Let's Talk "New York Pro" Guitars
Posted: Fri Dec 11, 2020 1:16 pm
Yesterday I bought a guitar at a pawn shop with "New New Pro Elite" on the headstock. I was intrigued from the moment I saw it. First, because I have never heard of this brand. Second, because even though it was a little beat up, there was something appealing about the look of it. It had sort of a PRS meets ESP Horizon body shape going on, with a longer lower horn that referenced Mosrite. The slightly asymmetrical and elongated Gumby headstock was a little bit Ibanez Iceman. Just a lot of different vibes going on here visually. It had a bone nut, set neck, good quality hardware, what appeared to be a maple cap doubling as binding à la the Gibson Les Paul Tributes, and looked like it might be older, perhaps 90s, or even 80s. Best of all it was priced at $40. The store was about to close for its one hour midday cleaning so I hastily peeled off two twenty dollar bills and shot out the door with my prize.
When I got home I hastily did some research on "New York Pro" and discovered that they were distributed wholesale by a guy named Lou Capece out of Long Island, New York. Lou Capece Music Distributors has been in business since 1964 and in addition to the "New York Pro" also sells guitars branded as "Oxford", "DiPalo", and "Danville." Maybe something like a Kurt type figure, a competitor of Rondo? The mystery deepened.
I then came across forum discussions that likened "New York Pro" to Rondo's SX brand and the Brownsville guitars sold at Sam Ash. Opinions on "New York Pro" ran the gamut from them being complete garbage to being amazing guitars that pros use as their primary instrument. I actually had one in my hands, and granted, though it was used and beat up, it definitely wasn't complete garbage. On the contrary, there was something charming about it. After I cleaned it up, changed the strings, and set it up it is incredibly resonant acoustically and played like a dream. The neck is a wonderful full D shape, not unlike the 2020 Gibson LP Standard '50s I recently acquired.
There is is short somewhere in the electrical harness that I'm dealing with so I haven't been able to plug it in yet. I'm not expecting much from the import EMGs, though I can tell from the natural sustain, tightness, and expressive voice that this guitar will sound good with quality pickups in it. It's just got that elusive thing that not all guitars have.
I've found only one example of this same model "New York Pro Elite" guitar online, although with a different finish:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -488899657
I suspect from the considerable aging as well as the make of some of the components that the guitar is MIK. It's been quite a while now since cheap imports were made in Korea, so if it is MIK I'm guessing this guitar could be from the 90s, if not older.
Any info or experience you guys can share about the "New York Pro" brand would be appreciated. Anyone own one or ever play one? Do you ever see them in shops?
When I got home I hastily did some research on "New York Pro" and discovered that they were distributed wholesale by a guy named Lou Capece out of Long Island, New York. Lou Capece Music Distributors has been in business since 1964 and in addition to the "New York Pro" also sells guitars branded as "Oxford", "DiPalo", and "Danville." Maybe something like a Kurt type figure, a competitor of Rondo? The mystery deepened.
I then came across forum discussions that likened "New York Pro" to Rondo's SX brand and the Brownsville guitars sold at Sam Ash. Opinions on "New York Pro" ran the gamut from them being complete garbage to being amazing guitars that pros use as their primary instrument. I actually had one in my hands, and granted, though it was used and beat up, it definitely wasn't complete garbage. On the contrary, there was something charming about it. After I cleaned it up, changed the strings, and set it up it is incredibly resonant acoustically and played like a dream. The neck is a wonderful full D shape, not unlike the 2020 Gibson LP Standard '50s I recently acquired.
There is is short somewhere in the electrical harness that I'm dealing with so I haven't been able to plug it in yet. I'm not expecting much from the import EMGs, though I can tell from the natural sustain, tightness, and expressive voice that this guitar will sound good with quality pickups in it. It's just got that elusive thing that not all guitars have.
I've found only one example of this same model "New York Pro Elite" guitar online, although with a different finish:
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/ ... -488899657
I suspect from the considerable aging as well as the make of some of the components that the guitar is MIK. It's been quite a while now since cheap imports were made in Korea, so if it is MIK I'm guessing this guitar could be from the 90s, if not older.
Any info or experience you guys can share about the "New York Pro" brand would be appreciated. Anyone own one or ever play one? Do you ever see them in shops?