In the world of high-end and innovative instrument builders, few names are as widely known or highly regarded as Ervin Somogyi‘s. This man has singelhandedly reinvented many aspects of the modern luthier’s trade, expanding the horizons of what is artistically and functionally possible. Somogyi’s landmark texts, The Responsive Guitar and Making the Responsive Guitar, represent decades of dedicated practice and study, and yet the impact of this immense body of knowledge on his guitars is organic, controlled, elegant. Take this Somogyi 2011 Classical “Carp,” for instance. The rosette and inlay that Somogyi carves are jaw-dropping: intricate, clean, and so perfectly installed they look like natural features of the Sitka Spruce top. Combine that with Somogyi‘s other trademarks—his peaked headstock, scalloped nut and bridge, his Ebony trim—and you find yourself holding a guitar which comfortably straddles the line between art and tool. Somogyi‘s eye has blessed this guitar with a set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides which probably doesn’t have an equal: the rich, sumptuous color palette varies from creamy vanilla to rick chocolates and dusty grays. The tap tone of both the Brazilian Rosewood and the Sitka Spruce is cavernous, echoing, and drives home just how finely honed is Simogyi’s technique in voicing this guitar. Simply put, this is more than a guitar, but its not untouchable art, either. This is an instrument which, miraculously, is equally beautiful to listen to and watch. This guitar comes with a Hoffee hardshell case.

Clean energy is possible in this world, after all. The voice on this 2021 Hauser Model from Gary Southwell is just that: clean, energetic, expressive. We love the sweetness he’s coaxed out of the tight-flamed Maple body, and with a German Spruce top gifted to him by the venerable Julian Bream, it’s no wonder the voice is so rich and expansive. And such a lightweight build! This one comes in a little over three pounds soaking wet. Rodgers tuners at the headstock with MOP buttons; french polish finish throughout with an amazing clearness and luster only found from the finest french polishers; an intricate and flawlessly executed rosette to ring in the soundhole and pair up with the multiple purflings of the top bindings. Gary designed this model after Bream’s 1940 Hauser I which he used for much of his later career.

Other keywords: lutherie, fingerstyle, hauser guitar, breem, 7 fan, 355

This Tacchi Coclea Thucia is the sort of instrument that inspired the concept behind Dream Guitars. It is an instrument that stands far above the many instruments in the world and offers something very unique and special. Tacchi developed the 3 piece top combining Cedar outer boards with Alpine Spruce in the center after hearing a Torres model with softer spruce surrounding stiffer spruce. This design makes for trebles that ‘ring like a bell’ says Tacchi and we can confirm that. Rarely have we heard such clear and present treble strings on a nylon guitar. The purity of note is outstanding. Rodgers Tuners and an Accord Case compliment this worldclass Tacchi guitar.

This Tacchi Coclea Thucia is the sort of instrument that inspired the concept behind Dream Guitars. It is an instrument that stands far above the many instruments in the world and offers something very unique and special. Tacchi developed the 3 piece top combining Cedar outer boards with Alpine Spruce in the center after hearing a Torres model with softer spruce surrounding stiffer spruce. This design makes for trebles that ‘ring like a bell’ says Tacchi and we can confirm that. Rarely have we heard such clear and present treble strings on a nylon guitar. The purity of note is outstanding. Rodgers tuners and an Accord Case compliment this worldclass Tacchi guitar.