Bill Lawrence BL-1 (See Through Red, c. 1985)

This BL-1 is in remarkably fine condition—almost dead stock, with its metal parts still gleaming as they did when new. The neck pocket marking “BL1-21R STR” confirms the model. According to the now-closed website The Study of Bill Lawrence Guitars, this particular model was likely manufactured around 1985.

Bill Lawrence guitars are noted for their use of well-seasoned, stable tonewoods, and it’s rare to find a body made from more than three pieces.

The “STR” designation stands for See Through Red, indicating a transparent finish that allows the natural grain of the body wood to show through—clearly intended to highlight the beauty of the ash. Although it’s often said that ash wood doesn’t exhibit tiger striping, a subtle tiger grain pattern can be seen on the first-string side of this guitar. It’s possible that the wood is actually sen (Japanese ash) rather than true North American ash—or perhaps the information I had was simply mistaken.

The combination of ash, known for its bright midrange and crisp high end, and the L-500 pickups, which emphasize the same frequency range, makes this guitar particularly well suited for lead playing.

Original list price: ¥77,000 — the highest in the BL-1 lineup
Weight: 3.76 kg (including strings; arm shown in photo not included)
(Updated August 18, 2016)