A c.1950s-1960s Wolfgang Huttl Archtop Acoustic Guitar in natural finish over flamed maple and what appears to be wenge, 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.

Made by Wolfgang Huttl in West Germany in the late 1950s or early 1960s, this is one of the most unique pieces in Randy’s collection. The double-cutaways and open harp-style tailpiece could be inspired by Rickenbacker, and the same could be said for the triangular fretboard inlays which jut into the rosewood from the bass side and are made from the same white-black-white material as the body binding.

The body itself is a a dance of two-toned wood: flamed maple for the lighter portions, and what appears to be wenge for the darker. The intricate craftsmanship here cannot be overstated, interrupted only by two uniquely Huttl sound holes, bound in white and black. On the back, a similarly playful light-and-dark wood pattern plays out, with white-and-black binding, same as the top.

The neck is a multi-piece maple laminate leading to a “Twisted Snail” headstock design –– again, entirely unique among Huttl’s work. The face of the headstock has a diagonal pattern of alternating figured maple all the way up to the dark scroll, with a triangular W. Huttl badge affixed to the finish and a pearloid cover behind the white-black-white nut and zero fret.

Even more impressive is that this instrument was recently restored by Canadian luthier Nicole Alosinac, which included a neck reset, new wood grafted on to the headstock, and re-glued binding. All in all, stunning work.

Includes hardshell case.

PROVENANCE From The Collection of Randy Bachman

Guitars & Instruments, Randy Bachman