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2012 PRS Neal Schon LTD Private Stock, Raspberry Fade

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With Journey’s Neal Schon signing off on a limited run of PRS Private Stocks, you know it’s going to be a sweet deal. Paul Reed Smith’s best luthiers picked out some of their choicest woods for a run of only 30 guitars in 2012, and this beauty in Raspberry Fade comes in at number 11—a 15” Archtop with Floyd Rose tremolo bridge, Curly Maple body and neck, and custom PRS Private Stock leather hardshell case. The hardware feature Collection pickups, phase III locking tuners and Floyd Rose locking nut, push-pull coil tap, volume and tone knobs. Straight ahead rock powerhouse. This PRS Neal Schon model is in excellent condition except for a spot on the headstock where the finish reacted with a stand, as well as a few other minor marks.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, electric guitar, hollow body, flloyd rose, trem bridge, rock guitar, j bird

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Brand New Sexauer OM, Brazilian Rosewood/Polish Euro Spruce

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Our latest and greatest from Bruce Sexauer is a fabulous fingerstyle guitar equally at home for strumming, lead work, open tunings, and more. Bruce builds his instruments to be as dynamic and responsive as possible, and this brand new OM does. not. disappoint. We love the clarity from string to string and fret to fret; surgically well balanced. Flawless playability makes it easy to lose track of time with this Sexauer in your hands, and weighing in just under four pounds no worries about getting tired. Gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood back and sides are paired with a Polish Spruce top, Oil Varnish finish, and Amazon Rosewood bindings to boot. Honduran Mahogany neck, hide glue construction throughout, and Schaller Grand Tune tuners are icing on the cake. Comes wrapped up in a Visesnut adjustable flight case for a custom fit.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sexauer guitars, orchestra model, brazilain, euro spruce, european spruce, evo frets

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2018 Froggy Bottom H12 Limited, All-Koa

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Bookmatched Koa back and sides are gorgeous, and then there’s bookmatched Koa on top too! This 2018 Froggy Bottom H12 Limited is beautiful in the way only good wood can be. 12 frets to the neck, slotted Waverly tuners and Curly Maple bindings—and again, let’s take a moment to ponder the depths of all this fabulous Koa. This beauty is close to new, and it’s ready to get down to the business of making music! The voice is characterized by an even response across the strings and a meaty, dry crunch in the mids. 12 frets to the body and a short scale fretboard make for easy playability to boot.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, michael millard, slot headstock, all-koa, tkl, froggy guitar, fingerstyle, fingerpicking

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2018 Kostal OM, Koa/German Spruce

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Big voice! Comfortable body. We love this 2018 Kostal OM. Not only does it feature some seriously gorgeous woods (Figured Koa back and sides, German Spruce top) and Jason’s two-tone headstock, it also packs a fierce wallop with even a light touch. Crisp, clean balance from string to string, with a particularly lively bass response. The Koa lends an evenness to note definition that’s really sweet: big chords ring out in articulate, technicolor glory. The setup is slinky and smooth just the way we like it for standard, DADGAD, and beyond. It even holds up well under a pick. This is the kind of guitar you just don’t want to put down—precisely what we’ve come to expect from Jason Kostal.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, ervin somogyi, fingerpicking, modern guitar, gotoh, hoffee, stained glass rosette

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2019 Casimi C2S, Koa/Alpine Moonspruce

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Pure magic beneath your fingers. This Casimi C2S is a dream machine of modern lutherie, the marriage of a distinct aesthetic with gossamer playability and thunderclap power. Built in 2019, this C2S is nearly new, boasts tightly flamed Hawaiian Koa sides (double sided with a Wenge veneer inside) and a pale Alpine Moonspruce top, and is adorned with Matthias and Matthew’s brass, copper, and Hawaiian black lipped pearl appointments. A work of art as much for the eye as the ear, to say nothing of the hand. 12 frets to the body with a 25.5” scale makes for power, clarity, and added warmth to really fill out the voice; this Casimi has an exquisitely articulate balance from string to string. A fingerstyle guitar in its own category.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, casimi guitars, south africa, guitarbuilidng, custom guitar, bespoke guitar, fingerpicking, hoffee

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2004 Traphagen Classical, Madagascar Rosewood/Cedar

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We adore Dake Traphagen’s classicals. The man manages to coax voluminous bass response out of the same woods that offer clear and juicy trebles and an expressive midrange—this Classical from 2004 has all of that in spades. Fabulous Madagascar Rosewood back and sides paired with Cedar on top and an L.R. Baggs UST pickup with volume control in the soundhole, 650mm scale, and a completely opened up voice. This Traphagen has been played in extensively and has the marks to prove it, and is shipshape to keep on keepin’ on!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, traphagen guitar, nylon string, steve newbrough, fingerstyle

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2014 Traphagen CYS, Cyprus/Italian Spruce

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Livewire! This is one of Dake Traphagen’s Cyprus-backed Classicals (although Dake confirms he could easily modify it to be a Flamenco) with an Italian Spruce top and an L.R. Baggs pickup that’s itching to get playing. This beauty comes to us from 2014, and it’s got the marks to prove that it hasn’t been sitting around collecting dust over the past five years. A soundport in the upper bout keeps the player better in tune with their playing, and the lightweight build and quick setup combine to keep playability easy.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, traphagen guitar, nylon string, steve newbrough, fingerstyle

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2008 Andrew White Classical, Brazilian Rosewood/Spruce

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A Classical guitar for the modern-minded player: our 2008 Andrew White Classical. Spruce over Brazilian Rosewood, with a slim nut (1 7/8”) and radiused fretboard, this Andrew White plays handsomely and effortlessly, and the previous owner installed an L.R. Baggs pickup with volume and tone control knobs recessed beneath the lip of the soundhole. An oval soundport in the upper bout keeps you in touch with your tone, and the weight comes in at a trim four pounds, four ounces. This Classical comes to us from 2008, and is one of Andrew’s handbuilt guitars, not production line Andrew White Guitars. Andrew keeps quality, fit and finish, and tone at the forefront with his personal builds, and this Classical is no exception.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, andrew white guitars, handmade, boutique guitar, crossover guitar, nylon string, classical music, fingerstyle, jazz

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2015 Kraut 00, Birdseye Maple/Italian Spruce

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Velvet to our ears. This 2015 Kraut 00 is stunning, a testament to modern lutherie and small bodied guitars with big bodied tone. Figured Birdseye Maple back and sides, Italian Spruce on top, and this one features Ray’s elevated fingerboard, which you’ll see actually goes through the top. In excellent condition, this Kraut has sweet, warm trebles that cut right through the mix, and pairs handsomely with a lively, balanced bass response. It’s an excellent fingerstyle instrument, hands down. Alessi tuners, Ebony bindings, and a Hoffee flight case round out the package. We love Ray’s geometric eye when it comes to his rosettes, and the headstock cap here is no exception, perfectly executed.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, ervin somogyi, fingerpicking, birds eye maple, bird’s eye maple, modern, 069, one of a kind

 

Additional Demo: https://youtu.be/vwWXTQqLZGk

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2011 Buscarino Rhapsody, Plum Pudding Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce

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John Buscarino’s catalog includes everything from nylon string crossovers to straight ahead flattops, archtops, and the experimental space in between. This 2011 Rhapsody model features flattop bracing on its Adirondack Spruce top, but John carved the Plum Pudding Mahogany back in the style of an archtop guitar. The result is a voice that combines warmth with punch—an excellent flatpicking machine that can cover a lot of territory. John added a fleur-de-lis soundport to the upper bout to keep the player in tune with their tunes, and a K&K Pure Mini pickup for onstage work.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, buscarino guitars, flat pick, jazz, adriondack, hiscox

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2001 Olson Custom Presentation SJ, Brazilian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce

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This Olson is sure to become the centerpiece of your personal guitar world. A custom Presentation SJ from 2001, this beau comes in brick-red Brazilian Rosewood & Sitka Spruce, with Abalone trim throughout—right on across the fretboard in sprawling vine inlays. Figured Koa bindings, Gotoh 510 tuners with the Olson “O” logo, and a Florentine Cutaway round it out. Oh, and an L.R. Baggs Lyric pickup to boot. Jim spared no expense with this one: the materials are better than the best. We love how he rings in the Abalone around the soundhole with additional layers of Brazilian Rosewood, and the quick-n-easy setup that’s butter to the touch. Jim has built an incredible career of guitars, several thousand to date, but only a handful stand out like this Presentation SJ.

Here’s an additional demo of this beauty when we had this guitar in 2019: https://youtu.be/TPam9UnWPrw.

Other keywords: james olson, jim olson, james taylor, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, brazilain, calton, flight case, phil keaggy, custom guitar, presentation guitar, presentation grade

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2010 Ome Millennium Zen 5-String Open Back

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Decked out from tuners to tail with gorgeous MOP inlays, this 2010 Ome Millennium Zen is a stunning open back banjo. The planets, moons, and stars are etched in exquisite detail, with 4:1 Planetary tuners to boot and the hardware is here upgraded in engraved Nickel. This Ome was further customized with a radiused fretboard for player comfort. It weighs in at a relatively trim 9lbs 4oz, and the setup is dialed in for sweet and easy playability.

Other keywords: old time, old-time, open-back, 5-string, 5 string, clawhammer, al petteway, appalachian, tkl

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1984 Olson Dreadnought, Indian Rosewood/Spruce

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Here’s an Olson that stands apart from the crowd: an Olson Dreadnought from all the way back in 1984. Indian Rosewood and Spruce, Jim’s hallmark 5-ply neck, and the same easy playability you’ll find on his more common SJs. The voice is very even and balanced across the registers, and loved it when we dug in for a more aggressive response. Being nearly four decades old, this Olson has its fair share of play wear and finish checks, but we’ve gone over it toe to tip to make sure everything is ready to roll—this one’s got a clean bill of health. Additionally, there’s a Fishman Matrix Infinity pickup installed that’s killer; ready for the stage today, the recording studio tomorrow.

Other keywords: james olson, olson guitars, james taylor, allen Shadd, flatpicking, bluegrass, flatpick, herringbone, 28-style, schaller

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2002 Wildwood Paragon 5-String Resonator, Walnut

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Dynamite bluegrass banjo From Mark Platin of Wildwood Banjos in Oregon. This 5-string resonator is decked out in gorgeous Walnut and Keith locking tuners (such incredible tone tools!). 22 frets to the body, MOP inlays along the fretboard and headstock veneer, 11 inch pot—and a TKL hardshell case to keep everything safe and sound.

Other keywords: banjo, bluegrass, fingerpicking, 5-string, 5 string

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2010 Henderson Dreadnought, Madagascar Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce

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If it’s good enough for Tim Stafford, you bet it’s good enough for us. Tim commissioned this Dreadnought from Wayne Henderson with a set of Madagascar Rosewood he acquired from LMI and held onto for 10 years before Wayne was able to craft it into this exquisite piece. Red Spruce on top, rounded V neck, and MOP diamond fretboard inlays complete the image. Stafford used this Henderson for several Blue Highway shows and for at least one record. To further boost the provenance, this is the first Madagascar Rosewood guitar that Wayne ever built! We’ve seen a lot of Hendersons over the years, and this one definitely stands apart.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, wayne henderson guitar, dreadnaught, bluegrass, flat picking, flatpicking, wavily, guardian case, herringbone

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2015 Gibson Custom Shop J-2000, Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce

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Sharp dressed Jumbo, anyone? We’ve landed a powerhouse 2015 Gibson J-2000 from the Custom Shop that’s got Abalone to spare, and tone to boot. Indian Rosewood back and sides with a Spruce top, Venetian Cutaway to help those upper frets earn their keep. We had a blast putting this one through its paces with a flatpick in standard and DADGAD, and were surprised to find it just as receptive to fingerstyle playing. The guitar is lightweight and easy on the hands, to say nothing of the eyes.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, gibson guitars, custom guitar, inlay, tkl, ivoroid

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Brand New Galloup G.4, Brazilian Rosewood/German Spruce

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We’re exceedingly fortunate to be able to work with some of the greatest luthiers alive today, among them Bryan Galloup. We just took in this brand new G.4 from Bryan after the 2019 Swannanoa Gathering Guitar Week, and frankly we feel hard pressed to let this one go. Brick-red Brazilian Rosewood back and sides are paired with a German Spruce top and 12-fret neck in a smaller package that lends extra sweetness to the trebles. This Galloup is an excellent fingestyle instrument, and plays as easily as breathing. The bass register is equal parts warmth and definition, which really rounds out the overall voice. Bryan stepped up his game by stepping the wings of the bridge (see photos for a closeup!) and inlaying the back with long geometric patterns, as well as around the soundhole. This work of functional art comes wrapped up in a custom Hoffee flight case.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, guitar science, dream team, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, contemporary guitar, resonant

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2006 Bresnan OM, Brazilian Rosewood/German Spruce

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A fantastic example of Dan Bresnan’s fine lutherie in action! This is one of Dan’s OMs from 2006, here in Brazilian Rosewood and German Spruce, that’s ready to keep playing. Dan employed one of his mosaic rosettes to up the visual ante, and elsewhere adopted an understated aesthetic that lets the various woods shine. Alessi tuners, Ameritage case, and a frankly effortless playability make this a great guitar for fingerstyle. The voice is first and foremost well balanced, letting complex chords ring out properly, and we especially like how that clarity and balance is maintained up the neck.

Here’s an additional demo of this beauty: https://youtu.be/iqqUnalEJtU.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, guitar building, orchestra model, brazilain, brw, brz, fingerpicking

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2006 Greven The Prairie State, Brazilian Rosewood/Lutz Spruce

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How one man could manage to churn out so many hundreds of incredible guitars is beyond us, but here we have John Greven doing just that. This 2006 The Prairie State model is his 1,601st guitar—and that was 13 years ago. Custom built for a client who elected for John’s stash of primo Brazilian Rosewood and Lutz Spruce, this guitar also has dark green Abalone like you’d find on a prewar Martin, and a torch inlay at the headstock. The lower bout, in true homage to the Larson Brothers’ Prairie State line, is a handsome (handful?) 17 inches, but the sides are only 3 1/2 inches at the heel. The shallow depth gives extra punch and clarity to the voice, and that expansive lower bout helps bring out an energetic bass response. This beautiful Greven comes wrapped up in a custom Calton flight case to keep it safe on those rare occasions when you won’t be playing it (everyone’s gotta sleep, eventually, right?)

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, guitar building, greven guitars, fingerstyle, fingerpicking

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2002 Lowden O-25c, Indian Rosewood/Cedar

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A lovely number from the fine Lowden team! This 2002 Lowden O-25c has been played through, broken in, and opened up–wide open. Such a lovely voice for just about every application. Indian Rosewood body with Cedar on top, and an L.R. Baggs M80 soundhole pickup.

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2003 Sheppard Ava Maria Grand Auditorium, Indian Rosewood/Cedar

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Our 2003 Sheppard is lively, opened up, and raring to go. Gerald decked this beau out with his cream of the crop, Ave Maria appointment package over an Indian Rosewood and Cedar body with Mahogany neck and Fossilized Mammoth nut/saddle. Long scale fretboard, 1.75” nut, and an easy playability that lends itself equally well to flatpicks as fingertips. We love how the trebles really leap out of the soundhole; overall, this Sheppard has opened up handsomely and packs a punch. Gerald’s Grand Auditorium proportions lend a boost to the bass and the projection without making the guitar too big: this one’s easy from tuners to tailblock.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sheppard guitars, fingerstyle, swannanoa gathering, koa, til, venetian cutaway

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2007 Collings 001Mh, All Mahogany

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Take this lil Collings 001Mh for a spin, and you’ll wonder why you ever bothered with bigger, bulkier guitars. Measuring in at only 14 1/4” at the lower bout, this petite 00-size Collings is easy on the hands with a 24.9 inch scale and 12-fret neck, plus the spot-on setup for which Collings is famous. This guitar was built in 2007, comes with a K&K Pure Mini pickup to boot, Waverly tuners set in a slotted headstock, and has an all-around All-Mahogany body for a voice that’s equal parts crisp and crunch.

Other keywords: lutherie, bill collings, oo, all mahogany, mahogany guitar, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, parlor guitar, guardian

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2003 Martin 00-45S 1902, Brazilian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce

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The folks at Martin Guitars have brought another historic gem back to new life with a limited run of recreated Martins from the turn of the twentieth century. This is their 00-45S 1902 model, built in 2003 to match exactly the specs of one of four 45-style prototypes built in 1902 (the 45 didn’t come onto the scene until 1904).
Here we have the hallmarks of modern 45-style appointments, but in addition the original prototype featured an integrated pickguard between the bridge and soundhole in the style of Martin mandolin pickguards of the time. All this over Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce.
This beauty is number five of an exclusive 100. Exquisitely lively, this 00-45S has a quick response and surprising depths to the bass and middle registers. This one comes with the original coffin hardshell case, and we have a Martin TKL case as well that can be shipped separately at additional cost.

Other keywords: parlor guitar, martin guitars, brazilain, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, abalone, waverly, slot head, 12-fret, 12 fret

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1964 Martin D-18, Mahogany/Sitka Spruce

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So sweet, so loud, so proud. We love this fantastic D-18 which comes to us all the way from Martin’s shop in 1964. Our repair staff went over the whole guitar and brought it into peak playing condition with a neck reset and refret, and brother does it sing. There’s the usual play wear, but all of the playability perks of a new guitar.

Here’s an additional demo with this beauty: https://youtu.be/_XF9ckHc0sk.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, martin guitars, cf martin, dreadnought, dreadnaught, bluegrass, flat picking, allen shadd

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CONNECT WITH US

Showroom (by appointment only):

108 Monticello Road, Suite 400,
Weaverville NC, 28787

Store Hours: Mon-Fri 9am-4pm EST

Contact Us
Make an Appointment

ABOUT

COMMUNITY

POLICIES

EDUCATION