Fairbanks F-20 Salvage - Sinker Sitka Spruce & Old Mahogany #0226399

The Fairbanks F-20 Salvage is a guitar built from materials that already carried decades of history before Dale Fairbanks ever brought them to the bench. With years of experience devoted to the study, restoration, and construction of traditional American guitars, Dale has earned a reputation for instruments that capture the dryness, immediacy, and character of the finest vintage examples while retaining the precision and reliability of a modern handmade guitar.

His association with Circle Strings has placed him within a world centered on exceptional craftsmanship and a deep respect for historic instruments. Through years spent examining, repairing, and learning from old guitars, Dale has developed an intimate understanding of how lightly built bodies, carefully shaped braces, seasoned woods, and subtle construction choices work together to create a truly responsive voice. The F-20 Salvage reflects that knowledge in every detail.

The centerpiece of this guitar is its Sinker Salmon Trap Sitka spruce top. Reclaimed from timber once used in historic salmon traps, this remarkable spruce spent years submerged before being recovered and given a new purpose. Time, water, and natural aging have transformed the wood, imparting a maturity and stability that cannot be rushed. Its voice is clear, dry, and beautifully seasoned, with a quick response and a strong fundamental character.

Old mahogany forms the back and sides, bringing warmth, woodiness, and a focused midrange presence to the guitar. Paired with Adirondack spruce bracing, the body responds effortlessly to a light touch while retaining enough strength and headroom for more assertive playing. Notes emerge with definition and personality, followed by a warm, natural decay that gives the guitar the feeling of an instrument that has already been played for generations.

The compact F-20 body, short 24.75 inch scale, and exceptionally light 3 pound 5 ounce construction make this guitar wonderfully comfortable and alive in the hands. The mahogany neck is shaped to a soft V profile, offering a secure and familiar feel, while the 1.75 inch nut width provides ample room for fingerstyle playing, melodic flatpicking, and intricate chord work.

Indian rosewood is used for both the fingerboard and bridge, complemented by mother of pearl inlays, ivoroid binding, and a tortoise celluloid pickguard. Waverly tuners provide smooth and accurate adjustment, while the thin nitrocellulose finish allows the natural beauty of the salvaged spruce and old mahogany to remain fully visible. Without the shading of a burst, the grain, color, and individual history of these rare materials take center stage.

The Fairbanks F-20 Salvage is an instrument of unusual depth and authenticity. It brings together reclaimed woods, traditional construction, and the insight of a builder who has spent years learning directly from the great guitars of the past. Complete with a TKL case, this is a lightweight, intimate, and deeply expressive guitar whose story is already written into the wood, waiting for its next chapter to be played.

Other specifications include:

• Style: F-20 Salvage Series
• Top: Sinker Salmon Trap Sitka Spruce
• Back & Sides: Old Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Neck Shape: Soft V
• Fingerboard: Indian Rosewood
• Bridge: Indian Rosewood
• Bracing: Adirondack
• Scale Length: 24.75"
• Nut Width: 1.75"
• Finish: Nitrocellulose
• Pickguard: Tortoise Celluloid
• Tuners: Waverly
• Inlays: Mother of Pearl (MOP)
• Binding: Ivoroid
• Case: TKL
• Weight: 3 lbs 5 oz
• Serial Number: 0226399

For more information about the Fairbanks F-20 Salvage Series, please contact us.

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