This instrument was built in January 1983 by Hascal Haile of Tompkinsville Kentucky and comes with hand-written letter from Mr. Haile with specifications and care instructions and in which he states that it may be the best guitar he ever built. Basic specs include Cedar top, East Indian Rosewood sides and back, Ebony fingerboard, full Spanish heel, hand-set and tuned bracing and hand-rubbed lacquer finish. The guitar is in good playing condition but does show a significant amount of cosmetic wear including marks, dings, finish fading and a fair amount of pick-wear near the sound hole (see pictures). There are also several repaired side cracks, but all appears stable and ready for it immediate use at this time.
Hascal Haile was an extremely well-respected luthier who interacted with and built guitars for many well-known people including Chet Atkins, Bobby Goldsboro, Waylon Jennings, Dolly Parton and Roy Clark. He received multiple awards and received national attention in 1980 when the Smithsonian Institution accepted one of his guitars for its Hall of Musical Instruments and President Jimmy Carter received him at the White House. We believe this particular guitar dating from 1983 may be the very last that he ever built. Older hard case is included.