I wish I could give you more information about this very clean little classical/folk guitar, but the model number shown is all the info I can find. Checkmate was a line of guitars and amps made by Teisco from the 1950s to the 1970s, mainly for department stores. Initially they were made in Japan, but the factory may have shifted to Korea or somewhere else by the time they stopped distributing in the USA.
Although I have no factory specs to offer you, I can tell you it has what appears to be a spruce top and mahogany back, sides, and neck. The 12/18-fret fingerboard ends at the classical-style slotted headstock with in-line tuners with pearloid buttons. There is a colorful rosette in excellent condition, and the traditional tied bridge. There is, of course, no pick guard, but the clear natural spruce finish contrasts nicely with the black body binding and the highly decorative rosette.
The spruce top and glossy mahogany back and sides are in very good condition except for a few superficial dings and bruises which barely show in the pictures. This is really a nice little instrument for the money, and plays and sounds as good as it looks. Its reduced classical size and light bracing make it extremely comfortable to carry and play, while its wider nut and nylon strings make it easy to play for an extended time. All in all, it’s a perfect intermediate or studio guitar for an experienced player, or a wonderful introduction to guitar studies for the gifted beginner.
Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.
I have made every effort to describe and picture this instrument with scrupulous accuracy; its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures and ask any questions you might have before buying.
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Payments by Paypal, cashier’s checks, money orders, or personal checks are acceptable, but all payments must clear my bank before the guitar will be shipped. I will CONSIDER reasonable offers, even including installment payments and trade-ins, but generally since I already attempt to price my guitars very competitively, unusual deals must be unusually sweet.
From henceforth [that's how retired English teachers talk], insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states is $55 due to constantly rising shipping costs unless a specific listing says otherwise; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. I have sold guitars to Russia, Japan, Australia, and over 50 other countries, as well as almost every state in the USA. Since some of my guitars travel thousands of miles, I take care to use lots of packing materials, protect the neck inside the case, and of course de-tune the strings.
I make every effort to describe and illustrate each guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. However, many of my instruments are well-played vintage items which are many years old, and I am not a luthier. One should assume that any guitar will require some set-up to satisfy your personal requirements, and that not every flaw or ding will be seen/recognized/described in the listing. Thus the return of an instrument will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please read the listing carefully, check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to buy.