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REFERENCE PAGE! Photos and Contributions welcome!

Isana Jazz-Guitars

These Archtop Guitars are thought to have been hand-made in small quantities by (or for) Ignaz Sandner in Nauheim, Near Frankfurt, from circa 1957-1959.

They are most well-known for being pictured with Elvis Presley, who purchased one whilst stationed in Bad Nauheim, Germany 1958.

One example (contentiously said to be Elvis' personal guitar) spent time as part of the Smithsonian collection, and was on display in the Memphis Museum of Rock 'n' Soul. A press-release from the time of the guitar's acquisition claimed it to be 'possibly the only remaining example in the world'.

It is more likely that a total of as many as 100-150 were built, with known recorded production dates spanning 1957-1959 (month and year of manufacture is stamped inside the guitar, on the back directly underneath either (or both) soundhole(s).

The most common colour appears to have been the classic German 'Black Rose' aka Red-black Sunburst finish, with slightly less in the more conventional (brown or 3-colour) Sunburst. Only a very few examples (I know of four including Elvis') have surfaced in Black finish.

The above example in Glossy Black finish shows the earliest known production date-stamp, 'NOV 1957'.

This 'Black Rose' sunburst example bears a date-stamp 'OKT 1959', the latest-dated guitar I have heard of bears the date 'NOV 1959'

Here's another similar Isana Archtop Guitar I found pictured online, included for reference.

It appears to be a less ornate, non-cutaway Archtop model in 3 colour sunburst.

Note the simplified Headstock overlay, simple generic tailpiece, no binding on soundholes, and a more-conventionally-shaped pickguard (although the whiter colouring suggests this may be non-original).