Chandler Austin Special

Mine is No.23 from 1992. I'm not familiar with technical terms, but especially compared to my fenders, it is lightweight and relativelly small guitar, with good balance. It is most confortable playing while standing.
The body is nicely contoured, and has a few bumps and scratches. I've read somewhere that it is made of alder, but the nature of the bumps suggest a more light wood, they are similar to those on my jap strat, which is poplar.
The neck is very similar to my tele's, which is a thick, strong U shape. I have big hands and I like that, it's confortable and sounds good.
The headstock is strongly tilted backwards, and feature vintage style kluston keys, that I like the best. Not only they are easy to install strings on, easy to turn, but holds well, and on top of all that, they are not dangerous to the kid (he always goes for the headstock and machine heads of a guitar first, maybe cause they are the shiniest part. spiky string ends might be dangerous) The neck has a nice, vintage satin lacquer finish and feels good to touch. (someone complaind about the finish - I dont)

The bridge humbucker is in fact two singles in a line, of which one can be muted by pulling the tone control. I tend to use this feature: I play singel most of the time, and only push it form more gain when necessary.

This guitar does not need any further feature. i1d appreciate a straplock button, or two, but they might not fir the vintage style, i admit.

I play blues, slide and mostly own music, i1m a kinda songwriter. It absolutelly fits my style, it has a unique, very bright, almost metallic sound, just like an amplified dobro guitar might have. "vibe" is a very good world, it definitelly has a vibe, that i like the most.Maybe its the lipsticks, maybe the guitar is just rightly built.
I've seen john myer playing a strat with such lipstic Pu's at the crossroads fest. Also, i have to admit, that this is the quietest guitar in my collection. You have to turn up the volume a little bit.
i play mostly a hybrid fender amp (performer, which I love) and an army of pedals, but this one sound the best without pedals. Somehow theyx kill its tone more than any other guitars tone. It has a very natural acoustic sound, and sounds unnatural with most stompboxes.
I tend to use a bit of tremolo and tubescreamer with it.

I play a lot of slide and hammering, when I bought the guitar, the first thing i didm was replace the strings, cause i thought they were .9's. Wrong. It was good old .10 ernie ball, just the strings feel softer on this baby than on the fenders, since it has a shorter scale (menzura?) of the neck. Which is good in a way, I can play faster solos, but makes it impossible to play slide with a medium action. take it like this: its a lead guitar and you dont play slide OR go for higher action, than you dont play lead OR go for stronger strings, medium action, and apart from a decent slide sound, you'll be able to play quite fast, whithout breaking your fingers, which is quite rare for a slide setup. I do this: .11 earnie ball strings, and open D or standard tuning.

I cannot really comment on durability, as i've only own it only for a few monts. This is an old guitar, and it looks solid, thats enough. Under reliability I note something that might be more of a usability problem. The chickenhead knobs turn easily, and I tend to turn down volume accidently when I strung a big chord. Also, the push and pull mechanism easily turns the tone flat. I usually turn the tone midways between flat and sharp, since the guitar has a trebly sound already.
I hate to destroy originality, but i seriously think about replaceing the nice chicken knobs to something more practical. i have to confess, that i never played this guitar live as yet, but I am preparing...

never tried, but since the company failed to mention this model on any of its resources, I tend to think, that theres no costumer support, it they admit that they produced this model atall.
Furthermore, this is very hard to find any info or pictures on this model on the internet, which suggests that it is in fact a very rare guitar... if I'll have the time, i1ll put together a page dedicated for this beauty on my blog, until then I created a yahoo group for it. Anyone owning, or interested in it, would up or download pic or info, please join, currently I am the only member. http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/austinspecial/

One of my childhood dreams that came true having this guitar. I1ve first seen ted newman-Jones's guitar in David Dalton's rolling stones bio, "the first twenty years". thats what led me to the trickery of the five string guitar. I photocopied the guitar plan and decided that once I build a guitar on that template, if I only knew how. i first saw them, mass produced in a Chandler ad from a 93 Guitar World mag. Altough the ads did not refer to Ted N-J, but the presence of the 5-string model as well as the "austin" brand made it clear. I once seen a 5 string model in england, used, and I hate the fact that i did not buy it straight away. Apart from that, I never ever seen a 5 string model. Once again I saw a 6 string here in budapest at a local vintage shop, and I did not buy, cause I hoped to find a 6 string model. I managed to buy the very same guitar now, some 6 years later, and I havent ever seen a 5 string model in my life. if you got one, contact me.

Beautifully made guitar: Mine is black (body and headstock) with Rosewood fretboard, lipstick pickups (single neck, humbucker with coil tap at bridge, hard tail, kluson vintage style tuners, string through bridge, black chicken head pointer knobs, and white (now yellowed) pearloid binding. It's about 8 pounds ... very light. Bolt on neck. All original. Made in U.S.A. 1992. Bought in 2006. Perfect condition. Looks like a Les Paul in a fun house mirror. Very Funky.

This guitar rings like a bell. The bridge pickup is super bright with ton's of sustain. When coil tapped the bridge is surprisingly strong with a sweet single coil snap. The neck pickup is warm and wonderfully mellow ... very jazzy. She's very versatile. My two favorites sounds: Neck pickup through Fender 65 Twin Reverb AND Bridge pickup through a Hottie Amp driving my Mesa Boogie 2x12 with Celestion Vintage 30's.

Very well built. This guitar is tough. In my hands it feels similar to a Fender '52 Reissue Tele. SOLID. Jumbo frets are well tapered and the neck sits tightly in pocket. I don't have the action set too low but this neck is solid and straight enough to get super low on the fretboard.

I'd very much prefer if this guitar had a lightly applied laquer finish on the neck and body. Chandler uses a Dupont Chroma finish (polyurethane). The finish is immaculate and lighty applied. The strap buttons are vintage style and barely hold on. They sure look gooD.

If you can get past the gatekeeper (a young lady who wants to know everything including your birthweight before she decides if you can speak to someone) Chandler is very very friendly and helpful.

I love this guitar. I'd like a second one ... and a third. I first saw the Austin Special at the Arlington Texas Guitar Show in 1992. They had a booth full of them. It was love at first sight. I was a teenager in 1992 and couldn't afford one. This guitar is one of the most elegant sounding an esthetically pleasing guitars I've ever played. I bought this one from a store that found it in storage. New old stock with original case.

High gloss Balck w/MOP binding. Chandler Lipsticks, single in the neck and dual in the bridge, string thru, Kluson tuners, original hardshell case. Pretty light, hangs well. 1992 #20. American Made!

I love the whole vibe of this guitar. Very few of these to be found.
I love the Lipstick pickups. Full Tilt Boogie guitar.

I bought it used. IT's a '92 model. Usual dings and scratches. I tweaked it to my liking and now it's my main guitar.

If this guitar is anything like other Chandler products, it'll live longer than I will. I always carry other guitars w/me but this one is the main axe. I added leather strap locks and a 4" Italia strap. Doubt if it'll ever come loose or slip off.

Chandler offers little info about these instruments.

I've been playing over 30 years. I started at 8 after my Dad got me playing western swing and bluegrass. I've had many different types of guitars. I have two Yamaha Tele's ( one w/singles the other w/dual Reverend humbuckers), a '79 GUILD F40 Jumbo, a La Patrie clasical and a MIM Strat. I'd buy more of these if I could find them. Is yours for sale?

High Gloss Black w/Mother of Pearl, Tele bastardized body designed by Ted Newman-Jones, string/solid bridge, Kluson tuners, neck is pretty flatradiused, original case, Chandler Lipsticks ( a single and a dual) w/a splitter thru the tone pot, 3 way toggle, Maple Neck, body might be Basswood, pretty light.

I just bought #20 from 1992. I love this guitar. Been wating this or a Newman since 1986. I play alot of different styles, but, for full tilt boogie, cuntry, rock or jammin', it's working out great!
I run it thru a tri-way amp set-up, a Traynor YVC80 and two Lab Series L5's. I love the tone of the lipstick pickups. Haven't used the tone splitter too much to comment on that.

This guitar was previously owned. With a little neck tweak and pickup heigth adjustment, it ws too my liking.

If this guitar is anything like other Chandler products, it'll last forever. There's some nicks,dings and cracks, but, I don't care.
I put on leather strap locks secured w/2 inch wood scrwes into the body and a four inch Italia strap. I doubt it'll ever come loose or slip.
I use it almost exclusively now, but, I still carry two Yamaha Tele's and a Strat along.

I contacted Chandler regarding these guitars years ago. There was little info that they could provide or chose not to give out. Guess there might have been a rift betwen them and Ted Newman-Jones.

I started playing in bands at 8 yrs. old after my Dad taught me some country and bluegrass. I have 2 Yamaha Tele's, one w/single cils and the other w/dual Reverend humbuckers. I have 2 Lab Series L5 and a Traynt YCG80. I use an old Pro Co RAT that I modded, a Snarling Dog Wah and a stage tuner. I also use my own line of AB boxes, effects loopers and cables. I laso have a 1979 GUILD F40 and a La Patrie Classical.

I love the whole vibe of this guitar. Jesse Taylor, Keith Richards and Lance Keltner are the ony pro's I know who used these or Newmans.

High Gloss Black w/Mother of Pearl, Tele bastardized body designed by Ted Newman-Jones, string/solid bridge, Kluson tuners, neck is pretty flatradiused, original case, Chandler Lipsticks ( a single and a dual) w/a splitter thru the tone pot, 3 way toggle, Maple Neck, body might be Basswood, pretty light.

I just bought #20 from 1992. I love this guitar. Been wating this or a Newman since 1986. I play alot of different styles, but, for full tilt boogie, cuntry, rock or jammin', it's working out great!
I run it thru a tri-way amp set-up, a Traynor YVC80 and two Lab Series L5's. I love the tone of the lipstick pickups. Haven't used the tone splitter too much to comment on that.

This guitar was previously owned. With a little neck tweak and pickup heigth adjustment, it ws too my liking.

If this guitar is anything like other Chandler products, it'll last forever. There's some nicks,dings and cracks, but, I don't care.
I put on leather strap locks secured w/2 inch wood scrwes into the body and a four inch Italia strap. I doubt it'll ever come loose or slip.
I use it almost exclusively now, but, I still carry two Yamaha Tele's and a Strat along.

I contacted Chandler regarding these guitars years ago. There was little info that they could provide or chose not to give out. Guess there might have been a rift betwen them and Ted Newman-Jones.

I started playing in bands at 8 yrs. old after my Dad taught me some country and bluegrass. I have 2 Yamaha Tele's, one w/single cils and the other w/dual Reverend humbuckers. I have 2 Lab Series L5 and a Traynt YCG80. I use an old Pro Co RAT that I modded, a Snarling Dog Wah and a stage tuner. I also use my own line of AB boxes, effects loopers and cables.
I love the whole vibe of this guitar. Jesse Taylor, Keith Richards and Lance Keltner are the ony pro's I know who used these or Newmans.

Wow...I thought I was the only one outside of Keith that had one of these...My Austin Special has had some work done...I bought it because it played well and was balances better than a Tele...BUT...I added a graphite nut, graphite string saddles, Grover locking tuners, a Carvin stacked humbucker up front and a Carvin SD at the bridge...
And kept the coil splitter...Now as well as playing great, it sounds equally as great...I can do mellow jazz stuff or I can kick ass...Few guitars are as versatile...Plus nobody that I have seen throughout the northeast has ever even seen one especially with the prismatic colors...There are not very many of these left alive...&...I have been offered $3,000.00 for this one...But...Mama says it's gotta stay 'cause it's so pretty...An excellent guitar...Especially now that it has been customly done up for me...

Like no other guitar guitar that I get to play...Very, mellow...
yet capable of great power...Whew ! Was shallow...But...Not any longer...Completely re-wired to my specs...

Action-wise...As good as anything I've seen...Replaced electronics to my specs...Finish-wise...Like custom house strat...

Light...Like good swamp ash...All hardware is switchcraft...Finish is still like new...I never use any instrument without a backup...But...
This is as reliable a piece as I own...

Tried to get in touch with Chandler to find out how many of these were manufactured...But they never replied...

I've been playing for 45 years...Have toured as backup with many groups during the 50s & 60s...I have a dozen or so guitars...7 Electric basses, two upright basses, several mandolins, a tenor guitar, amps & PA's...Cheez !...Where do I put all this stuff...

What a strange looking axe.It looks like a Gumby strat meets Les Paul.
The Lipsticks sound too thin so I put in a mid boost.Sounds great now!
I love the fat 60s neck and big frets,Roosewood slab board and toilet seat trim.This guitar is out of date now they stopped making them.I've got number 75 in 1992.Keith Richards designed it too.Just a wonderful instrument that sounds as funky as it looks.Mine is Black with a black headstock.

This guitar is inbetween a Gretsch and a tele tone.It's suppose to be a cadillac Dano but it goes a little further.The midboost fattens up the tone a lot.I couldn't use this stock.The bridge is a hardtail strat style ,very smart move.

The finish is already atarted to check but thats ok the guitar will last into it's vintage years.the binding is the best feature.

This is a great slide guitar and really good for clean playing.You can sound like you on it in a world of Stevie Ray Vaunabeese.

Good company they will talk to you1

I love this thing but unfortunately the trade in value sucks.Just like G&Ls.they make better guitars than the big guys but you can'y get anything for them when you trade em in....