1978 William Cumpiano Stringfellow Jumbo Cutaway

Offered for sale is an exceptional and historically significant 1978 Stringfellow Jumbo Cutaway 12-String guitar handcrafted by renowned American luthier William R. Cumpiano in North Adams, Massachusetts.

Most notably, the original interior label is inscribed "For John Abercrombie," indicating that this instrument was built specifically for legendary jazz guitarist John Abercrombie. Instruments with direct ties to important artists rarely appear on the market, making this a unique opportunity for players, collectors, and enthusiasts of American lutherie.

Built during Cumpiano's Stringfellow period, this jumbo cutaway 12-string features striking African Padauk back and sides paired with a responsive spruce soundboard. The result is a powerful and articulate voice with exceptional projection, rich overtones, and excellent note separation.

The guitar has a repaired top crack that was professionally repaired by William Cumpiano himself. The repair is stable, structurally sound, and does not affect playability.

Tonally, the instrument delivers the expansive shimmer and complexity expected from a high-quality 12-string while retaining clarity and balance across the fingerboard. It is equally at home in fingerstyle, alternate tunings, accompaniment, and solo performance settings.