Retrograde Guitars are hand built one at a time in Norfolk Massachusetts by Luthier Glenn Nichols. Glenn has a long background in guitar building and is a master finisher. He worked many years for Santa Cruz Guitar Company as their head finisher and later learned many different finishing techniques, such as French Polish, Shellac and Varnish finishes from his employment at Kenny Hill Guitar Company. Now with his own company Retrograde Guitars, Glenn Nichols still spends one day a week improving his skills working with world renowned acoustic guitar luthier Bill Tippin at Tippin Guitars, as well as doing repairs and restorations on many of the worlds finest vintage guitars and stringed instruments.
The Cambridge is a nod to vintage department store, catalog Archtops of the 50’s and 60’s. The difference is that these are fully hand built, high-end guitars; built one at a time by a highly skilled Luthier, with extreme attention to every detail. From the hand rubbed French Polish Varnish Finish to the handmade adjustable bridge and masterful bracing techniques, no stone is left unturned on a Retrograde build. Glenn now even winds his own pickups, in this case a set of his new Old Soul P-90s. They suit the woody acoustic tone of this guitar beautifully, with wonderful clarity and note definition. The pickups are not at all muddy and one of the most pleasing sets of P-90’s we’ve ever heard. The guitar is a dream when played clean with beautiful warmth and a crisp top end. When overdriven this is the perfect guitar for blues playing. The tone is fat and rich in harmonics. You’ll also notice the light and balanced weight of this guitar at only 5lbs 14oz as well as the incredibly easy playability and top notch fretwork. This Cambridge is certainly one of our favorite instruments to have ever come through our shop.
Here’s what Glenn has to say about the Cambridge model.
From Retrograde Guitars:
“Based on department store catalog guitars of the 50’s and 60’s, this style of Cambridge features Fully Hollow construction, a handmade adjustable wooden bridge, and a three bolt neck joint.
The three bolt Catalog Style neck joint is a solid, and functional joint, with threaded steel inserts in the neck heel. After final set up, a small amount of Hide Glue is used in the joint. This insures that the joint is solid, enhances tone transfer, and is easily separated if adjustments are needed in the future, much like the fusing of lacquer in the neck joints of vintage electric guitars.
A center laminate of Mahogany is used in the top for a pleasing woody tone, and German spruce braces are carved and voiced for acoustic projection. The adjustable wooden bridge keeps vibration warm and mellow.
Fully hollow construction, a short 24.9 scale, and P-90 pickups, keep the tone and feel sweet and saggy.
The Catalog Style Cambridge has often been described as “an acoustic guitar players electric guitar”, and is well suited for Fingerstyle, Jazz and Blues.”
Specs:
Body
Finish: Violin Varnish
Top: 5 ply laminate, Flame Maple with Mahogany core
Back: 5 ply Maple laminate
Sides: Solid maple
F-Holes: Violin style
Bracing: German Spruce
Neck Wood: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Granadillo
Headstock Veneer: Madagascar rosewood
Scale Length: 24.9”
Nut Width: 1 11/16”
Neck Joint: Catalog style 3 bolt
Frets: 6105
Binding Body: Single Cream
Headstock: none
Fingerboard: NoneÂ
Inlay Headstock: Pearl Retrograde logo
Fingerboard: Pearl dots
Side Dots: White
Electronics:
Pickups: Retrograde P-90, Old Soul Alnico 3
Wiring: Volume, tone, tone
Appointments:
Tuners: Gotoh kluson style Relic
Bridge: Handmade adjustable, Macassar Ebony Â
Tailpiece: Solid Relic
Pickguard: Gold Pearl
Nut: Bone
Strap Buttons: Nickel Relic
Jack Plate: Oval, Relic
Finish Body: Hand Rubbed Violin Varnish
Neck: French Polish
Custom Color: Violin Varnish
Weight: 5lbs 14oz
Case: Hardshell Humicase
