Jo Van Straten was manager of the London branch of the musical-instrument distributor Selmer in the late 1930s and early 1940s. After World War II, he partnered with master craftsman Dick Knight to build archtop guitars in a workshop in Soho, London. The instruments were sold under the Straten name from 1946 to 1948. After the original business closed, Dick Knight joined Selmer UK and, for a year or so, continued producing guitars associated with the Straten name, creating an interesting overlap between the independent Straten company and Selmer’s early guitar production. This Straten Club 40 would appear to be from this early Selmer era complete with the Straten stamped Compensator tail piece that was designed by Selmer’s Lew Davies – identical to the "Hofner Compensator" tailpiece that Hofner used on the guitars which they exclusively supplied to the Selmer UK from around 1954 onwards. The overlap continues with the model name, with Selmer using the “Club 40” name for imported Hofner 125 model.
Straten guitars are incredibly rare to find, even rarer to find one is such fabulous condition. They represent part of the foundation of Britain’s post-war guitar industry, with the partnership between Van Straten and Dick Knight helping bridge the gap between pre-war instrument making and the later growth of British guitar manufacturing and distribution through Selmer.
The guitar has Maple back and sides, with a solid Spruce top, with binding to front and back of the body, f-holes, neck and headstock. The 5-piece Maple neck has a Rosewood fretboard with pearl block inlays. The guitar is superbly well made, with great projection and a really nicely balance tone across all the strings.
This 1949 Club 40 model has clearly been well cared for over its life. The guitar is in all original condition and only has some very minor lacquer cracking to show for its 77+ years (see last 3 pictures). The frets and fretboard are in equally good condition, strung now with a new set of 11s with nice low action and room on the floating bridge to raise or lower this to suit your own preference. Comes complete with a snug fitting modern hard shell case.
Much of the information on the Straten Club 40 has been gleaned from Steve Russel’s excellent Vintage Hofner website – link to the page on Straten is : The First Club 40 - Fact File
, and it happens to feature this very guitar – we can’t find another…….
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