VOX GUTIARS FROM 1964.VOX:As I have already shown by my relish for Burns guitars, I have a definite bias in favor of UK guitars from the 1960's. Why?Quite simply, because I remember them. They have become part of my life experience because I experienced them directly through the music of those who played them, i.e., Beatles, Rolling Stones, Shadows, et al.Honestly, can anyone who loves the music of those times, hear the word "VOX" or see those three letters on a guitar or amp, and not be taken back to the avalanche of UK groups that changed the culture of music and popular life forever? They gave us the music, the look (hair/boots/jackets), and the excitement that America, and the rest of the world, needed to wake up from the doldrums of the 1950's in music and in our lives. I believe the music of the Beatles, and those following them, marked the real end of World War II for the world. Finally, we were allowed to enjoy ourselves without guilt and fear of conscription.But for VOX, it is a story within a story.The first story is one of amplifiers. Hearing them behind the Shadows and seeing them behind the Beatles. A background story.The story within was the introduction of an art form which was unfairly labeled a "guitar".As with Jim Burns, the VOX designers had real imaginations. From those real imaginations came real iconic art pieces with strings and electronics that made "artful" music, but more importantly brought the usually drab and distant guitar to the frontline. The guitar became fashionable. While we were seeing the black and white images of the Beatles with their VOX amps, we started staring at Brian Jones in full color playing a VOX guitar (colorful white) -on the frontline (and keeping with his defiance of the ordinary, we saw him play the Firebird-another art piece). A guitar never looked better. It became a member of the Stones. That was carried over to Bill Wyman, with one of the first "artist" designed guitars, the VOX WYMAN BASS (did he play it or not?-who cares) which defined "coolness" to an extreme (understated like Bill but so cool-just like him). From there, we saw the Hollies, Fang from the Raiders, and others who really understood that image was important to a rock star and that VOX was the new and fresh object that best fit that image. And it sounded pretty cool as well.In my personal collection of guitars I own 100+ VOX guitars and a lot of VOX amps and keyboards. I bought them because I like them but also because they have been a very good investment for me. From that winter's day in the early spring of 1965 when I sat alone in a movie theater with five other people in a small North Carolina town to watch the T.A.M.I. show and waited anxiously to see the Stones come on-only to be knocked out of my seat by James Brown -not because he was great-I knew he was great-but because he was one of our guys-who came to town and played at the Armory-and then to see Brian step out playing that white VOX teardrop guitar was the beginning of my own personal cultural revelation and revolution. And I had to have one-and now I have several of them.But do they qualify as "vintage collectible guitars"?Without question, they are "vintage" both in age and culturally. We remember Brian Jones and his on stage appearances with the Stones playing his VOX on the Ed Sullivan show and in the TAMI show. Those images surpass a simple definition of "iconic". They are defining images of a cultural mash up-the freedom of the Stones to wear what they wanted and play whatever guitars they wanted and to be simply unruly. After the incredible freshness of the Beatles in their Black and White (and gray) matching suits and matching haircuts, the "odd out teens" needed a "way out", or as is so cliché today, they needed an "ALT". The Stones were their (our) ALT and they are still, fifty years later, our ALT.And helping them along the way was the "ALT" VOX guitar.So, yes, I believe without a doubt that ALL VOX GUITARS are collectible. They were born of an cultural paradigm shift that will never be duplicated. They are authentic because their birth was authentic. They came from the music that was surrounding the designers at VOX (and at Burns). UK music created VOX guitars. Aside from celeb owned guitars and the odd off "historic oddity", buyers determine the value of an object, electric guitar or other, based on their past experiences. That's why we collect. To remember. To recreate. To experience a happy time long past but not deleted from our brain (and our soul). That's why so many new guitars are being sold as "aged" (relic'd). Because they remind us of the past. We are old and we want to remember our youth. I think this trending will only expand so that those items that are "personally iconic" will increase in value because more of us will want to own a part of our past but those parts are becoming rarer every day.The VOX CHALLENGER GUITAR:with the RARE "BATWING" PICKGUARD.1964This model, THE CHALLENGER, is one of my personal favorite CRUCIANELLI built in Italy VOX branded guitars. I love the style of this guitar. The horns remind you of an SG but it's hollowbody with "f-holes" take it into ES territory. Most people are not familiar with the "battle" between the Italian guitar builders CRUCIANELLI and EKO in the 1960's. Here is more information. taken from online sources, about this guitar, THE CHALLENGER, and the these companies:"The idea of making a compact florentine semi-acoustic (some kind of inflated SG) was certainly inspirated by Eko. However, instead of the kitschy toylike appearance of the Eko Florentine, Crucianelli choosed to give its guitar an image of seriousness, just enriched by a touch of originality with the Batwing pickguard. The mother-of-pearl inlays and the tasteful lacquer finish exsude high quality craftmanship. All in all, this a rock'n roll instrument any jazz musician could be seen with without being ashamed. The first generation was fitted with the pickups introduced in 1964 on the older solidbodies. The trem device offered as an option is actuated by a nonsense very long bar (approximately same system as the old Eko Barracudas). Later on typical Crucianelli humbuckers were mounted. Take notice that the earliest examples have a nearly triangular headstock, narrower at the base, soon substituted by a more Gibson.ish design. This primitive version is pretty rare in the real world but most frequently reproduced in catalogues. Those guitars are mainly known under the names Élite andTonemaster (mod. 502). They also entered the Vox range under the model name Challenger. Extremely rare in Europe, the one-cutaway version is fairly common in USA where it was specific to PANaramic(though it was featured also in some Tonemaster catalogues, but everyone knows catalogues are not to be trusted). A Escort Bass was also manufactured for Vox. ABOUT CRUCIANELLI: The Crucianelli company was founded in 1888 in Castelfidardo by Sante Crucianelli, a former partner of Paolo Soprani and also a pioneer of the regional accordion industry. Facing the crisis that hit the sector in the early 60's the company diversified its business in guitar manufacturing following Oliviero Pigini's example with his Eko company.The relationship to Eko determines Crucianelli's whole guitar history. During the glitter celluloid era of the first half-decade the two companies are in tough competition, for every Eko model comes out a matching Crucianelli instrument. From 1965 on both companies increasingly specializes in its own field, Eko focuses on acoustics and solidbodies, Crucianelli on semi-acoustics, and both cooperate with Vox. Technical contributions of Eko and Crucianelli melt together on certain Vox (and even Eko ) models. Olivieri Pigini was planning a merger of both companies' guitar operations. His sudden death in 1967 didn't allow the project come to reality.
On the international market any six-stringed thing with a colourful plastic coating is called an Eko. Crucianelli guitars are very often confused with Eko and sold as such. Those guitars seldom confess readily their true origine, they hide inside a maze of brandnames. Some belonged to Crucianelli, especially Élite and the rarer namesElli-Sound and Custom Built. There were brandnames given by the official American distributors, PANaramic (by PANcordion Inc., NYC) and Tonemaster (by The Imperial Accordion Co., Chicago), more or less special models supplied in contract manufacturing to big OEMs like and Baldwin, there were the brands applied by American traders such as España, Ardsley,FH, and a crowd of minor U.S. distributors. "
This guitar is in GOOD COSMETIC CONDITION. The knobs are not original, but it appears everything else is-including the presence of the always lost bridge cover. The ever present FINISH CRACKS are found on the body of this guitar. On the back, it appears that some of the cracks are actually minor wood breaks that have "bowed up". The hardware has some tarnishing but is still very bright. It works and plays as well as it did when it was built. The case may, or may not, be original to the guitar. It is a VOX case and came with the guitar but I have no way to certify that it is original to this guitar mode. Please look closely at all of the photos here to assess its condition. I can also email access to more photos should you wish to see them.If you are a VOX collector, and you have a hole in your collection for this piece, it will suit you. It is not the best example of this guitar that I have seen but it is the only one that I have seen that is branded VOX. About TUNE YOUR SOUND.More information about this guitar and others can be found at: tuneyoursound.comTYS is a joint venture between a couple of guitar collectors who both share a passion for rock and roll music and the instruments used to make that music. Fortunately the two of us have been able to afford to buy the best examples of these instruments we could find. Many are one off, celebrity owned, and unique. And yes, we own a lot of guitars-together we are closing in on the 2,000 mark. But we have decided it is time to share our the fruits of our passion with other likewise smitten players and collectors, so please keep checking our auctions for more unbelievable pieces.Beginning Fall, 2012, many of our instruments will be made available for rent in the USA and Europe. Please check our site for more information. SHIPPING:FLAT SHIPPING CHARGE OF $65.00 FOR SHIPMENT TO ANY US CONTINENTAL LOCATION BY USPS (and please understand that your tracking number may not show shipment progress within the first 72 hours of the shipment-I consider that a bit idiotic but they tell me that "they cannot track every package every minute").INTERNATIONAL BUYERS MUST CONTACT ME BEFORE BIDDING TO RECEIVE A QUOTE FOR SHIPPING COSTS.GUARANTEE:NO REFUND.BUYER HAS 48 HOURS TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL GUITAR REPAIR PERSON OR LUTHIER. IF ANY DEFECTS ARE FOUND IN THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE INSTRUMENT (NOT DISCLOSED IN THE AUCTION AD), BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US BY EXPRESS SHIPMENT USING THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND ANY ADDITIONAL PACKAGING TO INSURE ITS SAFE RETURN. IT MUST BE FULLY INSURED. BUYER PAYS ALL COST TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US. WE WILL REPAIR THE INSTRUMENT WITHIN TEN DAYS OF RETURN RECEIPT AND SHIP IT BACK TO THE BUYER AT OUR EXPENSE. THIS ASSURANCE DOES NOT APPLY TO KNOBS, STRINGS, HARDWARE DISCOLORATION, STRAPS. CASES, OR ACCIDENTAL DAMAGE THAT MAY OCCUR AFTER RECEIPT BY BUYER. ALL INSTRUMENTS ARE FULLY PHOTOGRAPHED PRIOR TO SHIPMENT. IT IS THE BUYER’S RESPONSIBILITY TO NOTIFY SELLER IMMEDIATELY IF THE INSTRUMENT HAS INCURRED ANY DAMAGE DURING SHIPMENT. IN THE EVENT OF SUCH DAMAGE, PLEASE RETAIN ALL SHIPPING MATERIALS FOR INSPECTION.FULL DETAILS INCLUDED IN AD. BUYER HAS 48 HOURS TO HAVE THE INSTRUMENT INSPECTED BY A PROFESSIONAL GUITAR REPAIR PERSON OR LUTHIER. IF ANY DEFECTS ARE FOUND IN THE MECHANICAL OR ELECTRICAL CONDITION OF THE INSTRUMENT (NOT DISCLOSED IN THE AUCTION AD), BUYER WILL BE REQUIRED TO SHIP THE INSTRUMENT BACK TO US BY EXPRESS SHIPMENT USING THE ORIGINAL PACKING MATERIALS AND ANY ADDITIONAL PACKAGING TO INSURE ITS SAFE RETURN PLEASE READ BEFORE YOU BID.SHIPPING CHARGES. The charges listed in this ad are for the continental US only. Shipment outside that area is at actual cost and Buyer must pay all tariffs, duties, and other charges that may be levied on the item when it is imported into its final destination. And for foreign buyers, please request a quote for shipping cost before you bid. No surprises are always good. And please do not ask that we use a lower value for an export shipment. NOTE: NO THIRD PARTY SHIPMENTS-WE ONLY SHIP TO THE BUYER WHO PAYS FOR IT. -PLEASE NO OFFERS BASED ON "BLUE BOOK VALUES". Those values are as correct as the predictions that Gov. Romney would wind the US Presidential election. If you want to know the true value of this guitar, or others, ask Nate Silver.