One of lutherie’s too-soon-taken virtuosos, Lance McCollum has left us with a legacy of powerfully expressive instruments to remember him by. This 2006 Grand Auditiorium is no less than perfect: from the exquisitally-flamed Koa back and sides to Lance’s advanced bracing designs and lightweight build. With skills like these, it’s no surprise that McCollum built instruments for contemporary masters like Alex DeGrassi, Todd Hallowell, and others! This Grand Auditorium features a Red Cedar top to complement all that Koa, and the result is a voice that expertly balances warmth and articulation, making this a superb instrument for the flatpicker who wants more color in his arrangements, which the ole’ Dread just can’t provide. You can see on the label that Lance viewed his work as “Functional Sculpture,” and it’s clear that he took the tasks of voicing, bracing, and trimming purfling very seriously: the craftsmanship is flawless.

Capable of handling lowered tunings like DADGAD with ease, this GA is an excellent contender for Irish accompaniment, and with it’s smaller body you won’t have to worry about fatigue for many long hours. The previous owner of this instrument had a delicate touch: there is virtually no play wear on this obviously well-played-in guitar–and it comes with a hardshell TKL case to make sure it stays that way.