Preowned guitars by Kim Walker are few and far between. This one is a small bodied sweetheart. The woods are beautifully figured Mahogany and bearclaw Spruce. The voice is strong and proud and it capably morphs from bluesy to placid pieces. The bass string is full and warm and the treble strings sing out. A great Walker and this is the only O he ever made so it is very rare and collectible.

The dizzying number of wonderful guitars that we have on our walls might lead some to think that after a while, all these amazing guitars would sound alike. However, when a true heavyweight like the 2004 Walker SJ we have here today enters the fray, there’s just no competition. Kim Walker’s name is synonymous with unparalleled quality and tone–and we’ve got one of his masterpieces in the shop, begging to be played. A stunning Brazilian Rosewood set comprises the back and sides with a richly colored Adirondack Spruce top and Brazilian Rosewood bindings. In Kim’s hands, these woods have been given a rich, powerful voice. The low-end is charged and enveloping, while the trebles have a warm, complex tonality and sweet sustain. When played fingerstyle, the middle registers exhibit a smooth sinuosity and have mellow overtones. Overall, the registers are perfectly–and we mean perfectly–balanced, and the SJ body gives this guitar heaps of projection. Kim’s appointments are graceful, from his contemporary-inflected asymetrical Ebony bridge to the hairline curves of the headstock and the minutely curved body bindings. This is one of the lightest SJs you’ll find, but the build is nevertheless rock solid: this guitar exudes an aura of strength and longevity. If you are at all interested in owning a Walker, give this guitar a look, because let’s face it: they’re very rare, and will only become rarer with time. This is the guitar of a lifetime–don’t miss your chance.

This is the first guitar we have had in the shop from North Carolina-based luthier Wes Lambe, and boy are we impressed. Just holding this Jumbo 000, you really get a sense of the passion Wes has for building guitars. Wes has a great ear when its comes to voicing his instruments, and this particular one has a full and rich tone with a panoply of pleasing overtones. The time-honored combination of Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce has been utilized to full effect here, and the evenness of tone and power from string to string, up and down the fingerboard, is remarkable. Without a doubt, this is a perfect fingerstyle guitar, with enough headroom to be really dug into with a plectrum if needed. Wes has garnered some high praise from incredible players like Pat Metheny, Charlie Hunter, Mark Kelly, and quite a few others, so you know his guitars can really sing. Grab this little gem while you can, it won’t be around long!