Maurice Johnson and his CCTS-650 BK
Charlie Christian is widely considered one of the founding fathers of Bebop music. The Charlie Christian "Solo Flight" model was built by Samick in collaboration with D'Leco guitars. It was designed by Maurice Johnson of D'Leco and licensed from the estate of Charlie Christian, whom a portion of the proceeds went to. Production ended in 1998, as D'Leco negotiated a new Charlie Christian guitar deal with Gibson in 1999. Maurice is commonly seen playing CC models to this day.
In July 2000, Samick released a new version without the name and endorsement attached, called the CCTS-450.
I-CCTT-650[]
1997 I-CCTT-650 WH
- 1996-1998
Body:
- Solid Maple arched top & back
- Laminated Maple sides
- Nato center block
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid split block inlays
- D'Leco headstock
- Mother of Pearl headstock inlays
- Volute
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (including f-holes), neck and headstock
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone (Push/Pull)
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Three-ply raised pickguard
- White speed knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with Trapeze tailpiece
Finishes:
- White (WH)
I-CCTS-650[]
Same as CCTT but with stopbar tailpiece.
- 1996-1998
Body:
- Solid Maple arched top & back
- Laminated Maple sides
- Nato center block
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid split block inlays
- D'Leco headstock
- Mother of Pearl headstock inlays
- Volute
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (including f-holes), neck and headstock
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone (Push/Pull)
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Three-ply raised pickguard
- Black bell knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece
Finishes:
- Black (BK)
I-CCFT-650[]
(Aftermarket tailpiece)
Same as CCTT but with Rosewood bridge.
- 1996-1998
- ~$500 Street (1998)
Body:
- Solid Maple arched top & back
- Laminated Maple sides
- Nato center block
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Maple neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid split block inlays
- D'Leco headstock
- Mother of Pearl headstock inlays
- Volute
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (including f-holes), neck and headstock
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone (Push/Pull)
Hardware:
- Gold hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Three-ply raised pickguard
- Black "notched" speed knobs
- Rosewood bridge with Trapeze tailpiece
Finishes:
- Golden Sunburst (GS)
CCTS-450[]
- 2000
Body:
- Laminated Maple arched top, back &sides
- Nato center block
- Venetian cutaway
Neck:
- Set-in Nato neck
- Rosewood fingerboard with Pearloid split block inlays
- Deluxe headstock
- Silk-screened Artist logo
- Volute
- 22 frets
- 24.75" scale
Binding:
- Single-ply body (including f-holes) and neck
Electronics:
- Two ceramic humbuckers
- 3-way switch
- 2 Vol, 2 Tone (Push/Pull)
Hardware:
- Chrome hardware
- 16:1 ratio lubricated, die-cast tuning machines
- Three-ply raised pickguard
- Knurled metal barrel knobs
- Tune-O-Matic bridge on Rosewood base
- Bigsby-style vibrola
Finishes:
- White (WH)
- Red (R)