James D’Aquisto (American, 1935–1995)
Archtop Guitar, New Yorker Special model, “Hagstrom” prototype (serial number 101), 1966
Spruce, maple, ebony, brass, celluloid, mother-of-pearl; sunburst finish, cutaway; W. 17 in. (43.2 cm)
Perry A. Margouleff, New York

D’Aquisto introduced his own ideas soon after beginning to build guitars independently. Already apparent on this instrument, made in 1966 as a prototype for a mass-produced guitar that was manufactured by the Hagstrom company in Sweden, is a rejection of the Art Deco designs of D’Angelico and the introduction of new outlines for the pickguard, headstock, f-holes, and tailpiece without D’Angelico’s stairstep.