GITTLER II (ISRAELI MADE)

Overview

Brand name: 

Product: 

  • electric guitars

Dates of manufacture: 

1985 to 1989

When Gittler emigrated to Israel he licensed his guitar design to a local company in Kiryat Bialik called Astron Engineering Enterprises Ltd. They computer-machined around 500 instruments, precisely manufactured copies of the originals but combined with a plastic moulded body and neck containing pre-amps for the pickups.  The six individual pickups can be routed to divided outputs via D-sub-9-pin or be mixed to a 1/4 inch TRS connector. These models also have a little metal spar you can screw on the body for playing the guitar in your lap when sitting down. The built in pre-amps are quite noisy and power is supplied by a 9V-battery or via D-sub.

These Astron made Gittlers started at serial number 61. The exact dates of production are uncertain but probably from the mid- to late-'80s. The Gittler II had a moulded plastic neck, whereas the Gittler I did not.

The full specifications, according to the original Astron Engineering brochure are as follows:

1. The frets mounted on the central axle of the guitar are smooth tubular stainless steel cylinders. Their special construction make playing easy and simple, all that is needed is a light touch by the finger. The chords sound clean and the ease of playing enables reaching a high technical performance. The extension of the sonic range of the GITTLER GUITAR by an ENTIRE OCTAVE was made possible by its 31 frets.

2. The B strings are stretched parallel to each other along the length of the guitar, and their sonic tuning is effected by the tightening knob which is adjusted with the right hand, while the left side of the string remains at the static point.

3. The pickups run parallel to the strings rather than perpendicular, and to each of the 6 strings a pickup all its own. A further important advantage lies in the fact that the pick-up extends up to the 3lst fret.

The fact that the pick-ups of the GITTLER GUITAR run along the strings allows for complete control over each or the strings separately. Each string is magnified on a separate channel by preamplifiers and the volume of each channel can be tuned by six special output-jacks located on the back of the guitar . The outlets of the six pre-amplifying channels are located in a special D-type socket, providing for connection to 6 different stereophonic magnifying channels. Separate control over each of them and generation of special effects in the amplifying systems prior to their becoming mixer integrated.

4. The handle of the guitar allows for two different positions.
a) When playing the handle is in an angular position to the guitar, and is attached to its body by a screw on its back. The handle is equipped with 2 strap bars to connect the strap around the neck of the player.
b) The handle of the guitar is detachable on one side and when placing the instrument in its carrying case, it takes a position parallel to the guitar

Dimensions of the guitar: Overall length: 29" (73.6 cm.), Width: 4.5" (11.5 cm.) and Height: l.5" (3.8 cm.).  Weight: 5 lbs. (2.5 kg.)

5. The high quality preamplifier and mixer, using best electronic components is installed in the body of the guitar, the reaction curve of the guitar is +/- 0.5 db, 5 Hz—20 KHz.

6. The main volume control controls the general volume level of the guitar. The location of the control mechanism enables convenient access while playing.

7. A type PL-55 connection socket operates the mono-outlet from the guitar to an external amplifying system and enables connection to earphones for self-auditioning.

8. An additional D type socket (9 pins) accommodates six separate outlets to the 6 strings respectively, and allows for connection to an external power source.

9. A red indicating light situated at the front of the guitar body goes on whenever the plug of the external amplifier of the guitar is plugged in.

10. Supply — 9 volt battery.

11. Finish options were black, orange, red, white and blue

The wholesale price to dealers was $375 in 1986.

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