Lindert Guitars was founded in Chelan Falls, Washington in 1986, and they built a variety of bolt-on-neck guitars until the company closed in 2002. With designs borrowing from pre-CBS Fender and classic Danelectro templates, Linderts are instantly recognizable because of their signature "Thumbs Up" headstock.
Made in Chelan Falls in 1998, this Lindert is the Locomotive S with a 30"-scale Baritone setup. Because of the double-cutaway shape and three pickups mounted directly to the pickguard, the Locomotive S resembles a Strat. But, it relies on the similar semi-hollow construction to the vintage Danelectro template. Resembling something our of dustbowl railroad Americana, this Locomotive S features a textured copper finish with tweed insets inspired by vintage radios.
While the combination of the wild finish, tweed, and thumbs up headstock make this guitar stand out visual, it's the unique "Escape Velocity" neck profile that sets Linderts apart from the players perspective. Ergonomically designed to be half rounded and half V, this unique profile allows faster playing action and less hand fatigue, and the shape is asymmetrical as you get higher up the neck as the V favors the treble side.
This 1998 Lindert Locomotive S Baritone shows some play wear and the finish is worn in places, but there's nothing too severe (see photos). The third string tuning machine has been replaced with a comparable after-market replacement, and the previous owner swapped the bridge pickup for a Fender Custom Shop Noiseless Stratocaster pickup. The original bridge pickup is included, but the noiseless option is a nice plus. Basically, the original owner wanted to be able to use distortion for leads in the bridge position without excess noise and 60 cycle hum. In case future owners might see that as an advantage, we've left the noiseless bridge pickup in place.
This 1998 Lindert Locomotive S Baritone is tuned down low A to A, and although the long scale can be a stretch, it plays nicely. It weighs in at 9 lbs 1.4 oz, and it includes its original gig bag with the unmistakable Lindert "Thumbs Up" logo.