David Russell Young built guitars for only a handful of years, managing to rack up an impressive stable of world class players in the 60s and 70s, including the one and only Gram Parsons. We recently had a 1978 Dreadnought of his in the shop which blew us away (and promptly went right back out the door to its new home)—and now we’ve landed yet another beauty from 1978! This one also features a Cedar top, here with three-piece Indian Rosewood back and sides and Curly Maple bindings. Diamond position markers (and inlaid at the bridge wings), plus one of David’s hallmark butterfly inlays at the headstock, dress things up without taking away from the quality of the tonewoods themselves. The Cedar top has opened up handsomely since 1978, and we found this DRY Dreadnought worked very well for fingerstyle play; we almost preferred it. Especially if you tune down into DADGAD, where the breathy, articulate bass and mids have a bit more room to stretch their legs. Our repair staff have gone over this one tuners to tail and given it a clean bill of health after fabricating a new bridge, exactly replicating the original.
Other keywords: luthier, guitarbuilding, 1970s, fingerstyle, vintage guitar, 3 piece, brazilain, duane simpson