This isn’t just another guitar — it’s a piece of 1919 Guitars history.
Built extremely early in the life of our company, this Monroe 2 Custom technically predates the formal founding of 1919 Guitars and carries unmistakable markers of its origin. Most notably, its serial number was handwritten on the back of the headstock, a practice that was retired almost immediately as production evolved — making this one of the very first instruments ever made under the 1919 banner.
Original Specs (Monroe II Platform)
Semi-hollow electric body inspired by classic 335-style design with simplified, intuitive controls and enhanced sonic versatility.
Maple laminate body with mahogany neck and rosewood fingerboard with pearl dot inlays.
Grover 18:1 tuning machines and a Tune-O-Matic bridge with stop tailpiece.
What Makes This Guitar Truly Unique
This instrument started its life as an Olympic White Monroe II, but in reacquiring it we gave it a complete visual and functional re-imagination:
Custom Refinish
Stripped and refinished in black with vintage white pinstripes to honor its earliest heritage while giving it a striking stage presence.
Headstock Update
Converted to our current modern headstock shape.
Side effect: our traditional Bloom QA stamp — formerly at the very top — was partially cut off during this process (as shown in photos). This quirk only adds to the story.
Pickup Configuration (Pre-Seymour Duncan Era)
Unlike modern Monroe 2 models that use exclusive Seymour Duncan pickups, this early build features:
DiMarzio Custom PAF — Bridge
DiMarzio Modern PAF — Neck
Unique Electronics
Traditional 3-way pickup selector
Kill switch
Push-push volume knob with series/parallel wiring on the neck pickup, offering truly versatile voicings — from rich humbucker tones to Strat-like single-coil neck sounds.
Neck Profile
Retains our classic C-profile, but this early version is slightly chunkier than current production necks — while maintaining the same nut width players love.
Tuning Machines
This guitar retains Grover Rotomatic tuners, predating our current switch to Guyker locking tuners — another hallmark of its early heritage.
A Rare Opportunity
This isn’t a standard production instrument — it’s a historical piece from the roots of 1919 Guitars with personality, pedigree, and playable versatility to match.
If built new today, this build would retail for $2,499 not including case or shipping. We’re offering this one-off including a Gator hardshell case for $1,799 — a significant discount befitting its unique story.
Buyer is responsible for shipping.
This is an extraordinary opportunity for collectors and players alike to own a foundational piece of the 1919 legacy.
