Ryan Cross Handmade Paul Bigsby Tribute – USA 2007

This is a one-of-a-kind custom guitar made by Ryan Cross in 2007. It is obviously heavily influenced by Paul Bigsby's early forays into electric solid body guitar design back in the late 1940s.

Ryan is listed as the owner of Defiance Guitars which is a boutique luthiery in the New York area.

Fitted with two TV Jones Filtertron humbuckers, a Bigsby B-5, a bow tie bridge and Bigsby tailpiece, this guitar plays really well, with a unique vibe to it.

Up top on that majestic oversized headstock are staggered locking tuners that may have been a later addition as a string retaining bar looks to have been installed at some point in the past.

The lacquer finish does show a little wear, but overall the guitar is in excellent condition with apparently very few playing hours logged on it. Which is a shame because it actually plays well and sounds great. Those Filtertrons certainly pack some sparkle and spank. 

It is a well crafted instrument, handmade in NY probably as a special order. And it is somewhat cheaper than an original 1949 Paul Bigsby guitar which sold recently at auction for US $266,500 !

Comes as is – ie without a case or gig bag.