Guitars
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2010 Sobell Martin Simpson Signature, African Blackwood/German Spruce
Martin Simpson and Stefan Sobell are two of the main reasons Dream Guitars ever got started! Naturally, Sobell’s Martin Simpson Signature model is a force to be reckoned with. This is a fantastic example from 2010 in African Blackwood and German Spruce with some honest play wear that tells us this guitar hasn’t been collecting dust in its case at all.
Big voice from a big box (over 16.5 inches at the lower bout), but with Sobell’s heavily radiused top and back this MS Signature still fits easily in our arms, and is a very easy player with a slick setup and a wide V neck. This Sobell is a natural choice for DADGAD, but it can really handle a variety of tunings up and down from there, and the 1.78” nut gives the left hand a bit more room to get around those complex chord voicings. The tone of this Martin Simpson Signature is lively and very energetic, and it responds handsomely to a more aggressive attack. Want a guitar to handle whatever you can throw at it? This Sobell is more than up for the task: if it can keep up with Martin Simpson, you know it’s worth it’s weight in gold.Other keywords: finger style, fingerpicking, abw, blackwood, calton case, crow’s feet, crow’s foot, purfling, lutherie, luthier, gotoh
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.75 in Nut Width 1.78 in String Spacing 2.375 in Woods Spruce - German, Blackwood - African 
1992 Sobell Model 1 Cutaway Brazilian/German
Life tastes a pinch sweeter with a Sobell in your hands, sure, but when you first put finger to string with this 1992 Sobell Model 1 there’s enough sugar to sweeten a year’s coffee. Majestically opened up, this Brazilian-and-German–Spruce Model 1 sings with complex and colorful mid tones and trebles which cut like a knife. The bass register is woody, warm, and well-balanced–perfect for rounding out your fingerstyle ministrations, but delightfully punchy and clear for flatpicking tunes or accompanying a fiddle for an Irish set. Speaking of which, this Sobell is a beast in DADGAD!
Stefan carved the neck into a wide, shallow C profile that imparts an almost indecent sensation of intimacy. And if that weren’t enough to convince you, one more thing: this instrument has been played by guitar royalty. Malagasy guitarist D’Gary played this very Sobell for several recordings; check out the youtube videos below!
Be Cool!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YlDHvcarLpQ
Betepotepo II: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTf298iUxVg&spfreload=10
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.63 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.19 in Woods Spruce - German, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2003 Sobell Model 1 East Indian/European
We’re grateful each time a Sobell blesses our shop with its presence–Stefan’s builds are consistently resonant, dynamic, and eminently playable. This 2003 Model 1 is no exception! With a 1 13/16″ nut for left hand comfort and 25 5/8″ scale for crisp intonation in lowered tunings, this Sobell is all the arsenal a fingerstylist could need. You hardly apply any pressure and the notes start leaping off the fingerboard; to say this is a responsive guitar undersells it. Sobell’s instruments sell for a pretty penny these days, so this Model 1 with Indian Rosewood and European Spuce comes at an excellent bargain–and it’s in splendid shape, but broken in nicely. From Irish airs in DADGAD to country blues in Standard, this Sobell remains a big-voiced tour de force.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.63 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods xx, Rosewood - Indian 
2000 Sobell Model 1 Brazilian/Sitka
They just don’t make them any finer than this, folks. The perfect storm of dynamic tone, easy projection, and effortless playability, this 2000 Sobell Model 1 is the epitome of the fingerstyle guitar. This guitar was custom built to accomodate fingertips rather than flatpicks with its 1 13/16″ nut, and the profile of the neck was altered from Sobell’s standard C shape to a more shallow version–one which is absurdly comfortable for the left hand to hold.
No matter if we were playing this Model 1 in Standard, DADGAD, or more esoteric C tunings, big chords or small, the voice was rich and expressive, with seemingly endless sustain. You really don’t have to give the strings much force in order to achieve a powerful projection, but neither does the Model 1 “top out” when played with an aggressive attack, so you can play subtle ballads and rousing reels with equal presence. Of course, flawless playability isn’t the only trick up this one’s sleeve: there’s also the gorgeous set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides to consider, or the Sitka Spruce top, or the Highlander IP-1 pickup!
The previous owner of this instrument has taken excellent care of her, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find any scratches or dings across these beautiful woods–and this Sobell comes in a Calton flight case, so there’s no worries about the Model 1 coming into harm whenever you happen to not be playing it.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.63 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1987 Sobell 12 String Archtop Indian/European
12-String players, gather round: we’ve got one of the all-time greats in the store today: a 1987 Sobell 12-String Archtop! Stefan Sobell is recognized as one of the original builders of Irish bouzouki, and other double-stringed instruments, and his long career attests to decades spent honing his craft. It is always a pleasure to have one of his guitars in the shop, and it’s even more of a pleasure to have one of his 12-String Archtops. With Indian Rosewood back and sides and a carved European Spruce top, this guitar has a rich and dynamic range, with octave strings that project with clarity. What’s more, this guitar features 12×12 construction: it is both a 12-String and a 12-fret guitar. When these two design features are brought together, the result is effortless playability and an enveloping, complex tonality. Finally, Sobell believes that a 12-string design is best supported by an archtop body–and it’s clear why that is: the arched top creates just the right separation between the notes and make the pairs of strings discrete and clear. This is one of only a handful ever made and is as collectible as it is beautiful.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.38 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Indian 
2009 Sobell New World Brazilian/European
Stefan Sobell is a world renowned guitar builder from North Umberland England. His guitars are widely regarded as some of the most responsive and powerful available. This is in part due to the fact that Stefan used to perform regularly and found he needed instruments that would fill up the space of an un amplified room. What Stefan did to solve this problem was design a radically different guitar, resulting in an instrument with the cutting power of an archtop but with the sweetness of tone you find with the flat top guitar. One of the main design features of the Sobell guitar is the heavy lateral arching of the top and back, this helps provide power, and also has the unique benefit of making the guitar extremely comfortable to hold. This is the New World model in Brazilian Rosewood and Spruce. This is exactly what we expect from a Sobell guitar, it has power and clarity, with a wonderful warmth that really sets it apart from the pack.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.84 in String Spacing 2.34 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1989 Sobell 0 Indian/European
This fine Sobel Model O was formerly owned by Alistair Russell of Battlefield Band. A joy to play, like all Sobells, it is a great sounding guitar that has opened up nicely from being played over the years. European Spruce over Indian Rosewood, with the distinctive Sobell cutaway and oval soundhole. These instruments truly deserve the reverence they are given by professional players around the world. A fine example of Sobell’s work. Comes complete with a pickup and a Calton case that boasts many stickers from it’s travels with Alistair Russell.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.19 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Indian 
2001 Sobell Model 1 Brazilian/European
We delivered this amazing Sobell Model 1back in 2001 to a great client who studied with Martin Simpson and DG owner Paul Heumiller. At that time Stefan had a stash of wonderful dark, Brazilian and this Model 1 Sobell features a perfect set of it. The tone of this Model 1 is incredibly rich thanks to this very special Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and European Spruce top. This guitar is also stunningly gorgeous all around, with birdsfoot Rosette and trim and tri-color purfling. Incredibly playable and hard to put down. The label is signed by Martin Simpson and Stefan Sobell. It also includes an English made Calton Flight Case.
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Sobell Model 2 7 String Brazilian/European
This may be the only Sobell 7 string ever made. We custom built it back in 2001 for one of our good customers. It features Stefan’s larger Model 2 body in deep, rich Brazilian and European Spruce, the only Spruce Stefan will build with. The 7th string can be employed numerous ways from simply adding a low B to Standard tuning or a low A or G to DADGAD. Of course the sky is the limit for other tunings as well. The tone is stellar, this is one of the finest sounding Sobell guitars we’ve sold, period. It’s full and strong with lots of body and character. It’s complete with a Highlander pickup and a Calton case. We love the musical doors that a 7 string opens up. Step through the door…
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6 in Nut Width 2.063 in String Spacing 2.625 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2008 Sobell New World Brazilian/European
For many years we were the exclusive U.S. dealer for Sobell instruments and we’ve played more than anybody. So we are hear to tell you that this is a great Sobell. A few years back Stefan designed his New World model to add some of the traditional American 000 sound to his unique voice. This guitar does just that, you get all the Sobell clarity and sustain made famous by Martin Simpson, who helped spawn the idea for Dream Guitars, but you also get a wonderful punch and midrange that’s more familiar. This is also a superb recording guitar. The smaller size is easy to hold and this one sports dark, rich Brazilian Rosewood and an Adirondack Spruce top.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Brazilian 
Sobell Model 1 Sicilian Brazilian/European
Stefan Sobell’s Model 1 Sicilian Design was made famous by fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire Martin Simpson of England. Sobell’s design features a unique radiused top and back that makes for great clarity and separation that is the key feature of the Sobell sound that one hears in Martin Simpson’s recordings. The trebles are strong and the bass is controlled to allow everything to be heard. This Model 1 Sobell features a lovely set of Brazilian Rosewood and Stefan’s favorite topwood, European Spruce. In typical Sobell fashion the appointments are understated birdsfoot perfling and rosette and Brazlian Bindings. This one is like new but sounds better than new…
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.38 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2006 Sobell 1 Sicilian Cuban Mahogany/Adirondack Red
Another fantastic instrument from Stefan Sobell.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.38 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Mahogany - Cuban 
2002 Sobell Model 1 Brazilian/European
This is the best sounding Model 1 I’ve ever played and the reason is the amazing, dark black Brazilian Rosewood Stefan used for the body. It was one of a few sets he built with in 2001 and 2002 and it’s quite special. The Sobell Model 1 is the sound made famous by fingerstyle virtuoso Martin Simpson, who it just so happens was instrumental in Dream Guitars coming to be. This Sobell has Stefan’s trademark clarity and separation coupled with unbelievable sustain and richness. If you’ve been waiting for that special Sobell, fate has brought you this beauty.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2000 Solomon Phoenix European Flamed Maple/Sitka
Here we have an absolutely dreamy Erich Solomon Phoenix archtop in European Flamed Maple and Sitka Spruce. Solomon has been hand-building guitars one at a time in beautiful New Hampshire since 1995, at first in the style of the classic D’Angelico 17″ body design, but since the early 2000’s, he’s striven to express himself with a unique style that reflects his own design sensibilities. One look at this Phoenix is all it takes to see that he’s really onto something — the exaggerated carved undulations carry the eye all over it’s surface, and the pale beauty of the Euro Flamed Maple is utterly intoxicating. What’s more, the tone and playability of this great instrument are second to none.
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.98 in Nut Width 1.69 in String Spacing 2.13 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Maple - European 
2003 Somogyi Modified Dreadnought, Mahogany/Cedar
Ervin Somogyi is a living legend in the boutique guitar world, and this Modified Dreadnought from 2003, dressed in Figured Mahogany and Cedar, is a clear presentation of why. Understated natural aesthetics and an attention to detail not only make this instrument stand out but also make for one incredibly comfortable guitar. This guitar, at 21 years old at the time of publication, has so much to show for those years sonically. It is rich, complex, and an absolute joy to hear and play.
Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, MOD-D, calton.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Cedar, Mahogany