Description
This is the third Hancock Adelaide archtop guitar listed by PREMIER GUITARS in the past few years. We describe the Hancock Adelaide model as quite simply one of the very best handmade archtop guitars we have ever seen, or heard. They are exquisite instruments to behold, and to play.
The combination of the finest aged European timbers and elaborate binding and inlay work make the Adelaide the top of the line Hancock model. The Adelaide is carved from an aged European cello soundboard blank while the back and sides are of the finest flamed European maple. With aesthetics reminiscent of the famous D’Angelico instruments from the 1950s-60s, the Adelaide is distinguished from lower models not only by its superior quality materials, but also the elaborate bindings and inlays which adorn the body and neck.
And this custom Cloud Nine model is interesting as it actually pre-dates the first Adelaide model. When this one came in on consignment we called Sean Hancock to get some background. He remembers the guitar well and verified it being built to the highest spec available at the time. They called it the Cloud Nine, and later models of the same spec subsequently became the Hancock Adelaide. So this is the only Hancock Cloud Nine I existence. It is labeled as such and dated 2002 on the sticker inside the body.
The other interesting thing is that this Hancock Adelaide / Cloud Nine was custom made and owned by UK guitarist Kevin Neill who sadly passed away in 2010. Kevin was the guitarist for acclaimed Irish group The Bachelors who had worldwide hits with “I Believe”, “Diane” and many more from 1964 on. This guitar was purchased in the UK by an Australian buyer who returned with it to Oz recently. So it has literally been around the world and back to its country of origin.
It features intricate bindings of black ebony on the body, F-holes, headstock, fingerboard and pickguard. Other features include a 15-piece Art Deco emblem headstock inlay, Mother of Pearl truss rod cover and Mother of Pearl inlays embellishing the rear headstock veneer and bridge. Truly a work of art, with a sound to match.
Features –
Model – Adelaide / Cloud Nine
Body Width – 17″
Body Length – 21″
Body Depth – 3 3/8″
Scale Length – 25 1/2″
Neck Width At Nut – 1 11/16″
Hand Carved Master Grade European Spruce Top (Cello Grade Timber)
Hand Carved Master Grade Flamed European Maple Back (Cello Grade Timber)
Master Grade Flamed European Maple Sides (Cello Grade Timber)
Master Grade Flamed North American Maple Neck
Ebony Headstock Veneer
Headstock Inlay – Mother of Pearl Hancock Script Inlay & 15 Piece Black Pearl Art Deco Emblem
Rear Headstock Veneer Ebony
Ebony Fretboard
Highly Figured Mother of Pearl Split Block Inlays
Fretboard Binding – Ebony binding with maple purfling
Two F – Holes With Ebony binding & 2-ply purfling
Body Binding – Ebony binding with 4-ply purfling
Schaller Gold Machine Heads With Ebony Buttons
Kent Armstrong Pickup With Volume Control and Endpin Jack
Hand Buffed Nitrocellulose Lacquer Traditional Natural Finish
Medium Wide Frets
Hand Cut Bone Nut
Solid Ebony Hand Carved Pickguard
Solid Ebony Hand Carved Tailpiece
Bridge – 2 Piece Ebony Adjustable
Double Action Adjustable Truss Rod
Truss Rod Cover – Highly Figured Mother of Pearl Stepped Design
Weight is 5.85 lbs
About Hancock Guitars –
Hancock custom archtop guitars are built by brothers Dane and Sean in the Hancock family workshop on Australia’s Gold Coast. Each instrument is completely handmade by them from start to finish. About 200 hours is spent constructing each guitar. This amount of labour means they can only produce a very limited number of guitars, but also results in instruments with close to perfect workmanship, a look of genuine quality craftsmanship and a magnificent sound that only comes from a handcrafted archtop guitar.
Only the finest quality, hand-picked materials are used in a Hancock archtop guitar. Each component is made to exacting specifications and then tuned to suit the piece of timber it is made from. This gives the assembled instrument the optimum sound and the most beautiful look possible. Hancock have studied the instruments of the master archtop builders John D’Angelico and James D’Aquisto and drawn much inspiration from their designs, while also incorporating their own ideas into the design of his guitars, both in aesthetics and tone.
The price for a Hancock Adelaide is now around $17,000 with around a year’s wait for a new build.
The Adelaide model is so rarely now made by Hancock, that this may be a unique opportunity to purchase a world class handmade archtop at a less than astronomical price.
It is in the most pristine condition imaginable for a guitar over 17 years of age. It has been looked after beautifully by Kevin Neill, and its current owner. It presents in showroom condition and shows no sign of player wear at all, including the frets.
This one-off guitar is extraordinarily lively to play with a lush acoustic sound, and a glorious amplified tone when plugged in.
Comes in its Hiscox Liteflite hard case in excellent condition.
