Rare mid 1990s Fender SB-15 acoustic guitar, made in Spring ...

Hammer

£1,450

Rare mid 1990s Fender SB-15 acoustic guitar, made in Spring Hill, Tennessee, USA, ser. no. 3135069; Back and sides: mahogany; Top: natural premium grade sitka spruce; Neck: mahogany; Fretboard: rosewood; Frets: good; Hardware: good; Case: original hard case; Weight: 2.25kg; Overall condition: very good

* In the mid 1990s, Fender decided that it was time to make a significant mark in the acoustic guitar market by designing a "World Class" line of acoustic guitars. The recent successes of several acoustic builders such as Taylor, Larrivee, and Breedlove, to name a few, prompted fender to build all solid wood acoustic guitars in the USA to compete in this growing market. 

In 1994, Fender contracted the Apprentice Shop in Spring Hill, Tennessee to help develop and build this new line of acoustics, that would be comparable in quality, construction, playability, and most importantly tone, to the best all solid wood instruments on the market. The Apprentice Shop, under direction of Mike Lennon, was world renown for expert repair, re-finishing, and restoration of vintage instruments.

A total of 440 guitars were hand built from 1994 until early 1996 by a small group of master luthiers, however the purchase of Guild, with their well known, well respected, line of acoustic guitars eliminated the need for Fender to break into the high end acoustic market. In late 1995 the Spring Hill Series was discontinued. Most of the master craftsman building the Spring Hill Series guitars went on to form the Guild Custom Shop later in 1996.