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Jet City Guitars – by
players, for players
At Jet City Guitars we have more than 50 years of experience
playing professionally and collecting and trading vintage instruments.
Our appreciation of great old guitars comes naturally from being
fans of a wide range of American music – from acoustic blues
and country music of the 1920s and 1930s to rhythm and blues and
the birth of rock and roll. As players, we pride ourselves in finding
great guitars that are a joy to play as well as being collectible
investments. When necessary we restore these great instruments to
their original tone and playability without interfering with their
vintage character. We love to buy, play, and restore these great
guitars. Often we hate to part with them! We try to offer a range
of instruments from museum-quality pieces to "players"
instruments. Because we are an Internet and mail order-only business
and do not have retail overhead, we are able to pass some savings
on to our customers, and can use more of our resources to acquire
great instruments. While we specialize in pre-war Martins and Gibson
acoustics, we are also rock n roll fans and will consider any great
guitar in trade. We are always looking to buy or take in trade old
Gibson flattops and depression-era Martins, especially 0, 000, and
OM guitars. Please contact us if you have such a guitar to sell.
We pay fair prices for great guitars. We will also take on consignment
guitars from the Seattle area. Visit our web site often to see our
frequently updated inventory. If you are in the Seattle area or
visiting and you would like to play one of our guitars, please contact
us in advance via email.
The Jet City Players – Biography
ALLEN KATZ
| Al learned a little drums and piano as a kid
but as a teenager became seduced by the music of the mid 60s
-- early influences included The Ventures, Motown, Steve Cropper,
The Beatles and others. In 1966 he acquired his first decent
guitar, a Hofner archtop. In the early 70s he discovered the
blues and started to collect records and guitars… Throughout
the ‘70s Al played professionally in various Country, Rock
,and R & B bands around central Washington state and in
Ithaca, NY, ending the decade touring and recording with Doug
Kershaw and Bonnie Bramlett. During the next ten years he continued
to perform in Seattle area clubs, and worked as a sideman with
classic American artists such as Etta James, Big Mama Thornton,
Bell & James, Mary Wells, Charlie Musslewhite, Bo Diddley
and others. Al’s eclectic taste in music stretches from
reggae, funk, Cajun, Country & Western, country blues, surf
and beyond. He currently teaches and continues to perform regularly
with various groups in the Pacific Northwest area. His current
favorite things include a 1933 Martin 0-18, a ’34 12-fret
000-28H, a ’63 hardtail Strat, a 1996 Historic Reissue
Les Paul Custom, a ’53 Les Paul Goldtop, and a 1952 Fender
Telecaster. Al is a guy who knows good sounding guitars! |
JAMES BROWN
 Jim’s
playing career started at age 12 with a $15 Sears Silvertone
sunburst acoustic. From his early playing days, Jim retains
only his love of music and his obsession with sunburst guitars.
His junior high school band – The Four Festies – went
nowhere fast although Jim & company practiced every day
(Jim on his sunburst Hagstrom electric, ala Frank Zappa) for
more than three years. In high school, Jim played in coffeehouses
in the Kansas City metropolitan area to absolutely no acclaim,
critical or otherwise. Jim’s playing took a 20-year hiatus
while Jim pursued a business career, most recently with Microsoft.
Jim resumed playing last year under the tutelage of Allen Kaatz,
one of the finest players and teachers in the Pacific Northwest.
Jim currently plays a 1938 Martin 0-18 (sunburst), 1934 Martin
000-18, and a 1926 Martin 0-18. |
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