Airline Barney Kessel Swingmaster II
Pairs well with
Reserve the Airline Barney Kessel Swingmaster II
A lightweight semi-hollow electric archtop with P90-style pickups, a Bigsby vibrato, and a figured maple body — a modern remake of the late-'50s Airline classic, designed straight from what hundreds of you asked for.
$1,599 full price. Reserve your spot now with a fully refundable $50 deposit — the balance isn't charged until your guitar is ready to ship. Hardshell case and free shipping included.
🚨 SOUTHPAW ALERT: If we hit the pledge # of 50, we will make a limited run in a left-handed version as well. So if you're a southpaw, a left handed version will be made.
Reserve Yours — Samples On The Way!
Pledging is open and your spot is waiting. Production samples arrive soon, so you'll get to see, hear, and feel the vibe of this guitar before your balance is ever charged. Reserve now with a fully refundable $50 deposit. Thank you!
The Swingmaster II is a modern reimagining of the original Airline Barney Kessel Swingmaster — one of the most distinctive archtops of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Barney Kessel was one of the most recorded jazz guitarists in history, a first-call session player in Hollywood whose playing appeared on more hit records than most people will ever know.
This guitar didn't come from a boardroom. It came from you. Earlier this year, several hundred Airline customers told us exactly what they wanted in their next guitar. The Swingmaster II is our answer.
- ✅ Semi-hollow body — #1 requested body style
- ✅ P90-style pickups — #2 most requested feature
- ✅ Bigsby vibrato — specifically requested by 37% of respondents
- ✅ Natural/woodgrain finish — #1 finish preference
- ✅ Lightweight construction — #1 feature request overall
- ✅ Vintage-inspired design — chosen by 52% of respondents
- ✅ Stainless steel medium jumbo frets — requested by 40% of you
- ✅ Figured maple top, back, and sides
- ✅ Rosewood fingerboard (Safe for EU Passage!)
- ✅ Bone nut
- ✅ Soft V neck profile
- ✅ 25.5" scale length
- ✅ Premium Korean factory
- ✅ Hardshell case included
- ✅ Free shipping
- ✅ $50 deposit holds your spot
- ✅ Full price $1,599 — well below comparable archtops
The Legend Behind The Guitar
Barney Kessel
Barney Kessel was one of the most in-demand guitarists in American music history. A masterful jazz player known for his deep understanding of chords, inversions, and chord-based melodies, Kessel moved effortlessly between the concert stage and the recording studio — a rare combination of artistry and versatility that made him the first call for producers, directors, and bandleaders alike.
His playing appeared on more hit records than most guitarists will ever know. Film scores, television soundtracks, jazz sessions with the greatest names of the era — Kessel was there, laying down the kind of guitar work that defined an entire decade of American sound.
"The original Airline Barney Kessel Swingmaster was his guitar. The Swingmaster II is what it always should have been."
About The Hanger
The Hanger (yes, intentionally spelled that way) is Airline Guitars' pledge-based pre-order platform. By placing a $50 deposit, you are reserving a spot in this production run — not purchasing a completed guitar. Your deposit is fully refundable at any time, or may be applied as store credit toward any other Airline Guitars purchase.
Pledging is open now. Production samples are on the way, and we'll share full photos, video, and audio the moment they're in our hands — well before any balance is charged.
The remaining balance of $1,549 will be invoiced prior to shipment. No balance will be charged without notice.
Product imagery includes a 2D technical schematic with trapeze bridge for reference purposes. Production models will be fitted with a Bigsby vibrato tailpiece. Final build specifications, hardware, and cosmetic details are subject to change as development progresses. Airline Guitars will communicate any material changes to pledgers prior to production confirmation.
The Hanger is not affiliated with Kickstarter, Indiegogo, or any third-party crowdfunding platform. All transactions are processed directly through Airline Guitars USA, LLC.
| SKU | AIR-EG-BK-SW-II |
|---|---|
| UPC |