For the historian

The first, free, public Carnegie Library commissioned by Andrew Carnegie in the U.S. was completed in Allegheny City in 1890. The historic structure remained as part of the Carnegie Library system until storm damage moved the library two blocks to a new structure on Federal Street. The body of this guitar came from a large 16/4 X 9/4 inch beam of Eastern White Pine salvaged during renovation in 2018 to create MuseumLab.

The beam, coated in a century of coal smoke and steel mill dust, held plaster lathe fastened with machine-cut square nails. Saw and tool marks testify to a large bolt and nut that held this wood to the steel and stone of the Library. The carriage bolt and nut in the guitar body emulate the original and the square nails have been reset. The Carnegie logo on the headstock is a faithful recreation of the Carnegie brand, still visible and stamped in the steel beams of MuseumLab.

For the musician

This telecaster-style guitar captures Leo Fender's design for the first mass-produced guitar to put electric guitars within reach for the masses. This recreation has modern updates to produce great tone and playability while remaining consistent with Fender's original intent. The Telecaster to this day remains one of the iconic electric guitars for its blue-collar attitude and unmistakable sound. Fender's original prototypes were made of pine like this one, but that was abandoned for alder once production began. Fender-licensed parts were used to create this unique instrument with extraordinary quality, authenticity and tone.

Modern enhancements include:

* Warmoth Modern maple neck with ebony fret board and with a hand cut, fossil mammoth ivory nut.

* The 130-year old, eastern white pine body is close-grained and light with remarkable resonance that produces a clear tone and an unusual bark and growl.

* The Rose "Alba" and "Bourbon" pickups emulate Leo Fender's hand-wound originals.

* Controls include a 4-way switch that provides the original three pickup selections with an additional lead channel, linking the neck and bridge pickup in series.

* The pickup and control cavities as well as the pick guard are copper-lined and electrically grounded to reduce hum and noise.

* Hard shell case and certificate of authenticity included.

The one-of-a-kind combination of old and modern, with a nod to the industrial past and blue-collar roots, makes this guitar one for the ages.