We just received this extraordinary Martin 000-28H – a true vintage Dream Guitar. Skillfully maintained by luthiers Bill Tippin and the legendary T.J. Thompson, this classic beauty is in great shape and plays perfectly. Make no mistake about it, this is one of those “once in a lifetime” guitars, with unsurpassed vintage Martin tone. This guitar is a gem! Adirondack/Brazilian. Comes with a Calton Deluxe Flight case.
Martin 000-28H (1934)
In 1982, world-renowned luthier Jimmy D’Aquisto built a rare and exceptional nylon string guitar. Thought to be only 1 of 3 in existence, and the only fully functional example, this extraordinary instrument was exquisite in tone, playability, and design. All who played it at Dream Guitars were in agreement that it was one of the finest crossover guitars in existence. Sadly, as with most treasures, the D’Aquisto nylon string was well beyond the means of the average player.
So when our friend and luthier James Condino blueprinted the D’Aquisto nylon for the Guild of American Luthiers , we struck upon the idea of commissioning a guitar built on the plans by another celebrated luthier – Dake Traphagen. The idea was to build a no-compromise representation of the D’Aquisto original, but at an affordable price. What resulted is even beyond our highest expectations! For a detailed description please call Paul or Steven at (828) 658-9795.
In 1982, world-renowned luthier Jimmy D’Aquisto built a rare and exceptional nylon string guitar. Thought to be only 1 of 3 in existence, and the only fully functional example, this extraordinary instrument was exquisite in tone, playability, and design. All who played it at Dream Guitars were in agreement that it was one of the finest crossover guitars in existence. Sadly, as with most treasures, the D’Aquisto nylon string was well beyond the means of the average player.
So when our friend and luthier James Condino blueprinted the D’Aquisto nylon for the Guild of American Luthiers , we struck upon the idea of commissioning a guitar built on the plans by another celebrated luthier – Dake Traphagen. The idea was to build a no-compromise representation of the D’Aquisto original, but at an affordable price. What resulted is even beyond our highest expectations! For a detailed description please call Paul or Steven at (828) 658-9795.
Just in 03/13/12: We just received this wonderful new Tippin Staccato! More photos to follow soon.
When Bill Tippin sent the following photos of his incoming Staccato model (now arrived) – I was blown away by its elegance and by the natural beauty of the wood. Bill’s idea was to make this guitar with refined simplicity, maximizing superb tone, in an instrument that had understated aesthetic charms.
Featuring extremely fine Cuban Mahogany back and sides, this guitar promises to be exactly what Mr. Tippin intended. If you’d like to learn more about this cool new Tippin Staccato please call. It is arriving next week, and will not last long.
Please note: in some of the following photos, Bill applied Naptha to portions of the wood (which does no harm ) to give an approximation of how the color will appear when finish is applied.
Just in 03/13/12: We just received this stunning new Traphagen dreadnought!
Over the years, luthier Dake Traphagen has built some of the finest classical, nylon and steel string guitars ever to grace the Dream Guitars Showroom and website. So it was with great anticipation that we awaited his newest creation, a dreadnought designed specifically with the flat-picker in mind. Simply put, this is an amazing new guitar. The tone is full and articulate, with incredible volume and projection. It is a joy to play.
Mr. Traphagen describes it this way – “The attack is strong and powerful yet smooth and even. With a little playing time this guitar will become even more powerful and colorful in tone. The entire building process went without a hitch, as if the guitar wanted to be made. Some guitars are more demanding while they’re being formed, trying to play little tricks on the luthier – but not this one.”
Please call for more details and learn how you can try this fine guitar for yourself.
Fresh of the workbench of luthier Brian Applegate is this gorgeous new Flat-Top Jazz model! (more photos coming soon)
Featuring Bocote and European Spruce – this well thought out design, looks great and sounds great too! It comes loaded with K&K soundboard transducers. Brian machines the tailpiece out of solid brass.
To learn how to purchase this guitar, or for more details please call Steven at (828) 658 – 9795 or email [email protected]
Dream Guitars is now a dealer for the incredible instruments of luthier Matt Artinger. Combining sophisticated design, elegant styling and outrageously great tone, Artinger Guitars are amongst the finest electric and acoustic guitars available.
We’ve spec’d out four very special instruments for delivery this year — and the first one is set to arrive soon. If you’d like more information on the upcoming guitars, or if you’d like to learn how a custom instrument can be built for you, please give us a call anytime. Dream Guitars is delighted to be associated with Matt Artinger and his extremely fine musical instruments.
Here are some of Matt’s shop photos of the first arrival – due late February/early March.
This is a beautiful, all original vintage 1956 Les Paul Goldtop with a carved maple top and mahogany back and neck. It features a bound rosewood fingerboard with trapezoid inlay, a pearl logo and Kluson tuners with tulip shaped tuner buttons. It has many advanced features such as the stop tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic bridge made famous on late 50’s Les Pauls. This guitar features 2 “Soapbar” P-90 pickups with cream colored covers. Since it is pre 1960 it has a nice full neck. This guitar has that worn in feel that cannot be reproduced. This is a lightweight Gold Top that screams. The neck is simply wonderful, and the entire guitar sings with a classic tone from a bygone era.
“Ok, now we are having fun! This is the real deal, a completely original, solid, lightweight, incredible soulful 1956 Les Paul Gold Top – The one to own. This one has to be played to be believed. The feel is that special and the tone from the original P-90s is powerful. We all hope this one sticks around a while because it’s just too much fun to play! This is the market to buy instruments like this. You’ll be happy you did 10 years from now, both because of all the fun you’ll have had, plus it is sure to increase in value.” – Paul Heumiller
One prime difference between Dream Guitars and other guitar sellers is that we regularly work one-on-one with the best luthiers on the planet – commissioning extraordinary, exclusive guitars with the very finest appointments. Our Dream Series builds are legendary, featuring superlative tone woods and design, and crafted for superb playability and utmost player satisfaction.
Quite often, these highly desirable treasures never even make it to our website, as they are quickly acquired by our walk-in clientele before they can be photographed and recorded. With that in mind, we are starting our new Incoming Guitars blog to keep you abreast of incoming instruments that are truly amongst the finest ever made. Please bookmark this page, or check back regularly for updates.
To see additional new arrivals, please see our Sneak Peek blog by clicking here.
Matsuda Guitars Model M1 Cutaway
Arriving soon: Model M1 by Michihiro Matsuda. This refined beauty is built with a stunning set of Brazilian Rosewood, hand selected by Dream Guitar’s own Paul Heumiller. The top is an exceptionally fine piece of Italian Spruce. Other specs include a 1 3/4″ nut 2 1/4″ string spacing. Please call for more details.
Matsuda M1 Cutaway - example, not actual incoming guitar
Keller Dream Series Rose Model SJ
One of our favorite builders – and one of the nicest guys in the guitar biz – is longtime luthier Michael Keller. We have had many spectacular Keller instruments at Dream Guitars over the years, and they are always impressive. We are so knocked out with Michael’s work, that we commissioned him to build the latest addition to our exclusive Dream Series. Starting with a flawless set of Brazilian Rosewood and an Adirondack top, this guitar is sure to be as wonderfully voiced as it is gorgeous! Please call for further information, and to reserve the Keller Dream Series Rose Model SJ for yourself.
Keller Dream Series - Brazilian Rosewood set
Keller Dream Series - Brazilian Rosewood back
Keller Dream Series - Brazilian sides
When chosing traditional tone woods, Pink Ivory is seldom the first species that comes to mind — primarily because it is next to impossible to find large enough pieces to build guitars with. But Pink Ivory is indeed a supremely fine wood — both visually and tonally. With that in mind, it is our extreme pleasure to show you this exceptional new Pink Ivory Crescendo, from the shop of Tippin Guitars.
Legendary luthier Bill Tippin, of Marblehead MA, makes extraordinary musical instruments that effortlessly blend sophisticated detail, advanced design, and remarkable tone. This guitar features a stunning black willow leaf inlay, which has held special significance throughout Chinese history, and was the inspiration for the Willow Leaf Saber.
Willo Leaf inlay
Tippin Crescendo - Pink Ivory
Tippin Crescendo - Pink Ivory
Luthier Bill Tippin
Dave of England "Queen of Hearts"
The guitars of the late great Tony Zemaitis are the stuff of legend! And with good reason too — they were played by some of the biggest names in the history of Rock and Roll. George Harrison, Keith Richards, Ron Wood, Eric Clapton amongst them — Rock royalty does not get bigger than that! Sadly, Tony Z passed on in 2002, but before he did, a gentleman named David Brewis contacted him with hopes of commissioning a guitar. Tony explained that he was now retired, and he would no longer be building, but he graciously offered Brewis one of his official jigs in which to build a guitar. Within weeks Brewis was given 10 jigs and patterns, and permission to build guitars with them utilizing the talents of luthier Kevin Parsons. In so doing, Brewis was dubbed “Dave of England” and “Keeper of the Jigs and Keeper of the Patterns”!
Dream Guitars is fortunate to have one of these fine and rare guitars to offer. This is a Queen of Hearts guitar designed by artist and author Paul Schmidt and built by Dave of England guitars. With it’s distinct styling and imaginative lines, this guitar could easily have been built by the hands of the master himself. But it is more than an interesting piece, it is also an extremely toneful one. The neck is on the slender side, and the guitar itself is lightweight. It has a fine fast attack, superb for Townshend-esque strumming — but played softly, it has a sweet remarkable tone that is very responsive to dynamics. In all, it is a wonderful guitar with a distinct look and a truly special voice.
For more information on this superb guitar, or any of the fine guitars listed on this site, please call Paul or Steven at (828) 658-9795.
Walker Twins
I warn you, if you haven’t seen these guitars already, you may want to sit down. These two Scott Walker Custom Twins are the very same instruments that were the hit of the recent NAMM Show in Anneheim, CA. Crowds gathered around to see the intricate sculpting, deep quilting and exceptional details that only Scott Walker could imagine.
Mr. Walker is an exceptional builder. His instruments are rich with unique appointments and custom features that set them far ahead of the pack.
Honduran Mahogany
With Scott’s recent set of twins, he has taken his craft to yet another level creating instruments that are timeless and at the same time revolutionary.
Shared features include gorgeous, solid Brazilian Rosewood necks. The color is so dark and chocolaty you might just be tempted to sink your teeth into them — but don’t do that! These necks have been shaped to perfection, and are appropriate for guitarists playing any genre. The feel of natural Brazilian Rosewood against the palm of your hand is natural, and so comfortable, you’ll find yourself playing things you never knew possible.
The bodies are made of gorgeous flamed Honduran Mahogany, and capped with exquisite quilted maple so deep you could swim in it. The slightly tinted very natural color brings out the nuance and detail of the maples figure, and lends an earthy sophisticated look to the guitars.
Scott Walker is one of a very small handful of builders that we represent at Dream Guitars. We know our clients only want superior instruments, so we are extremely selective in who we choose to represent. Scott Walker’s inspiring creations, go way beyond what conventional electric guitars offer.
Call us to find out more about these exceptional instruments, and learn how they can be yours today. We prefer to sell these 2 as a set, but we are very happy to discuss individual purchases with you as well.
Don’t miss this chance to own a part of the Scott Walker Legacy!
A few weeks ago, Paul received a call from a gentleman he’d never spoken to before. Like many conversations with Paul, this one ranged from guitars and motorcycles, fast cars, and the finer things in life.
John's Classical Guitar Shrine
The callers name was John, and within a few minutes he and Paul discovered that they had many things in common. What transpired from that first call lead up to a monumental event of Paul dropping everything, and driving North in the largest empty white van he could find. The next day, Paul returned to Dream Guitars in Western North Carolina, but this time the van wasn’t empty. If fact it was packed floor to ceiling with over a half a million dollars worth of the finest nylon string Classical Guitars we’ve ever laid eyes on.
Cases upon cases.
Paul explains:
“One of the true joys of this business is the chance to touch, feel and play music on bits of history. Guitars are treasures and they tell a story. I was honored to get a call from John asking us to represent his prized collection of some of the very finest Classical and Flamenco guitars ever made. I dropped everything and drove 4 states away very excited to see the fruits of his years of collecting guitars. We spent a wonderful Sunday open case by case, each more impressive than the next, Monch, Pena’ Fernandez, vintage Contreras, Ramirez and Kohno, modern gems such as Blackshear, Redgate and Humphrey. There is even an unplayed 1994 Schneider Kasha guitar complete with a video of Richard Schneider discussing his design. Flamenco guitars by Ramirez, Conde Hermanos, even a rare Valda Sobrino Domingo Estesos, and a Ruck Flamenco cutaway. Just astonishing instruments!”
A small percentage of the collection.
It may takes Dream Guitars a few months to get all these stunning instruments on to our website, but if you are a lover of Classical and Flamenco guitar, we invite you to make a trip to our shop now. Flights into Asheville put you just 30 minutes from us. We humbly offer you the chance to play the very finest collection of instruments perhaps in the whole of the U.S. Come enjoy them with us. You will be amazed.
The following builders are included in this collection, with multiple guitars from several of the builders:
| Brand | Model | Product Year |
| Andres Caruncho | Classical | 2001 |
| Bella J. Gemza | Concert | 1973 |
| Bellucci | Concert | |
| Bernabe | Concierto | 2002 |
| Blackshear | Concert | 1999 |
| Blackshear | Flamenco | 2007 |
| Bogdanovich Guitars | Concert | 2005 |
| Conde Hermanos | Concert | 1986 |
| Conde Hermanos | Domingo Esteso Reedicion | 2004 |
| Conde Hermanos | Flamenco | 1962 |
| Contreras | Double Top | 1985 |
| Contreras | 1969 | |
| DeVoe | Flamenco | 1988 |
| Edgar Monch | Concert | 1972 |
| Francisco Barba | Flamenco | 1968 |
| Gioachino Giussani | Concert | 2008 |
| Greg Smallman Reproduction | Lattice Braced | 2002 |
| Hermanos Yague | Concert | 1987 |
| Humphrey | Millennium | 1993 |
| Ian Kneipp | Concert | 1998 |
| Jeff Sigurdson | Flamenco | |
| Jeronimo Pena Fernandez | Concert | 1974 |
| Jeronimo Pena Fernandez | Flameco | 1995 |
| Jose Oribe | Concert | 1972 |
| Jose Ruiz Pedregosa | Concert | 2004 |
| Kohno | 15 | 1977 |
| Kohno | 20 | 1976 |
| Kohno | 30 | 1980 |
| Kohno | 5 | 1970 |
| Kohno | Professional J | 1993 |
| Kohno | Professional R | 1989 |
| Kohno | Special | 1993 |
| Kohno | Special | 1996 |
| Kono | 3 | 1964 |
| Manuel Rodriguez | Concert | 1982 |
| Manuel Rodriguez e Hyos | La Magnifica | 2010 |
| Manuel Rodriguez e Hyos | La Maja | 2010 |
| Manuel Rodriguez e Hyos | La Mereuilla | |
| Miguel de Cordova | Flamenco | |
| Moreira | Anniversary #1 | 2005 |
| Moreira | Hauser | 2004 |
| Moreira | Santos | 2003 |
| R.L. Mattingly | Concert | 1968 |
| Ramirez | 1a La de Camara | 1991 |
| Ramirez | Flamenco | 1959 |
| Redgate | Lattice Braced | 2006 |
| Ricardo Sanchis | Solista | 1996 |
| Richard Schneider | Kasha | 1994 |
| Rubio | Concert | 1967 |
| Ruck | Flamenco Cutaway | 1996 |
| V. Da y Sobrinos De Domingo Estesto | Flamenco | 1950 |
| Velazquez ‘Shop Guitar’ | Concert | 1961 |
ARTINGER CUSTOM GUITARS
Incoming Artinger Trio!
In the coming months Matt will be building a series of elegant, extraordinary guitars to be offered in our new Dream Guitars Electric Guitar Showroom. I encourage you to visit our shop, and give these great instruments a thorough. Your definition of what an electric guitar can be, will be forever altered!
Here are the first 3, due in soon! Call Paul Heumiller today to reserve yours!
Clearly, luthiery requires a diverse set of finely honed skills, but it also requires a deep aesthetic understanding. Do you consider yourself more of an artist or a craftsman?
I definitely consider myself a craftsman with a very strong artistic sense. I had always been fond of arts of all kinds — decorative, interpretive, pre-modern, impressionist, surrealistic. I am fond of many types of art. But I’m also very fond of many types of crafts, pottery, jewelry and knife making, and furniture. This is the world of my imagination.
MICHAEL KELLER
When you’re starting to build a guitar and you’re trying to picture it in your visual mind, many artistic considerations come into play that go beyond crafting a fine sounding guitar. Different colors of wood, different colored shells, colored purflings, bindings and shapes, all become a pallet that is available to you to compose a beautiful looking instrument.
One must also realize ultimately you’re making a tool for a musician. No matter how beautiful or arty a guitar looks, if it doesn’t play well and sound great I don’t care how arty it is. I would much rather have a guitarist tell me, “I love the sound of the guitar”, rather than “the sound is OK but the inlays are great”. It’s really totally about the sound and playability.
Recently, flying back from a guitar festival I noticed one of the editors of a guitar magazine on the plane who had been at the show. We started talking, and he mentioned that he had played a lot of very expensive heavily inlaid guitars that didn’t play or sound very good. He said exactly what I was thinking from my own experiments at the festival. A lot of the guitars at the show were designed to be eye catching, but a lot of effort had not been put into making them play well. So the artistic side of guitar making is a field that one should embrace carefully, making sure the instrument sounds and plays well first. After that, as far as I’m concerned, anything goes.
This gorgeous new John Osthoff 000-12C is headed toward the Dream Guitars showroom. A stunning guitar with gorgeous African Blackwood back and sides! Give us a call to find out how this exceptional instrument can be yours!
John Osthoff 000-12C
Osthoff 00-12C
Brian Boggs is one of the most highly respected furniture makers in America. Known for his creative passion and attention to detail, Brian now brings his considerable talents to the world of music, giving us the ultimate Guitar Chair!
As soon as I sat in the Guitar Chair I noticed an immediate improvement in my playing posture. Long rehearsals and performances are definitely made easier when you are comfortable. I find that the Guitar Chair lessens back fatigue, and helps break the bad habit of slumping over the guitar. Paul and I both highly recommend the Guitar Chair by Brian Boggs. It is the ultimate guitar accessory!
What makes your guitar chair more appropriate for players than a standard kitchen chair?
The Bogg's Guitar Chair
What is different about the guitar chair is that the whole chair is designed around how guitar players move, hold their guitar, and position their hands. Beginning with the seat, I sculpted it to support the player comfortably, but it’s round shape and forward slant address the guitarist’s forward lean as well as leg movements. It provides comfort while rocking out on the blues or meditating on a classical number. The rolling downward of the front of the seat allows either knee to drop down or move to the side comfortably. No edges to catch you under the thigh so your legs don’t fall asleep.
The back is narrower and shorter than a typical kitchen chair. It also has a pitch designed for the position of a guitarist in performance. The lower portion of the back is carved back to so that when leaning forward there is still some support in the lumbar area.
A kitchen chair, on the other hand is designed for single position sitting, is tilted slightly backward, and usually has a trapezoidal seat shape. Having said all this about the differences, this design will make a great kitchen chair with a simple change to the pitch. I am working on that version now.
Hand crafted perfection!
That will depend on just how much is needed to make the accommodation. They will need to call the shop and we will take it from there. If it is simply a wood choice matter, we can do that easily enough. Harder woods for the seat or back will cost more in labor, and the chair price will also have to reflect any additional wood cost if more expensive woods are chosen. Any changes to the design will add cost just because the chair can’t follow the usual well honed process we work with. It will need extra time and attention. That is always done on an individual basis.
Do we have plans to develop any other products especially aimed at musicians and guitarists in particular?
Brian Boggs -- sculpting the Guitar Chair.
I don’t have new designs up and going right now, but a music stand and drawer unit for music storage are on my mind. We have the craftsmen to build them beautifully. It’s just a matter of getting the designs worked out.
What is the typical wait time for a custom order?
Right now we are looking at about 10 weeks. Production of the chairs is fairly constant. Orders arrive in a more erratic pattern, so our backlog will fluctuate from 4-12 weeks for a while. We will know when we get an order what the delivery time will be on that chair.
Can you tell us more about the mission of your company?
The Boggs Collective represents a new business vision that fosters the highest levels of design, craftsmanship and sustainability in studio furniture making. Our model integrates four key components: materials, workspace, training and visibility creating opportunities for landowners, loggers, sawyers and craftspeople to work collaboratively. With this full cycle collaboration fine craftsmanship, sustainable forest management and our clients’ needs are integrated into a mutually supportive and sustainable partnership.
The seat takes shape.
For landowners, loggers and sawyers who practice sustainable forestry there is an assurance that their efforts are helping create value-added wood products that stimulate the regional economy. For craftspeople involved, it offers an infrastructure that allows woodworkers to focus on their passion. For our clients, it represents the chance to own timeless, handcrafted furniture produced in a reliable and sustainable manner. For all of us, it presents a new way of looking at the items we live with, an awareness of the labor and materials that go into each piece and a conscious choice to hold these values at the heart of our philosophy and practice.
THE BOGGS COLLECTIVE — MISSION
Our Mission – Design and produce exquisite furniture in a reliable and sustainable manner
Our Vision – To provide a model that supports furniture makers and forests sustainably
Our Core values – Excellence – creating conditions that promote our highest level of engagement in all facets of our work.
Innovation – creativity drive development of processes and products designed to support and inspire us.
Integrity – holding our values and beliefs present in both our individual and collective actions and products
Social and Environmental Responsibility – honoring our responsibility to the health and well being of our forests, communities and craftsmen.
All of us at Dream Guitars are huge fans of the Paul Reed Smith line of Private Stock acoustic guitars — and we’re not alone. These are great sounding instruments with exceptional playability. And now, we’re thrilled to bring you the newest addition to the line, two exceptional new signature models for guitar legends Tony McManus and Martin Simpson.
“It’s an ironic thing to say about such a beautiful instrument but it becomes invisible- leaving the player to concentrate solely on the music- which is what it should be all about. The Tony McManus signature model is based on the Angelus model but with the PRS wide fingerboard. The bridge and fingerboard are in ebony, and the Private Stock wood choices are pretty spectacular. The guitar is capable of going anywhere I’m capable of going musically. It works beautifully as a solo fingerstyle guitar but if I need to flatpick, it’ll go there too. It’ll accompany songs, tunes…whatever I need…tuned high and tuned low, gently caressed or driven hard,” said Tony McManus.
PRS TONY McMANUS ACOUSTIC GUITAR
Tony McManus Private Stock Acoustic Specs
Tony McManus Private Stock
MARTIN SIMPSON PRS ACOUSTIC
“The new Martin Simpson signature model guitar is simply the result of the PRS team being truly attentive to the feedback of a player. I have felt privileged to be able to tell them what I think will make a better guitar for great acoustic playing, and they have listened to my input from materials to neck width and string spacing, pick up sound and inlays….and when the last model arrived, I was blown away by the results. The new signature model is entirely the best materials, and the specs which I asked for, presented in a deluxe version. It is a great instrument made by people who care and strive always for the highest standards in tone, playability, workmanship and aesthetics.” – Martin Simpson.
Martin Simpson Private Stock Acoustic Specs
MARTIN SIMPSON PRIVATE STOCK
Click here to hear examples of Tony’s amazing playing on the Maker’s Mark CD!
Check out the specs and give us a call to find out how this gorgeous guitar can be yours!!!!
PS# 2956- SC HBI w/ Piezo– Bronze
PAUL REED SMITH PRIVATE STOCK #2956
PRS PS #2956
PRS PS #2956
