1980 Danny Ferrington Explorer (ex Nick Lowe / Carlene Carter) sunburst

Nick Lowe and Carlene Carter - 1980 Danny Ferrington Explorer style acoustic guitar, made in California, USA; Body: cherry sunburst finished figured maple back and sides and spruce top, surface scratches and dings throughout; Neck: maple with Ferrington 'F' logo and 'No. 1' to head face; Fretboard: ebony with heart and diamond inlay along with 'Nick Lowe' inlay to the fourteenth fret; Hardware: good; Case: original fitted hard case; Overall condition: good for age

*Made in 1980 by Danny Ferrington for Carlene Carter as a gift for Nick Lowe on the occasion of their first wedding anniversary. The internal label inscribed 'Ferrington, built for Nick Lowe with love on first anniversary from Carlene. #35, August 18th 1980 Ferrington CA, by Danny Ferrington'. The guitar features a 'Nick Lowe' inlay to the fourteenth fret position and the number 1 on the headstock indicates this is the first acoustic Explorer that Danny Ferrington made.

This guitar features on pages 44 and 45 of Danny's book 'Ferrington Guitars', explaining how the guitar came to be. Having initially made a small bodied acoustic guitar for Nick Lowe which he hand delivered in London, he got talking to Nick's then-wife Carlene Carter about the idea to create an acoustic guitar that looked like Gibson Explorer electrics. Just after Danny arrived in LA, Carlene got in touch to say that she wanted him to build the very first Explorer shaped guitar as a surprise gift for Nick. Danny would eventually go on to make other Explorer guitars, another of which is owned by Carlene Carter

This very guitar can be seen with Carlene Carter playing a duet of 'Baby Ride Easy' with Dave Edmonds. https://youtu.be/mmzv51lA5N8?si=C-tc8E0bUKjuO2E9

A copy of the Ferrington Guitars book featuring this guitar is included in the sale