This 00 from Bevan Frost of Big Hollow Guitars is a beauty, dressed up with Cocobolo back and sides and a Moonspruce top. This guitar is an incredibly comfortable instrument in hand, very dramatic curves that lend to that comfort. As well as being comfortable to play it has so much power for an instrument so petite. An excellent blend of tradition and modernity.

Other keywords/misspellings: luthier, lutherie, evo, guardian, herringbone, slot head

Traditional meets modern in this 12 fret 00 from Big Hollow. Dark, tight sunburst with an oil varnish finish, Honduran Mahogany back and Lutz Spruce top, slotted headstock with Rubner tuners and a 24.9” setup that’s easy on the hands. Our latest 00 from Bevan Frost plays smoothly, and the voice is characterized by clarity and definition. This beauty weighs in at a slim 3.5lbs, comes wrapped up in a Guardian hardshell case, and is ready to get down to the business of making music!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, big hollow guitar

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

Fine riches sometimes come in small packages. None more so than this Blanchard Pinyon from 2001. The petite proportions (14 inches across the lower bout) bely a rich, dynamic voice that blooms sweetly at even a light touch. Curly Eastern Black Walnut back and sides provide clarity, and a Coastal Redwood top warms up the tone like hot chocolate on a winter’s night. 12 frets to the neck further adds warmth and color. The playability is silk-smooth, and this Blanchard handles a range of tunings very well, indeed. The headplate has been upgraded with a bookmatched Brazilian Rosewood veneer bound in Curly Maple. The whole package weighs in under four pounds, which you notice immediately upon picking it up out of the custom Cedar Creek case.
We love it when a small guitar has a big voice, and this Pinyon pulls no punches. Take this single-owner prize home!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, dream guitar, bespoke guitar, custom guitar, mark blanchard

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.

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,