Brand spankin’ new from Leo Buendia’s Oakland shop, this 2017 Buendia Jumbo has the kind of Brazilian Rosewood and German Spruce that you’d sell your first child for. And in Leo’s hands, the glassy, rich, dynamic potential of these fine woods has been fully realized–this Jumbo is a lap piano alll by itself! We collaborated with Leo on this build for one of our longtime clients and friends. He wanted a fingerstyle guitar that had smooth, well-defined basses and trebles that cut well. Playing in altered tunings, and playinng comfortably, was a necessity. On all these fronts, and more, Buendia has delivered!

The custom neck profile is silk-smooth and fast, the body features a wedge design to be easy on the right shoulder, and Leo installed EVO frets for longevity, demarcated by his gorgeous “Dice” fret markers. Even the Brazilian Rosewood bridge is beautiful. It was wonderful to see this build through, and to know that it’s found a home with a satisfied customer. Excited for the next one!

This gorgeous gem of lutherie was originally built in 2012, Matthias Roux and Matthew Rice (the duo that makes up Casimi Guitars) have since reworked it with a wider fretboard and shining new Alpine Moonspruce top over the original African Blackwood back and sides—and if it sounded great before, it’s even more impressive now. This C2 Signature offers a wide, expansive tonal range that incorporates a smooth treble response with soft overtones with mids and basses characterized by an easy clarity and definition. This is an instrument with fingerstyle in mind, and it drinks up altered tunings like water. Arm and rib bevels, deep florentine cutaway, and a 12-fret neck come together for an exercise in ergonomics that leaves other flattops feeling clunky and roughspun. An upper bout soundport keeps the player dialed in to their music, and the hollowed-out headstock keeps the neck weight down, letting the body of the guitar anchor comfortably against your chest and leg.
After hearing nothing but praise about Mathias and Matthew’s instruments for several years now, we’re proud to be able to offer their work for the first time here in Asheville, North Carolina.

Other keywords: south africa, marc maingard, maingard, luthier, C2S, C2-S, abw, moon spruce, finger style, fingerpicking

Matthew and Matthias of Casimi Guitars continue to raise the bar with each build that graces our shop. Look no further than this fabulous 2020 C2S, like new and ready for action! Night-dark African Blackwood back and sides with a creamy Moonspruce top, trademark 12 fret neck and open headstock, and the Casimi Signature appointment package to make these woods pop even more. Geometric designs bookend the raised rosette—which motif continues to the center of the back—and a subtle Ryan-style arm bevel plus soundport add to the creature comforts of this already smooth operator. Koa purflings throughout, and all wrapped up in a custom Hoffee flight case for maximum safety. The voice is characterized by a pianistic response and articulation; big chords ring out in full technicolor glory. The trebles mix a crisp fundamental with a warm overtone effect that’s mesmerizing, and they pair so sweetly with the articulate midrange and expressive bottom end.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, south africa, guitarbuilidng, custom guitar, bespoke guitar, fingerpicking

Our latest Casimi is a sight to see, and a wonder to hear. This C2S was built in 2017 for a discerning client with dramatic Pernambuco back and sides and a, well, striking set of Lucky Strike Redwood on top. We find that the Pernambuco gives the voice an evenness and definition that would be a touch dry, but when paired with the Lucky Strike top the result is a smoothness and velvety texture that is pretty distinct from most of what we hear coming out of guitars these days.
The sides are inlaid with vines and Mayan glyphs which dovetail with the Mayan-inflected raised rosette (a Casimi hallmark) and endgraft. Red purflings along the Ebony bindings and arm bevel set off the Pernambuco and Redwood, and like all Casimis this C2S features a 12-fret neck join and deep Florentine Cutaway, their unique pinless bridge, and hollow headstock with Gotoh 510 tuners. All this comes wrapped up in a Hoffee flight case, rest assured.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, casimi guitars, south africa, guitarbuilidng, custom guitar, bespoke guitar, pernambucco, fingerstyle, fingerpicking

Kevin Caton fits a whole case of tone in a six-pack body—the petite HJ is a lively number with 14” lower bout, Honduran Rosewood body, and Torrefied Adirondack Spruce on top. The pre-aged Adi adds power and crunch to the voice, giving the bass response more kick than you’d expect. The build quality is top notch, and featherweight (under three pounds) with great neck-to-body balance for playing on either leg. This beauty comes to us from brand new from 2019, so it’s had a little extra time to open up on top of the Torrefied Adirondack.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, kevin caton guitars, finger style, fingerpicking, tkl, schaller, 53

A beautiful pairing: Larry Robinson’s inlay wizardry and Bill Wise’s guitarbuilding masterwork. This is a gorgeous SJ model from 2016, hands down. Indian Rosewood back and sides with Sinker Redwood on top come together for warmth and sweet overtones, and the setup is typical Charis—smooth and glassy. Larry’s inlays take the form of a series of birds and branches sprawling across the fretboard and headstock veneer, and Bill trimmed the body out with flamed Koa (really making the arm bevel pop!). Upper bout soundport to bring it all together. Our repair folks recently installed a K&K Pure Mini pickup too, so this one is stage ready to boot!

Other keywords: jim olson, charis guitars, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, open tuning, art guitar, gotoh, arm bevel, inlay art, abalone, calton