A nearly new 00 from Bevan Frost’s Big Hollow workshop! Built in 2018, this beauty already sounds alive and open, all the better to show off the Honduran Rosewood back and sides and Adirondack Spruce top. Bevan finished this one with Oil Varnish in a dark and emotive sunburst that’s offset by Bloodwood bindings and herringbone trim. Rubner tuners and an Ameritage case complete the package.
The voice is equal parts sweet trebles and smoky bass. Bevan chose wisely when he opted for a dark sunburst; it matches the tone to a T. The setup is dialed in for easy playability, and at just over four pounds this Big Hollow 00 is a lightweight guitar that it’s easy to spend long hours with.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, honduras rosewood, adirondack, fingerstyle, oo, slot head, slotted head

This is the first Big Hollow that’s landed on our doorstep, and we were impressed the moment we tuned it up. This 2015 00 was built with four-piece, quartersawn Macassar Ebony back and sides and an Adirondack Spruce top, which lends extra power to the voice. We found this 00 to have a clean, focused sound, and the individual note separation precise and to the point. This small body 12-fretter responds surprisingly well to a flatpick, and is a natural choice for fingerpicking in standard tuning, as well as Open D.
EVO frets mean you won’t have to worry about a fret dress for quite some time to come, and the oil varnish finish has been buffed to a high sheen to keep the instrument as light and resonant as possible (this beauty is a trim 3lbs 14oz). Bloodwood bindings throughout are paired with herringbone appointments and matte gold Rubner tuners. Pyramid bridge for a touch of the traditional, but Bevan’s upper bout curves cut a more contemporary figure that sets this Big Hollow 00 apart from the crowd.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, oo, parlor guitar, adirondack, macasser, ameritage, fingerstyle

This 2010 Sugar Pine from Mark Blanchard is sweet as honey and clear as a tall glass water. For the fingerstylist, this Madagascar–Rosewood-and-Italian–Spruce 12-fret is the kind of guitar you can enjoy for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert–the voice is impeccably balanced and impressively opened up (it’s only a few years old), responding quickly to both light and aggressive attacks.

We found the bass particularly delicious; well-defined and present in the mix, the lower register can be heard articulately, but doesn’t overpower the voice. The slightly wider neck makes for easier left-hand work on those complex altered tuning chord voicings; Evo Gold frets will last a lifetime, and are shiny as though new even today; trebles are quick and delightfully crisp. Add to all of that a “Comfy Corner” armrest, Manzer Wedge, Calton Case, and Venetian Cutaway–yep, this is the complete fingerstyle package.

We’ve got a lovely 2014 Blues Creek 000-28 from John Hall that’s a breeze for fingertips as easily as flatpicks, and packs a punchy midrange to boot. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides in classic combination with Adirondack Spruce and 28-style appointments, 12-fret neck, 24.9” short scale; an agile and responsive Martin-style 000 we’d recommend for just about everything.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, brazilain, ady, hiscox, fingerpicking, slot head, slotted headstock

A 12-fret fingerstyle machine from Dana Bourgeois, this 2014 OMS Custom is decked out in Koa and Adirondack Spruce. If tradition and modernity meet, it’s usually obvious; however, with this creature, you aren’t made aware of it until you play it. Just absolutely amazing.

Other keywords/misspellings: Luthier, lutherie, trad, bearclaw, 6688,

Well, well, well—this is a beauty to lose yourself in, time and time again. Some of us are struggling not to keep this one for ourselves! Here’s the skinny: a 2018 Bourgeois DS-DB Signature Slope Shoulder Dread with reserve grade Cocobolo back and sides, AT (Aged Tone) Adirondack Spruce top, Koa bindings, Waverly tuners with Snakewood buttons. Here’s the tone report: smooth and velvety, a balance of richness and power, equally at home for fingers as for picks. It’s a monster with 12 frets to the body and a 25.5” scale for added warmth. Dana Bourgeois and co, you’ve nailed it 100% with this DS-DB Signature model from 2018.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, bourgeois guitars, fingerstyle, custom guitar, hot hide glue, 008182

This is the only all Koa Martin Simpson model we’ve ever see. This rare beauty features premium grade, highly figured Koa for the back, sides, top and headstock. This model was a collaboration between fingerstyle master Martin Simpson and luthier Dana Bourgeois. The idea was a fingerstyle 12 fret slope D that would provide power missing in many fingerstyle instruments and also work well for strumming and flatpicking. The addition of a fallaway cutaway that grants full access to the 15th fret and generous string spacing make it an oustanding fingerstyle guitar and one of those rare designs happy to flatpick as well and it hits the mark. This one in all Koa is rare and collectible to boot.