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Add to CompareBrand New Blanchard Sequoia 12 Fret, Honduran Mahogany/Carpathian Spruce
Elegant, powerful, and unique are but a few superlatives describing this 2023 Blanchard Sequoia, dressed in Carpathian Spruce and Honduran Mahogany this 12 fret beast is not only powerful and comfortable but also a very inspiring guitar. All of the qualities of mahogany that we love, coupled with ergonomic features that make this instrument feel as though it plays itself. It certainly doesn’t feel like large guitar but it’s undeniable once you hear it. Evo frets, soundport, arm bevel. What more creature comforts could one want? Listen and allow your ears to be the judge.
Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, mark, hoffee, 139,
$15,395 Add to cartScale Length 25.25 in Nut Width 1.78 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Mahogany 
Add to Compare2020 Blanchard Sequoia Dream Series, Brazilian Rosewood/European Spruce
It’s humbling to see such consistency in a builder’s work, with exquisite voicing for fingerstyle playing that focuses on note clarity and definition. This is Mark’s Sequoia body shape with a generous 16 inch lower bout, and here he’s upgraded it with a body wedge and arm bevel for ergonomics, a soundport in the upper bout, and a multiscale setup that’s perfect for everything from C tunings to Standard (26.25-25.25”). The Brazilian Rosewood back and sides come from our own secret stash, and Mark used a creamy European Spruce top to match.
Here’s an additional demo with our own Duane Simpson: https://youtu.be/QH0MUw0ZGYQ.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, bespoke guitar, all the stops, custom guitar, fan fret, fanned fret, hoffee flight case
Sale Price: $12,064 Sale! Add to cartScale Length 25.25 in - 26.25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2008 Blanchard Bristlecone, Mahogany/Carpathian Spruce
Mark Blanchard’s Bristlecone is one of those models that always feels comfortable, and always sounds great. This 2008 Bristlecone is no less than any of that! Carpathian Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides offers a crisp voice with great transparancy and clarity across the registers; ergonomics include a venetian cutaway and a Manzer body wedge. A K&K Pure Mini pickup has been installed (sounds fantastic), ditto for gold EVO frets and a strap button.
Other keywords: lutherie, fingerstyle, blanchard guitars, 10-07
$7,280 Add to cartScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.688 in String Spacing 2.281 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Mahogany 
Add to Compare2023 Blanchard Pinyon 00, Brazilian Rosewood/Lucky Strike Redwood
Lucky Strike Redwood and Brazilian Rosewood are some of the most coveted tone woods in the realm of guitar. Mark Blanchard delivered the ultimate example as to why that is. This 2023 00 Pinyon is so sweet, comfortable and enchanting– Dressed with abalone and Brazilian rosewood appointments, as well as Evo Frets. This guitar will surely inspire for many years to come.
Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, hoffee, slot head, venetian cutaway,
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.8125 in String Spacing 2.3125 in Woods Redwood - Lucky Strike, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2008 Blanchard Tamarack Dream Series, Brazilian Rosewood/European Spruce
We love Mark Blanchard’s work, hands down. And we love, even more, working with Mark on custom guitars for the shop—check out this first Dream Series Tamarack model for proof of the level of magic he’s capable of. Plus this beauty has opened up deliciously since that collaboration in 2008. The voice is wide awake and vibrant, with an expressive bottom end that dovetails into sweet mids and defined trebles. A fantastic fingerstyle guitar. The back and sides are from our personal DG stash of Brazilian Rosewood, which Mark paired a European Spruce soundboard to, plus a wedge body and arm rest for creature comforts. A slim soundport in the upper bout adds a little “me in the monitors” for the player, and gold EVO frets are in fine shape, even after 13 years of music.
Here’s our original demo from when we had this baby new in 2013! https://youtu.be/b8Iot-pUj70
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, blanchard guitars, cedar creek, fingerpicking, brazilain, euro spruce
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2000 Blanchard Bristlecone, Indian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce
Mike Blanchard’s Bristlecone weighs in a touch larger than a traditional OM, and that extra depth adds presence and power to the voice, without launching full tilt into a large guitar. Instead, the Bristlecone is easy in hand and a lively singer. Great string energy and responsiveness, with a voice characterized by balance and clarity, makes for a fine fingerpicking experience. This lovely number from 2000 has Indian Rosewood back and sides, paired with Adirondack Spruce on top, plus Curly Maple bindings to really set it off. Setup is slinky and smooth, with a lovely neck carve that feels comfortable from nut to heel.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, bristle cone, blanchard guitars, tkl avs, fingerstyle
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Indian 
Add to Compare2001 Blanchard Pinyon, Black Walnut/Redwood
Fine riches sometimes come in small packages. None more so than this Blanchard Pinyon from 2001. The petite proportions (14 inches across the lower bout) bely a rich, dynamic voice that blooms sweetly at even a light touch. Curly Eastern Black Walnut back and sides provide clarity, and a Coastal Redwood top warms up the tone like hot chocolate on a winter’s night. 12 frets to the neck further adds warmth and color. The playability is silk-smooth, and this Blanchard handles a range of tunings very well, indeed. The headplate has been upgraded with a bookmatched Brazilian Rosewood veneer bound in Curly Maple. The whole package weighs in under four pounds, which you notice immediately upon picking it up out of the custom Cedar Creek case.
We love it when a small guitar has a big voice, and this Pinyon pulls no punches. Take this single-owner prize home!Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, bespoke guitar, custom guitar, mark blanchard
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Redwood, Walnut - Black 
Add to Compare2007 Blanchard Archtop, Maple/Spruce
Mark Blanchard does. it. all. We love his flattops, his nylon string crossovers, and now we love his archtops too. This beauty comes to us from 2007 with light honey Maple and Spruce, and a Lollar gold foil pickup with volume knob integrated into the finger rest. Round hole rather than F holes, and we feel that does add a warmth and roundness to the voice, too. Acoustic or amplified, this Blanchard is sweet, balanced, and warm—easy playing to boot. 16 inches at the lower bout makes for a comfortable archtop build, and Snakewood bindings (plus knobs on the Waverly tuners) tie it all together.
Other keywords: arched top, lutherie, luthier, boutique guitar, mop, fingerstyle, p/up
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.188 in Woods Spruce, Maple 
Add to CompareBrand New Blanchard Bristlecone, Ziricote/European Spruce
Would you like a powerhouse? You’re in luck: our Blanchard Bristlecone is a bombshell dressed to the nines. Ziricote back and sides, European Spruce top, body wedge for creature comfort, and Macassar Ebony bindings to tie it all together. We love the setup, glossy and smooth, and the expansive dynamic range of the voice. Take this baby down to C and it still rings out clear and crisp. We’ve looked for a bad note; haven’t found one yet. Well played, Blanchard.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, bespoke guitar, custom guitar, mark blanchard, cedar creek, manzer wedge
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Ziricote 
Add to CompareBrand New Blanchard Sequoia Dream Series #4, Brazilian Rosewood/European Spruce
Mark Blanchard went above and beyond the call of duty, way beyond. Our latest Blanchard Dream Series, number four, is the complete fingerstyle package. Mark’s Sequoia body with its generous 16” lower bout for bass and projection, a body wedge for player comfort (not to mention the Laskin-style arm bevel), multiscale fretboard (26.25-25.25”), EVO frets, soundport, cutaway—every feature you need for an effortless playing experience, no matter what crazy tuning.
Top shelf Brazilian Rosewood from our personal DG stash for the back and sides, and it’s paired with a creamy European Spruce top and Honduran Mahogany neck. We love just how easily this guitar plays from nut to saddle. The multiscale board allowed us to dip down into C territory without getting splashy, and it didn’t matter if we were plucking with fingers or picks: the voice was present, expansive, and enveloping. If there’s a flub note hidden in this Blanchard Dream Series, we haven’t found it yet, but we’ll keep playing just in case. For science. We’ll do other things around the office too. Honest.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, bespoke guitar, all the stops, custom guitar, fan fret, fanned fret, hoffee flight case
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.25 in - 26.25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2008 Blanchard ClassiCool, Madagascar Rosewood/Engelmann Spruce
A guitar that bridges the gap between flattop and classical with easy playability, rich bass, and gorgeous curves: our 2008 Blanchard ClassiCool. Mark Blanchard is one of our longtime builders, and this beautiful nylon crossover of his is done up with Madagascar Rosewood for the back and sides, an Engelmann Spruce top, and all the creature comforts you could ever want.
Playability is the name of the game. Mark added an armrest to the bass-side lower bout, which frees up your arm from the top so it can vibrate more freely, and diagonal to the armrest you’ll find a Venetian Cutaway to keep the upper frets dust-free. The neck is slim for a nylon string with 1 7/8” at the nut and 2 5/16” at the saddle, and the profile has the C curve of a steel string, but here it’s been flattened out just a smidgen along the center to feel comfortable for both nylon and steel players. Additionally, the fretboard has a gentle radius to it that’ll keep your left hand deft and happy. The voice has plenty of velvet in the bass and mids, and the trebles have an extra helping of crispness that really cuts through the mix.
Easy as cake on the hands, and decadent to the ears: the Blanchard ClassiCool crossover.
Other keywords: nylon-string, classical guitar, nylon string guitar, crossover classical
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.87 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Rosewood - Madagascar 
Add to Compare2010 Blanchard ClassiCool, Brazilian Rosewood/Cedar
The space between a traditional nylon string guitar and its steel string cousin has been traversed by any number of builders. Among those, Mark Blanchard’s Classicool is one of the most successful crossovers we’ve seen. For instance: this 2010 Classicool in Brazilian Rosewood and Cedar. Loaded with modern features, this Blanchard is an effortless player that balances a rich voice with articulate, well-defined note separation. The Venetian Cutaway allows the fretboard extension to remain dust-free, and the ComfyCorner armrest keeps your right arm relaxed and elevated from the top. Gold EVO frets with a gentle radius will feel perfectly familiar to steel string players, and the 1 13/16” nut gives extra room for fretting but keeps those big fingerings from stretching your hand beyond its limits.
Gone over by our repair staff, this Classicool has a clean bill of health and is ready for action blending the line between the traditional classical and the creature comfort of contemporary steel string design. While of course Classical music sounds wonderful here, we found that everything from Bossa arrangements to Blues tunes sounded equally at home on its nylon strings.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.625 in Nut Width 1.814 in String Spacing 2.395 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2010 Blanchard Bristlecone Dream Series #2 Brazilian/Engelmann
We’ve had so many incredible instruments through this shop that new guitars have to prove themselves when one strides through our doors. Of course, when it’s a 2010 Blanchard Dream Series Bristlecone (number two) with our very own Brazilian Rosewood adorning the back and sides we welcome it with back with open arms and slap some new strings on it pronto.
We asked Mark to shoot for the moon, so when this guitar first arrived in 2010 it came with a fine coating of lunar dust. Now that it’s back again that’s all been buffed to a shine: opened up like a kid’s grin on July 4th. Brother, the fingerboard is alive with a smooth pulse across the frets that’ll liven up the room at the first strum. Engelmann Spruce on top for creamy clarity, capped with a ComfyCorner armrest, and featuring a built-in Manzer Wedge for the body—all this makes for a guitar whose strings will tire long before you do. The 25 inch scale adds a few candles’ heat to the voice; just enough warmth to round out the mids without blurring the trebles.
Comes wrapped up in a Calton flight case, but you’ll probably find (like we did within minutes of taking it out) that it’s like giving up your firstborn to put this beauty back in the case and shut the lid. Oh, and there’s a K&K Pure Mini passive pickup which happens to be our pickup of choice for its minimal presence inside the guitar and the faithfulness of its amplification.
As much as we love our prodigal Dream Series children, we know they can but stay with us for so long. Are you ready to adopt? Always wanted to have a Dream Series of your own, but after the preteen angst? This Blanchard Bristlecone Dream is in its adult prime and is guaranteed not to live in your basement.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Engelmann, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2010 Blanchard Sugar Pine Madagascar/Italian
This 2010 Sugar Pine from Mark Blanchard is sweet as honey and clear as a tall glass water. For the fingerstylist, this Madagascar–Rosewood-and-Italian–Spruce 12-fret is the kind of guitar you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert–the voice is impeccably balanced and impressively opened up (it’s only a few years old), responding quickly to both light and aggressive attacks.
We found the bass particularly delicious; well-defined and present in the mix, the lower register can be heard articulately, but doesn’t overpower the voice. The slightly wider neck makes for easier left-hand work on those complex altered tuning chord voicings; Evo Gold frets will last a lifetime, and are shiny as though new even today; trebles are quick and delightfully crisp. Add to all of that a “Comfy Corner” armrest, Manzer Wedge, Calton Case, and Venetian Cutaway–yep, this is the complete fingerstyle package.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.88 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods xx, Rosewood - Madagascar 
Add to Compare1999 Blanchard Pinyon Madagascar/Sitka
We’ve got the birthplace of a tradition in the store today: the Pynon Prototype that Mark Blanchard first built in 1999! This design has gone on to become one of Blanchard’s most popular steel string guitar models. The Madagascar Rosewood back and sides, coupled with a tight-grained Sitka Spruce top, give the guitar a bright, warm tone with lots of headroom in the middle registers. Visually, Blanchard adorned the rosette, fretboard, and bridge pins with colorful Abalone, and completed the look with a slotted headstock and gold Waverly tuners. Until the original owner tragically lost his life in an avalanche in 2005, this guitar was lovingly played and is in immaculate condition. This is a great opportunity to own a rare and precious small-bodied Pinyon–without the wait!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.88 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Madagascar
I began my lutherie career in the early 1980’s while studying physics at the University of California in Santa Cruz, California. What started out as helping friends adjust their guitars soon turned into a fascination with string instruments. I continued to do repair and restoration work for many years and in 1994 began designing and building my own line of guitars.Although I am largely self taught, I have received instruction and inspiration from a few other guitar builders. In 1996 I attended an intensive “Free Plate Tuning” seminar with long time luthier and acoustics expert, Al Carruth. The theory and investigative techniques I learned from Al have led me to a greater understanding of what makes a guitar sound the way it does and has helped me tailor the sound of individual guitars in a predictable way.In the fall of 2000 I attended a week long intensive archtop building course co-taught by Linda Manzer and Tom Ribbecke. At this course, I was able to learn all aspects of archtop guitar construction from two of today’s finest archtop builders.I have been a full time guitar builder since 1998 and currently reside in Los Gatos, California.When building a guitar today, I draw from a lifetime of handcraft experience, many years of lutherie practice, and a collection of the finest tonewoods from around the world.Mark Blanchard