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Michel Pellerin is in fine form with this 2020 Folk 000 Premium Sunburst. Quick string energy, great headroom (especially for a slim 000), and a glassy setup makes for an engaging and exciting playing experience. Pellerin opted for finely figured Birdseye Maple for the back and sides which has been torrefied–maybe that’s where some of the extra bass energy comes from, or perhaps it’s the active X-X-X bracing system he used for the back–and a Bearclaw Sitka Spruce top was the obvious choice to complement. This is all tied together with a sweet and subtle sunburst, Rosewood bindings, and gold EVO frets along the fingerboard.

Check out this additional video featuring Al Petteway on this stunning Pellerin Folk 000: https://youtu.be/JKbr5WAsUNw

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, pellerin guitars, somogyi, ooo, 2080520

Whoever said Koa doesn’t have depth and power hasn’t played this A69c Custom McIlroy. Not only does this all-Koa guitar pack some serious heft into the voice with a quick and lively string energy, but it manages to do so while looking good at the same time. Sycamore bindings plus Abalone rosette, top trim, and position markers are an excellent complement to the figured Koa, and the pinless bridge ties it all together. Additionally, this A69c has the added distinction of being McIlroy’s 1200th guitar–no small feat. If you want lots of power in an easy-playing package, it’s hard to go wrong with this 2019 A69c.

Here’s an additional video on this all-Koa beauty with Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/gdjcvf5-q30

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, mcilroy guitars, abalone, acacia

We recently lost Michael Keller, and the luthier community feels that loss keenly. So we’re delighted to have this 2014 Dreadnought in the shop to honor his memory and find a new home for it. Eight years old and waking up very nicely, the voice is open and expressive with great note separation. As a result, it’s at home with fingerpicking as well as of course flatpicking. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides pair with Adirondack Spruce on top, Abalone trim and snowflakes/diamonds position markers–and Michael upgraded this Dread with a soundport in the upper bout side. This has the effect of giving the player a bit more “me in the monitor,” making it easier to hear your tone when playing with those pesky other musicians in the group. When you want to go electric, the installed Fishman Matrix Natural pickup will take you there.

Other keywords: luthier, keller guitars, dreadnaught, allen sadd, brazilain, adriondack

Lowden’s 50 series offers select appointments, and here on their popular F-50 with Redwood and African Blackwood the result is gorgeous for both eyes and ears. This is one of those “does-it-all” kind of guitars; The midsize F body is easy on the arms and still packs a solid punch for a range of styles. We’re suckers for African Blackwood, and this 2016 Lowden F-50 has a great set with some figuring to add drama.

Here’s an additional video of this Lowden F-50 played by our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/199ziLwwcR4

Other keywords: george lowden, lutherie, abw, red wood, 20721, fingerpicking

Lowden’s F body does it all exceedingly well–this 2018 F-32C is here to prove it. Great string balance across the registers, trebles with good depth but also some added shimmer, and of course Lowden’s gorgeous satin finish and top shelf build quality throughout. Sitka Spruce on top pairs with Indian Rosewood back and sides, and a K&K Pure Mini pickup to carry you into amplified territory. All wrapped up in an Ameritage case!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, george lowden, 22462, stika, eir, k & k

Kevin Caton’s Carolina model packs a wallop. With a 16 inch lower bout, this Carolina has lots of real estate for tone generation, which the Macassar Ebony body and Carpathian Spruce top take immediate advantage of. Great headroom allows for a heavier attack, with a strong fundamental in the bass register and some sparkling overtones on the top end. Kevin’s asymmetrical upper bout design allows for easy fingerboard access without compromising the amount of air the body can move, and looks fresh and modern to boot. When you factor in the geometric motifs at the endgraft, rosette, heelcap, and headplate, this Caton Carolina stands out from the crowd in all the right ways.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, 60, tkl

This Goodall BRSC has the added benefits of age to complement it’s gorgeous tonewoods and easy playability. From 1999, it’s got over 20 years under its belt. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides with Sitka Spruce top, 25.5″ scale and 14 fret Mahogany neck, and some lovely Abalone dove inlays along the fingerboard.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, cutaway

Bil Mitchell is here to offer us a brand new L-00 12 fretter from his shop that’s wide awake and crooning. This one features Flame Maple plus Adirondack Spruce. Lovely sunburst throughout which lets the grain come through, and Flame Maple bindings to really make it pop. The voice is quick and lively, and oh so easy to play with a short scale, 24.75″ setup.

Here’s an additional demo on the Mitchell L-00, played by Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/ZQUm1k0k5eA
Here’s an additional demo with Mary Flower playing this Bil Mitchell L-00: https://youtu.be/8U7qtdUm7RU

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, l00, fingerpicking, 439, 2022, abalone

We are excited to be partnering with the Ukulele Kids Club Inc., along with four outstanding luthiers: Steve Grimes, Jay Lichty, Peter Robson, and Ben Wilborn, as the platform that will sell four one-of-a-kind guitars to help bring the healing power of music to medically fragile children. It is our honor to support the efforts of these altruistic luthiers who have chosen to donate these fine instruments to benefit so many children in need. All partners and luthiers are proud to share that 100% of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Ukulele Kids Club Inc.

The OM body does it all, and Peter Robson’s OM more than meets the challenge! This midsize flattop handles a range of attacks and styles very well indeed, with some added depth and presence in the lower mids that’s very lovely when tuned down to DADGAD. As with all four LFAC guitars, the body is Flame Maple with Sitka Spruce on top, supplied by Steve Grimes.

Here’s a link to the Luthiers for a Cause website: https://www.luthiersforacause.org/.

Here you can go to the Ukulele Kids Club website to donate directly as well: https://theukc.org/.

Other keywords: lutherie, auction, donation guitar, fingerstyle, 206

We originally sold this guitar as part of the LFAC auction, and now we are reselling it as like new to benefit the Ukulele Kids Club a second time!

We are excited to be partnering with the Ukulele Kids Club Inc., along with four outstanding luthiers: Steve Grimes, Jay Lichty, Peter Robson, and Ben Wilborn, as the platform that will sell four one-of-a-kind guitars to help bring the healing power of music to medically fragile children. It is our honor to support the efforts of these altruistic luthiers who have chosen to donate these fine instruments to benefit so many children in need. All partners and luthiers are proud to share that 100% of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Ukulele Kids Club Inc.

Here we’ve got Steve Grimes’ FHP-33 parlor guitar with some asymmetrical curves. As with all four LFAC guitars, the body is Flame Maple with Sitka Spruce on top, supplied by Steve. In addition to asymmetrical proportions, Steve also includes a carved back like you’d find on an archtop guitar. Here that comes together in a slim package that nonetheless has a sizeable voice under the hood. Great string energy and quick, snappy decay makes for a solid blues guitar, but there’s also a touch of sweetness and roundness in the trebles that works well for a range of styles.

Here is Al Petteway with an additional demo on this beautiful Grimes Parlor: https://youtu.be/GYo79zPug00

Here’s a link to the Luthiers for a Cause website: https://www.luthiersforacause.org/.

Here you can go to the Ukulele Kids Club website to donate directly as well: https://theukc.org/.

Other keywords: lutherie, auction, donation guitar, fingerstyle, 206

We are excited to be partnering with the Ukulele Kids Club Inc., along with four outstanding luthiers: Steve Grimes, Jay Lichty, Peter Robson, and Ben Wilborn, as the platform that will sell four one-of-a-kind guitars to help bring the healing power of music to medically fragile children. It is our honor to support the efforts of these altruistic luthiers who have chosen to donate these fine instruments to benefit so many children in need. All partners and luthiers are proud to share that 100% of the proceeds from the sale will benefit the Ukulele Kids Club Inc.

Jay Lichty is a local North Carolina builder who’s been active on the scene for many years. Not only does he build great flattops, he also has a great reputation for his ukuleles. This SJ model has a quick and energetic voice with lovely trebles. Lean in, and it’s got the headroom. Lighter attack? String energy remains crisp and defined. As with all four LFAC guitars, the body is Flame Maple with Sitka Spruce on top, supplied by Steve Grimes.

Here’s a link to the Luthiers for a Cause website: https://www.luthiersforacause.org/.

Here you can go to the Ukulele Kids Club website to donate directly as well: https://theukc.org/.

Other keywords: lutherie, auction, donation guitar, fingerstyle

Here we have Ben’s baritone build on the Sidewinder body from his Comma Series guitars. Offset soundhole, arm bevel, elevated fingerboard, 27.5″ scale–this monster sings sweetly, plays easily. The body is Flame Maple with Sitka Spruce on top, supplied by Steve Grimes. This guitar was originally crafted for LFAC, please see the additional demo for more info.

Other keywords: lutherie, auction, donation guitar, fingerstyle, 206

 

Additional demo: https://youtu.be/2_KOxIAQa8I

The name of the game is quick, when it comes to this  2010 Benedetoo 16-B One Off. Slim body and a slim neck make for a very comfortable playing experience, as well as a quick and easy setup with a 25″ scale. Benedetto humbucker with volume and tone sound juicy and fat, even on this narrow-depth body. Finely figured Birdseye Maple back and sides (and neck) plus Spruce on top.

Other keywords: lutherie, bob benedetto, bendedeto, s1985, duane simpson

Our latest client commission from Bryan Galloup has arrived–and it does not disappoint. In typical fashion, this G.6CAM has a huge voice but remains clean and balanced across the registers, is upgraded with highly figured Brazilian Rosewood and Italian Spruce on top, plus the added benefits of an arm bevel and a multiscale fingerboard setup for added power on the bottom end. Take this Galloup to C tuning territory, and it retains every ounce of fluency.

Other keywords: fingerstyle, petteway, robbins, 2207, brazilain, bespoke guitar

A chance to own a particularly desirable and collectable Olson! This 2013 James Taylor Signature Series 1 model is one of only 80 such instruments built by Jim, based on Taylor’s personal Olson with dove inlays, Abalone trime and rosette, and here featuring a tight-grained Indian Rosewood body plus Cedar top. Very well cared for, this guitar is very minty and plays like butter. The voice has a great mix of sweetness, power, and definition across the registers. The kind of guitar that makes even wrong notes sound good.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, james olson, fingerstyle, 1429, signature guitar

There are Ryans, and then there are Ryans. For this 2015 build, Kevin upped the ante to astonishing heights as part of his Signature Series line. Only the topmost shelf tonewoods and appointments, including chocolatey Brazilian Rosewood for the body, Engelmann Spruce top, and the incredibly ornate and sprawling pearl appointments that put this Nightingale in a class all its own. There’s an ocean of Black Tahitian Pearl at work here, delicately and intricately inlaid in looping knot work and trimming out the neck, top, sides, back, headstock, bridge, rosette, even the endgraft wedge. It beggars the imagination to consider just how many hours went into every square inch of inlay.

Here’s an additional video demo of this Ryan with Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/qI-94WRpXUU

Other keywords: lutherie, ryan guitars, fingerstyle, 817-243-69, bespoke, signature guitar

Tones for a lifetime. This 2020 PRS Private Stock Modern Eagle V features a humbucker, single-coil, humbucker pickup configuration, five-way switch, twin mini toggles to separate the slug-side coils; a third mini toggle to change the volume pot value from 500k to 250k–then the tone knob has a push/pull to activate both humbuckers in order to run all three pickups. The body is Black Limba, plus Brazilian Rosewood for the neck and fingerboard, and the Flame Maple top has been finished with a custom “Zombie Sky” green finish.

Here’s an additional video with Duane Simpson on this instrument: https://youtu.be/uXehdyq0ROk

Other keywords: lutherie, paul reed smith, duane simpson, solidbody, 8617

Slice of heaven. It’s always a pleasure to have an Olson in the shop, but this 2020 JT Clone takes the cake for wide open, sweet mids, and the classic top end sparkle that Jim’s known for. Additionally, being a JT Clone this model has been seriously upgraded with chocolate-dark Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides with Cedar on top, BRW rosette and bindings, extensive Abalone trim and dove inlays along the fingerboard, plus an L.R. Baggs LB6 pickup.

This is more than a collector’s piece. It’s more than a great-sounding guitar. It’s a lifetime instrument.

Other keywords: lutherie, james olson, james taylor, 1618, mainstage, fingerstyle, brazilain

Smooth sailing across the fretboard, slick playability and juicy amplified tone–this 2012 G-9CE from Bryan Galloup is a dream machine for the archtop player. Figured Maple back and sides with carved Sitka Spruce top, custom Kent Armstrong humbucker with volume at the pickguard, and a slim play weight of five pounds makes for an easy-playing experience and sharp-dressed aesthetic. Especially considering it’s a full size 17 inch lower bout.

Here’s an additional video with Duane Simpson playing this beautiful Galloup archtop: https://youtu.be/4yDYWAQiiuo

Other keywords: galloup studios, 1211, ken armstrong, gotoh, flame maple, visesnut

Bigleaf Maple body, European Spruce top, 15 inches across the lower bout and rigged with a Kent Armstrong humbucker–this 2007 Greenfield Archtop is a sight to see. In hand, the smaller body feels extra comfortable; you can really snug up with this one in your arms. Ebony pickguard, bridge, and tailpiece provide some dark contrast to the honey amber hues present elsewhere. Michael has only ever offered a small handful of archtops–this is only the third we’ve ever seen–and we’re proud to offer this one to you now.

Other keywords: duane simpson, arched top, aaa, gotoh, 109

 

Additional demo: https://youtu.be/efi0x5tqKUU

From tuners to tail, this 2022 Thorell Red Sky Deluxe is gorgeously appointed, smoothly set up, and powerfully voiced for both articulation and warmth. The body is all Port Orford Cedar–a first for us–and elsewhere Ryan Thorell employs English Walnut for the neck and bindings. Along the fingerboard you’ll find his “Z” block inlays, hand cut and hand inlaid. The pickup is custom from Ryan in a Dearmond-style configuration, stylishly encased in Ebony and affixed to the fingerboard. Like new, this Red Sky Deluxe is ready for more action.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, thorell guitars, 21-175, po cedar, calton

The sweets of time, good wood, and a master’s touch. This Traugott BK comes to us from 1998 and has opened up handsomely, the result of which is a set of Brazilian Rosewood and German Spruce that are responsive to a T and built with a wide dynamic range for a variety of attacks and styles. Jeff’s BK body is a generous 16 inches across the lower bout, adding power and bass response to his trademark well-balanced sound. The Brazilian Rosewood is really something else: rich red hues throughout, very straight-grained and quarter sawn–and such a tightly grained German Spruce top! Jeff’s wood game has always been a cut above the rest, and this 1998 BK is proof of that.

Check out this additional video featuring Al Petteway on this amazing Traugott BK: https://youtu.be/SkSltYnYVso

Other keywords: fingerstyle, lutherie, luthier, bk.00954.098, brazilain, brw

Several years back we had the pleasure of having David Wilcox’s personal Olson in the shop–and this 1996 SJ we have in today is just two serial numbers away from that one! Also appointed with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and Adirondack Spruce on top. The Brazilian even appears to be a sequential set from David’s. This one, #659, has a quick and crisp voice that’s wide open after almost three decades of music have passed through its fibers.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, james taylor, small jumbo, fingerstyle, adriondack, brazilain

Now that’s what we call an OM. This 2018 flattop from John Slobod of Circa Guitars is a delight to both your ears and your hands, with a slightly full neck profile that feels instantly familiar and a responsive, articulate voice plus lots of dynamic range for a host of different attacks and colors. Very tight grain on the Madagascar Rosewood body, plus German Spruce on top; Rosewood bindings and a segmented rosette plus EVO frets offer an understated aesthetic. John lets the quality of the woods speak for themselves; ditto for the classic curves of the OM body. If you can think of it, this Circa OM can do it.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, orchestra model, ameritage, 164, al petteway