A 1940s Levin Deluxe archtop guitar in natural finish. Owned and played by Randy Bachman, who has sold 40 million records worldwide as a member of The Guess Who, Bachman-Turner Overdrive, and as a solo artist. One of a number of guitars in Randy’s painstakingly-assembled collection of archtop acoustic guitars ranging from the 1940s-1960s.

Made in Sweden by Levin, a group founded by Herman Carlson Levin in 1900, which was at one point the largest producer of musical instruments in all of Scandinavia. The company mainly made acoustic guitars, but also produced banjos, mandolins, and lutes. Notably, a Levin Deluxe owned by Fred Guy of the Duke Ellington Orchestra was photographed in 1946 in the hands of none other than renowned Jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt.

This Levin Deluxe guitar features a five piece maple and mahogany neck, a 20-fret bound ebony fretboard with large mother of pearl block inlays, each adorned with black decorative accents. The headstock wears six tuners with transparent amber-colored plastic buttons, and mother of pearl inlay work with Levin logo.

The cutaway body is fully bound in multi-ply white and black binding, with a spruce top and mahogany back and sides. The f-shaped sound holes are also bound. Gold Levin Deluxe tailpiece, adjustable ebony bridge, and a faux shell celluloid pickguard which has deteriorated and off-gassed over time. Added DeArmond Rhythm Chief, aka “Monkey on a Stick pickup, which is not currently attached. Volume and tone controls mounted to the pickguard. Herman Carlson Levin label inside the guitar.

Includes hardshell case.

PROVENANCE From The Collection of Randy Bachman

Guitars & Instruments, Randy Bachman