Retrograde Guitars are hand built one at a time in NorfolkMassachusetts by Luthier Glenn Nichols. Glenn has a long background in guitarbuilding and is a master finisher. He worked many years for Santa Cruz GuitarCompany as their head finisher and later learned many different finishingtechniques, such as French Polish, Shellac and Varnish finishes from hisemployment at Kenny Hill Guitar Company. Now with his own company RetrogradeGuitars, Glenn Nichols still spends one day a week improving his skills workingwith world renowned acoustic guitar luthier Bill Tippin at Tippin Guitars, aswell as doing repairs and restorations on many of the worlds finest vintageguitars and stringed instruments.  

The Cambridge is a nod to vintage department store, catalogArchtops of the 50’s and 60’s. The difference is that these are fully handbuilt, high end guitars; built one at a time by a highly skilled Luthier, with extremeattention to every detail. From the hand rubbed French Polish Varnish Finish tothe handmade adjustable bridge and masterful bracing techniques, no stone isleft unturned on a Retrograde build. Glenn now even winds his own pickups, inthis case a set of his Alnico-3 P-90s. They suit the woody acoustic tone ofthis guitar beautifully, with wonderful clarity and note definition. Thepickups are not at all muddy and one of the most pleasing sets of P-90’s we’veheard. The guitar is a dream when played clean with beautiful warmth and a crisptop end. When overdriven this is the perfect guitar for blues playing. The toneis fat and incredibly rich in harmonics. You’ll also notice the light weight ofthis guitar at 5lbs 12.8oz as well as the incredibly easy playability and top notchfretwork. This Cambridge is certainly one of our favorite instruments to evercome through the shop.

Here’s what Glenn has to say about the Cambridge model.

From RetrogradeGuitars:

“Based ondepartment store catalog guitars of the 50’s and 60’s, this style of Cambridgefeatures Fully Hollow construction, a handmade adjustable wooden bridge, and a threebolt neck joint.
The three bolt Catalog Style neck joint is a solid, andfunctional joint, with threaded steel inserts in the neck heel. After final setup, a small amount of Hide Glue is used in the joint. This insures that thejoint is solid, enhances tone transfer, and is easily separated if adjustmentsare needed in the future, much like the fusing of lacquer in the neck joints ofvintage electric guitars.
A center laminate of Mahogany is used in the top for apleasing woody tone, and German spruce braces are carved and voiced for acousticprojection. The adjustable wooden bridge keeps vibration warm and mellow.
Fully hollow construction, a short 24.9 scale, and P-90 pickups,keep the tone and feel sweet and saggy.
The Catalog Style Cambridge has often been described as “anacoustic guitar players electric guitar”, and is well suited for Fingerstyle,Jazz and Blues.”

Specs:

Body

Top: 5 ply laminate, Flame Maple with Mahogany core 

Back: 5 ply Maple laminate 

Sides: Solid maple 

F-Holes: Violin style 

Bracing: German Spruce 

Neck 

Wood: Mahogany 

Fingerboard: Granadillo 

Headstock: Madagascar rosewood 

Backstrap: Madagascar rosewood 

Scale Length: 24.9” 

Nut Width: 1 11/16” 

Neck Joint: Catalog style3 bolt 

Frets: 6105 

Binding 

Body: Single Cream 

Headstock: none 

Fingerboard: None(Faux binding fret slots)

Inlay

Headstock: Pearl Retrograde logo

Fingerboard: Pearl dots

Side Dots: White

Electronics

Pickups: RetrogradeP-90, Old Soul Alnico 3

Wiring: Volume,tone, tone

Appointments

Tuners: Gotohkluson style Relic

Bridge: Handmade adjustable, Granadillo w/

Maple saddle

Tailpiece: SolidRelic

Pickguard: Pearloid 

Nut: Bone

StrapButtons: Nickel Relic

Jack Plate:Oval, Relic

Finish

Body: HandRubbed Antiqued Varnish

Neck: FrenchPolish

Overlay:French Polish

Custom Color:Honey Amber

Weight: 5lbs 12.8oz

Case: HardshellHumicase