In 1962, a father's response to his 3-year-old son's request for a guitar resulted in one of the most unique chordophones conceived in the 20th century. What resulted from a pile of plywood paneling, old banjo and mandolin parts, a table leg, and part of a orange packing crate, was a "wedge shaped" hybrid he dubbed "The Guitalin". The sound emitted from the trapezoidal instrument was so intriguing that he decided against letting his son use it as a toy. First used commercially in 1964 by The Bray Brothers on Independence Records 2305 P4KM-1903 (later re-released under Rounder Records 0053), on the tune Barbara Allen, it eventually played an important role in the success of Sufjan Stevens' Carrie & Lowell album released in 2015; 10 years later to go Gold. It has since become one of Stevens' signature timbres, appearing in at least a dozen of his newest compositions, many times mixed with ukulele.

After a near-decade hiatus from 2015 to 2024, Lyle Mayfield's youngest grandson, Nathan Smith, has recommenced production of his grandfather's “guitalins,” with plans to expand into other hybrid creations, including structurally improved updates of Lyle's designs, in addition to works of Nathan’s own creation. His ultimate goal, as he honors the work of his grandfather, is to provide new instruments, new timbres for today's most promising musicians & composers, in order to provide them with the inspiration so desperately needed at this moment in our culture, for reaching the darkest corners of the human soul. Your investment today in the purchase of one of our instruments would be a seed, planted to generate hope through the songs of tomorrow.

The second entry into this year’s collection from Mayfield Instruments is a true American beauty; “Number 12” was built by Lyle Mayfield in Champaign, Illinois in June, 1963 for his daughter, Lynda Mayfield (Smith),  and is thought to be the only Mayfield Instrument painted by Doris Mayfield, mother of the Mayfield children. It’s one of only two remaining original instruments with the hollow head design.

Number 12 has been minimally reconditioned, only to make it functional, while leaving most of the original state intact, with the exception of the bridge, which was not functional and was turned into an inlay on the back of Number 122, tying these two instruments together forever.

Title: Original Number 12

Medium: Instrument

Dimensions:

In 2023, Lyle Mayfield's two youngest great-grandchildren were diagnosed with an ultra rare genetic condition called CASK Gene Mutation.

By bidding on this ultra-rare musical hybrid, you are pledging to invest in important research that will help an ultra-rare group of children by developing therapies and/or procedures that will make a world of difference in the quality of their lives.

Thank you for your support! With Love - Mayfield Instruments

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