Nearly new, already wide awake, and oh so easy on the hands–this 2022 Halland OM-H is a knockout. It’s amazing what Gage pulls off with just Indian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce! This beauty rivals many of other makers’ Brazilian Rosewood models. Note definition is solid and consistent across the fretboard, with a touch of added sparkle and light in the trebles that makes the voice ring out. 25.4″ scale, 1.75″ nut, 2.25″ string spacing at the saddle. This one feels right at home in your hands, practically plays itself. Want to jump the queue and land a nearly new Halland? We’re ready.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, greenfield, fingerstyle, abalone, hoffee, evo, 019-21, gotoh

Our latest build with Gage Halland has finally landed—and we don’t want it to leave. Gage’s 000-H body has fantastic power, clarity, and dynamic range without being a big guitar, and his fit and finish is flawless throughout with a gorgeous aesthetic. We spec’d this out with Reserve Ebony back and sides with a Swiss Moonspruce top, arm bevel and palm bevel in lieu of a cutaway, and Gage’s glass-smooth setup. It essentially plays itself. The voice mixes up great across the registers, with crisp note separation and a wide dynamic range. If there’s a bad note in this fretboard, we haven’t heard it yet.

Other keywords: greenfield, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, bespoke guitar, modern guitar, 018-21, hoffee, evo

Now this is what world-class lutherie is all about! We’ve got a stunner OM-H from Gage Halland that sings like lightning converted into wood. Mahogany back and sides with old growth Sitka Spruce on top, weighing in at a touch over four pounds, and playing oh so smoothly with a glassy setup. We adore this Halland. It’s energetic and lively, well balanced between trebles and bass, and when combined with easy playability it makes for a guitar that’s easy to lose track of time in. EVO frets, pinless bridge in the Greenfield style, and a Hoffee flight case to keep it safe and sound—this Halland OM-H is the complete package.


Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, holland guitars, 2017, gotoh

This Grand Concert from Kent Hamblin is characterized by focus, balance, and a meaty midrange that really fills out the voice. It was built in 2005, and has over 15 years of opening up under its belt—and it shows in the ease with which it responds to both a light touch and more aggressive attack. Note definition is crisp and distinct, giving chords a technicolor aspect that we find particularly enveloping in altered tunings. A soft V neck in Mahogany with slick, fast setup makes for an effortless playing experience, and this Hamblin’s further outfitted with a comfy 1 13/16” nut for a spacious fretting feel. The tonewoods Kent pulled together here are astounding. Madagascar Rosewood back and sides feature dramatic black silk lines, and the European Spruce top has yellowed nicely with age (all the better to show off its tight grain patterns). The weight ratio between the neck and body is dialed in for a comfortable balance that keeps the GC square on your leg. Everything about this Hamblin just feels comfortable and sweetly familiar—and it’s got enough gears under the hood for years of good music yet.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerstyle, schaller, tkl, fingerpicking, modern guitar, 0549

Kent Hamblin’s 100th guitar is a phenomenal fingerstyle machine. And it’s decked out with appropriately wonderful tonewoods: highly figured The Tree Mahogany and Adirondack Spruce in Kent’s Grand Concert body size. The balance from bass to treble, frets one to 20, is oh-so-crisp; fingerstyle tunes in Standard or DADGAD are rich and complex, and at the same time precise. Playability is effortless with a slinky setup to boot, and when not in play this Hamblin is lovely to behold: these tonewoods are the cream of the crop, and the Snakewood bindings set off the Spruce and Mahogany handsomely.
We can’t recommend this Hamblin more highly: it’s the perfect combination of beauty and power, with the looks to back it up.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerstyle, gc, gotoh, ameritage, snake wood, evo frets, cutaway

There’s nothing small sounding about this “Small Jumbo” from Kent Hamblin. Amazon Rosewood and lovely fine-grained Italian Spruce combine to reward the player with a lush warmth accented by clear and balanced highs. Befitting a jumbo-class guitar, the bass is rich and full, yet it never overpowers. Flamed Koa accents and binding provide a beautiful and fitting complement. I didn’t want to put this one down.

Here we have a very strong SJ from Kent Hamblin crafted in Cocobolo Rosewood which provides a big push of rich power. It’s topped with Cedar for added warmth and outfitted with a cutaway and naturally beautiful wood appointments. There are curly Maple bindings from top to bottom, a spalted rosette and a K&K pickup. This guitar was owned by recording artist Jim Tozier and seems to have matured nicely under his fingers, it’s wide open and alive. It has a driving sound that we really like and can also be polite and beautiful when asked..