Luthier Philip Bruce Clay made a lot of guitars for famous rock bands see in photo apprenticed in a small Denver repair shop from 1974 to 1976, where he learned the basics of guitar repair. Later, he attended the Guitar Research and Design Center in Vermont (under the direction of Charles Fox), and graduated in February of 1978. He has a notable client list, having skilled hands and fine instruments. This Telecaster inspired guitar is quite unique, with a fully chambered design with nicely contoured edges. The body appears to be made of ash - the top with some nice figuring. This example shows a fair bit of cosmetic wear, some of which may have been relic-ing, but appears as though it was well used and well maintained over its career. The thick finish, which looks a bit like varnish, has extensive checking, along with some battle scars, but nothing troubling - just mojo. It is outfitted with two TV Jones Super'tron pickups in the neck and bridge positions, something that was likely done after the guitar was completed, with a lack of finish in the routing. The middle position hosts an unmarked blade style pickup (based on the wiring it looks a bit like a DiMarzio). 5 way selector switch makes for a wide variety of tones - a nice addition for any Tele enthusiast looking for something a bit different. Gold hanger tailpiece and a newer Guyker gold harmonica bridge, it has been well maintained, and is setup great. The neck is just about as unique as the body on this. Clay was known for building these instruments with "no heel" as some have put it, having a the set neck pocket taper in depth, which compliments the body's cutaway. The set neck has a standard Tele 25.5" scale length, constructed out of two pieces of mahogany with a maple center strip. A thick rosewood board hosts medium jumbo frets that have quite a bit of life left in them. The neck is nice and straight, with a functioning truss rod. Like the body, the neck has extensive checking in the finish, with a slightly deeper finish crack towards the volute, that does not appear to go into the wood. The profile of the neck measures a thinner .80" D shape that tapers up to about .88" at the twelfth. This guitar has a wide nut width measuring 1 25/32". A very classy looking peg head design, it adorns a a painted eagle, truly the "Rarebird". Inset gold gotoh tuners - a nice touch! Includes rectangular polyfoam case.