This R. Taylor Style 1 comes to us from 2008 with Tropical Mahogany body, Cocobolo bindings, and Bob Taylor’s hallmark effortless setup for glassy playability. Very well preserved, this R. Taylor Style 1 is mint, comes with the original Ameritage hardshell case, and is more than ready to keep making music.
Click here for a recording with our own Al Petteway!
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, taylor guitars, sj, ga, all-mahogany, gotoh, abalone, fingerstyle
We’ve landed a fantastically preserved OM-42 in Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce that comes to us from 2002 with hardly a mark on her. Martin’s 42-style trim package bedecks the top in Abalone trim, and carries it around the fretboard extension and rosette before capping the bridge wings in snowflakes. Ivoroid bound headstock and fretboard, gold Martin tuners, and here with Martin’s standard 25.4 inch long scale setup and 1.75” nut. This beauty handles handsomely for fingers and picks, and works oh so well in so many settings.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, martin guitars, cf martin, c.f. martin, orchestra model, IR, tkl
Jason Kostal manages to fit a lot into his 00 model. This particular example comes to us from 2015, when Jason built it for the Memphis Guitar Show, and has a gorgeous set of Madagascar Rosewood for the back and sides, and a creamy German Spruce top. The Stained Glass rosette has an orange-and-red flair that’s reminiscent of fall leaves, and at the headstock you’ll find Jason’s two-tone veneer of Ebony over Rosewood. 12 frets to the body, Gotoh 510 tuners in gold and Ebony, and a 1 3/4” nut for easy playing.
The voice of this Kostal 00 is smooth to the point of transparency. We love how individual notes ring out with clarity and definition, and remain distinct to each other. The trebles have a cool, liquid quality to them that’s particularly mesmerizing, especially when you tune the guitar down. Built in 2015 but with hardly a mark on it, this Kostal 00 is in incredible condition to keep on making music.
Other keywords: custom guitar, lutherie, luthier, hoffee, flight case, fingerstyle, oo, parlor guitar, somogyi
In the Rasmussen family, the Model S stands for Small Dreadnought—plenty of power, engineered for effortless playability. We’ve got here an almost new Model S from 2018 that boasts all of that and more, specifically with some seriously beautiful tonewoods. Premium Brazilian Rosewood makes up the back, sides, bridge, fretboard, rosette, headstock veneer, and bindings (that’s a lot of BRW!), with Italian Spruce on top and a soft V Honduran Mahogany neck with 14 frets to the body. Alessi tuners, Florentine Cutaway, and EVO frets are also included. We love the responsiveness across the registers, and how much dynamism and color Lars has managed to coax out of the trebles in particular. This Rasmussen is equally at home in Standard or DADGAD.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sweden, guitarmaking, brazilain, hiscxox
This is, frankly, a fabulous instrument. Our 2012 R1-12 from Tom Rein is proof that a big voice doesn’t have to come from a big guitar: this petite 12 fretter has a hearty voice with a clean fundamental and crisp trebles. We love the clarity of this Rein, all across the fretboard and/or capo’d. Straightforward Mahogany & Adirondack Spruce body in French Polish with some marks to prove it’s been played in, 24.9” scale with a medium chunky C neck. We enjoyed fingerpicking as much as flatpicking on this little wonder, which is not something we often find with smaller guitars, but it’s just another way in which this Rein R1-12 stands apart from the crowd.
If you’re looking for a small bodied guitar punching far above its weight class, this 2012 Rein will fit the bill handsomely.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, rein guitars, tom rein, thomas rein,00, fingerstyle, 12 fret, waverly
Ervin Somogyi takes his hallmark model, the modern fingerstylist’s dream machine Modified Dreadnought, and shrinks it by 4% for the Studio model you see here. This beauty is nearly new, from 2019, and already oh so lively. Wenge back and sides paired with a tight-grained Sitka Spruce top, Ervin’s pixelated rosette, and a slinky smooth setup that’s a delight for the fingers. One of the virtues of Ervin’s Studio model is an increased balance between bass and treble, with a slightly more articulate midrange and warmth. The iconic Somogyi bass response is all here, and it mates sweetly with the rest of the voice for fingerstyle royalty. Weighing in at a trim 4lbs 4oz, this 2019 Somogyi Studio is lively, exquisite, and ready for action.
Other keywords: somogyi guitar, lutherie, luthier, the responsive guitar, hoffee, fingerpicking, dadgad, gotoh
Ross Gutmeier’s Santos model is a no frills Concert Classical that pulls no punches. This beauty is still fresh off the bench from 2017, and has impressive sonority throughout the bass register, with clean, smooth trebles. We’re already impressed, and expect it to continue to mature. Straight-grained Indian Rosewood back and sides, European Spruce on top, with French Polish finish and Rubner tuners and a 650mm scale. Combined with a slim fighting weight of 3lbs 5oz, this Gutmeier Santos Hernandez Model is an effortless player, and is a tough one to put down. You’ll see.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, classical, concert classical, nylon string, fingerstyle, euro spruce, french polished, guitarbuilding, hiscox
An exceptional guitar. We just took in a 1974 Ramirez 2A in Brazilian Rosewood and Cedar with some powerful provenance. Played and initialed by the venerable master, Christopher Parkening, this Ramirez has been extensively played in and has an exquisitely opened up and responsive voice. Power and sustain with the 664mm scale; the proprietary Ramirez lacquer finish is in great shape; and this 2A comes with the original case. The generous Ramirez neck profile feels full and comfortable in hand, and the setup is butter smooth. The condition is great. There are the usual marks and fret wear of a guitar that’s been lovingly played for decades, but overall this 1974 Ramirez 2A is a well preserved example.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, classical guitar, classical, nylon string, jose ramirez, fingerstyle, brazilain, CWP, chris darkening
And now for a special treat. We’re selling a fantastic Concert Classical from Douglas Ching which comes to us all the way from 1987 in Hawaii. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Spruce top, and a refinish and restoration from the venerable Thomas Baldwin make for an excpetionally resonant player. The voice is particularly well balanced from E to e, allowing for complex chords to ring out with even definition along the fretboard. The neck features a medium depth carve, and the whole operation weighs in at three and a half pounds! That lightness goes right into the Ching voice: clear and transparent with lots of headroom.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, classical, concert classical, nylon string, fingerstyle, french polished, guitarbuilding, french polish, ching guitars
The Olson party continues to grow! We’ve now taken on a 1993 SJ non-cutaway with additional MOP and Abalone appointments. Indian Rosewood back and sides with the classic Cedar top, this Olson SJ is 100% James Olson–James Taylor tone. This is a particularly well preserved example of Jim’s work from the early 90s, one of our favorite Olson periods, and comes wrapped up in the tweed hardshell case to seal the deal.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, jim olson, fingerstyle, sj, fingerpicking, mother of pearl, mother-of-pearl, 405
Warmth and clarity are interwoven for a crisp, enveloping voice in a petite, easy-playing package. Our latest, Ivanov Snow Parlor from 2018 features Dontcho’s all-white motif with Lutz Spruce on top and figured European Maple everywhere else. Waverly tuners with Snakewood buttons and red purflings around the rosette help set off the whole package, with EVO frets for longevity and a (you guessed it) white Boblen hardshell case. We love how Dontcho teases a lot of color and response out of the trebles, and the individual note definition allows for big chords to ring out in technicolor brilliance.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, woodworking, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, parlour, 0, 00, canadian
Here’s a powerhouse OM from EddieLee Brown from 2019 that sings out like a well-defined explosion. The bass response has plenty of bite, but doesn’t overpower the voice, and we love how the crisp attack of the trebles balances everything out. This ELB OM is an excellent candidate for the hybrid player who needs equal responsiveness for fingerstyle as well as flatpicking, and the addition of a soundport in the upper bout keeps all that tone dialed in to the player’s ear so you can keep up.
Madagascar Rosewood back and sides is here paired with AAA German Spruce and a 25.4” scale that feels familiar right out of the gate. The Honduran Mahogany neck carve features a generous curve, and the setup is a breeze. Body bindings in Curly Koa, Brazilian Cherry top trim, and a rosette of Orange Agate & Abalone round out the complete package that is this brand new ELB OM.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, eddie lee brown, elb guitars, gotoh, fingerpicking, tusq
We love Jeff Traugott’s work. And we love this 2002 Model R in particular. Chocolate dark Brazilian Rosewood paired with German Spruce, glassy playability, and a voice that’s opened up handsomely in the past 17 years. This Traugott has been lovingly played in, and it’s such a joy to hear the resulting clarity and projection. Jeff’s guitars are known for their precision and dynamic range, and this Model R is no exception. It responds handsomely to both fingerstyle and flatpicking, and it really soaks up altered tunings like DADGAD in a way that would be the envy of much bigger guitars.
Simply fantastic, and ready for more.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, traugott guitars, brazilain, gotoh, cutaway, calton, fingerpicking
We’ve got a powerhouse all-black Gibson Les Paul custom from 1984 that’s looking sharp and singing sultry. All original components, PAF pickups with gold tremolo bridge, Ebony fretboard, the original Gibson case, and MOP fretboard position markers to boot. This Les Paul Custom is very clean, with only faint fret wear from the b and e strings, and some light scratches on the pickguard.
other keywords: gibson guitars, lp, custom guitar, electric, solidbody, solid body, trem bridge, cutaway
The Slope Shoulder Dreadnought from Santa Cruz is not just for flatpicking. This well-oiled machine is sweetly balanced for a dynamic response and wide range of tones. Built in 2009, our D12 is in excellent condition and boasts impressive Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and a European Spruce top. We love playing this one with fingers in open tunings, and the setup is easy on the hands for a multitude of styles. 12 frets to the neck helps warm up the bass response, and the folks at Santa Cruz tuned the top for sweet trebles to balance everything out. Really, a lovely guitar that straddles so many genres—and excels at each, every time.
Other keywords: richard hoover, lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, bluegrass, slope d, fingerstyle, herringbone, dreadnaught
Kim builds ‘em right. We just landed a 2001 000 decked out in 42-style Abalone appointments, Cocobolo, and Adirondack Spruce that’s a 100% dream machine. Fingertips or flatpicks don’t matter; this gorgeous Kim Walker fills the room with excellent clarity and note separation, not to mention sustain. The Mahogany neck is finished in half satin, and the left hand glides oh so easily. 12 frets to the body, combined with 25.4 long scale, makes for a nice balance between warmth and attack, and we love just how easily the Walker plays. For safety’s sake, we’re selling this powerhouse with a form-fitting Calton flight case.
Here’s our original demonstration and chat with Paul: https://youtu.be/9Rk7P58yO3I.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, k walker, fingerstyle, ooo, 000-42, rosewood
At long last, Eric Weigeshoff has finished our custom build for Yasmin Williams! This Skytop GC is what fine lutherie is all about: Teredo-hole Sitka Spruce, Spalted Tamarind back and sides, multiscale fretboard, twin soundports and Bloodwood appointments—James May Ultra Tonic pickup, Visesnut flight case, and more percussive fingerstyle fun than you can shake a pocketful of acrylic nails at. We’d say the only thing missing is a player to warm it up, but we’re sure Yasmin will keep this Skytop in hand and lap to make music for many years to come.
Other keywords: luthier, custom guitar, bespoke guitar, guitar tapping, percussive guitar, lap style, gotoh
Now this is a real treat. We’ve landed a lively 2005 Hamblin GC with primo tonewoods and an exquisitely balanced voice that’s available now. Brazilian Rosewood pulled from Jeff Traugott’s own personal stash, here paired with a Carpathian Spruce top and 25.4” scale, makes for extra clarity and sustain. This Hamblin’s string to string balance is such that all the registers work together very evenly, with no emphasis of one over the other, allowing big chords and multi string solos to ring out crisply. It holds up very well under a pick in standard tuning, as well as DADGAD, and the lightweight build (4lbs on the nose) and glassy setup make for a smooth ride every time we pick up the instrument.
This 2005 Hamblin GC is the guitar for you, if you’re looking for balance, clarity, and playability.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerstyle, brazilain, grand concert, waverly, cedar creek
Our 2007 Sexauer FT-14 is a well-polished gem. Gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood back & Madagascar Rosewood sides, with an Italian Spruce top sourced from Bachmann Tonewoods, in a small body frame that weighs just over 3.5lbs. The setup is glassy, the trebles lean and focused, the note separation precise—this Sexauer has a quick attack that lends itself well to a flatpicker’s touch, and holds up will for fingerstyle as well.
This FT-14 has opened up sweetly, and plays oh so easily, it’s a tough one to put down.
Other keywords: bruce sexauer, sexauer guitars, lutherie, luthier, guitar building, waverly, maddie, fingerpicking
The Japanese-built GB20 George Benson was Ibanez’s followup to the popular smaller bodied GB10, and boasts a full-size 16.25” lower bout and 3” deep body with Johnny Smith-style mini humbucker and volume knob/jack integrated with the pickguard. This example comes to us from 1979 and is in superb condition. We currently have it strung with roundwounds for a bit extra bite, but have also tried it with flatwounds and loved the even and mellow response. The setup is dialed in for a glassy play feel. Maple back, Spruce top, bone nut with brass zero fret, and the original case to boot.
Other keywords: archtop, lutherie, luthier, jazz, jazz guitar, jazz box
Powerhouse 12-string, anyone? We’ve got a dynamite double string serenader here from James Goodall in Rosewood and European Spruce that’s opened up and ready for action. Built in 2007 and played since then, this Goodall RGC 12 plays easily and clearly across the dynamic range. We loved digging in with a thumbpick for bluesy growl, but it also holds up well under a lighter touch where the overtones have more latitude to bloom. An L.R. Baggs iMix pickup system has been installed with volume and blend knobs just under the lip of the soundhole, and the preamp with its multitude of settings is accessible just below that on the back. As we mentioned above, this Goodall RGC 12 hasn’t been sitting idle and collecting dust, and has some first position fret wear and body marks to prove it. We appreciate that this one has been so lovingly played in; the voice is sweet and powerful and clear all at once.
Other keywords: 12 string, leo kottke, leadbelly, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, octave strings, koa, goodall guitars, rgc-12, tkl, lr baggs
Contemporary fingerstyle meets its perfect companion: our 2016 Greenfield G4.2. Michael Greenfield’s guitars are in the hands of some of our favorite bleeding edge fingerstylists, like Pipo Romero and Andy McKee, and here’s why. Michael’s guitars are exquisitely responsive to a wide range of attacks, they have a cleanness and clarity that allows complex voicings to ring out with the right amount of definition, and they play effortlessly. Figured Mahogany back and sides here paired with Adirondack Spruce.
This particular G4.2 is fully loaded with creature comforts for playability and intonation. The multiscale fretboard is modeled after Andy McKee’s personal G4.2 (26” bass to 25.4” treble), there are twin arm and rib bevels, and Michael’s heel “swoosh” combined with a Florentine cutaway for easy access to the upper dusty frets. This guitar growls, it purrs, it exclaims, it converses. We keep playing different styles on it, and each comes out beautifully.
A instrument like this 2016 Greenfield G4.2 only comes along once in a great while; get this one you still can.
Other keywords: greenfield guitars, fingerpicking, dadgad, open tuning, fan fret, fanned fret, altered tuning, evo frets, adriondack, mainstage case
You can see right through the voice of our latest OM from Dontcho Ivanov, it’s clear as glass and twice as precious. Dontcho has tweaked the tone for maximum clarity and note separation, and we love how well the registers play together. In DADGAD or Standard, this Ivanov plays smoothly with the perfect mix of warm bass and cool treble overtones. It’s a fingerstyle machine. Three piece Fiddleback Mahogany for the back is paired with a Swiss Alpine Moonspruce top and Lacewood trim, Dontcho’s carved headstock and polished bridge, and a slim punching weight of 3lbs 13oz to keep you playing effortlessly for longer. To top it all off, this Ivanov OM comes with a Visesnut flight case for custom, secure protection.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, canada, fingerpicking, fiddle back, evo frets, gotoh
A big treat can come in a small package. We’ve got a sweetheart Piccolo Parlor from Dana Bourgeois and co decked out in Cocobolo and Aged Tone Adirondack Spruce that’s a blast to play, and stands apart from the crowd with its trim dimensions and crisp voice. Built in 2015, this Bourgeois only has a few years under its belt and is in excellent condition—all the better to show off these gorgeous tonewoods and Aged Tone finish. On the back you’ll find Dana’s “Arrowhead” center strip marquetry, which dovetails nicely with the half herringbone trim on top. Bindings are Ziricote, with Fossilized Mammoth Ivory squares and diamonds inlaid across the fretboard, and hide glue construction throughout.
Other keywords: terz, small guitar, parlour, 0, 00, fingerstyle, torrefied, waverly, tkl
