We played our first Posch last year and we immediately called Leo and invited him to send us guitars any time. He is a maker with a keen sense of how to capture the vintage lure of the best D-18 Martin has ever made. This guitar, like the last, sounds and feels like a 70 year old guitar even though it’s new. No small feat. The Cuban Mahogany body, which is the densest Mahogany, has a voice that is loud and powerful but also deep and rich. This one is a cannon that will clearly continue to grow into a monster guitar. This one is barely preowned, it’s owned by Leo Posch and comes with a full warranty.

Across America there are some great Luthiers that live under the radar. They focus on repair primarily but also build some truly fine instruments and their insight from the repair world informs their building in wonderful ways. Leo Posch is one of these great luthiers. Working in Kansas, Leo runs a very successful repair business and has a loyal following of players that clammer for the few guitars he builds. This D-18 is a cannon, absolutely one of the loudest and sweetest sounding Mahogany/Adirondack dreads you’ll find anywhere. We love it. The Adirondack is wide grained like some of the best old Martins and it beautifully constructed. Flatpickers and strummers alike will absolutely love this one and fingerstyle players will also since it has a 1 3/4″ nut.

The next best thing to owning a pre-war Martin: the Pre-War Guitar Co. 000-28. This is our first Pre-War in the shop, and we’re excited to announce it’s surpassed all of our expectations, which were pretty high to begin with. Wes Lambe and Ben Maschal have teamed up to produce new guitars with all the airiness, volume, and presence of the rare pre-war Martins—guitars which won’t be locked away in a collection, gathering dust, but played out in musician’s hands where they belong. This 2017 000-28 features Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce with their “new old stock” level of distress, looking minty as a well-loved 80-year-old penny. There’s faint finish checking and some light scratches on the pickguard, as well as a “finish repair” on the lower bout to give it that superb vintage flair. This guitar responds so well to fingertips and flatpicks, we had Allen Shadd do an additional demo to demonstrate how beautifully it plays for Bluegrass and beyond!
We’re impressed, Pre-War Guitar Co., but hardly surprised: this is exactly what a vintage 000-28 is supposed to sound like.

Other keywords: lutherie, 000, 28-style, distressed guitar, prewar, pre war, herringbone

At Preston Thompson Guitars, the team has dialed in the process for powerhouse modern traditional flattops like this 2016 000-14BA–and then they go one step further with exquisite Shipwreck Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides! These sets are rare, and are functionally sinker sets, which makes for extra wide open right out the gate. The voice on this one really packs a punch; it sings out like a bigger guitar with even a light attack. Adirondack Spruce on top helps out on that front, and the intervening years have opened it up handsomely. Additionally, this PKT is outfitted with a Trance Audio pickup system, and friends, this one sounds oh so good.

Other keywords: lutherie, 1297, brazilain, adriondack, fingerstyle, orchestra model

Friends, this one does it all. Not only does this Preston Thompson 000-14SBA come with their gorgeous and rare Shipwreck Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides (plus Adirondack Spruce top), it also is dressed with sparkling Abalone trim and headstock torch, as well as a florentine cutaway for easy access to every single fret. This beauty comes to us from 2018 and has opened up handsomely. Slick playability for flatpicking lines or fingerstyle work; this PKT handles it all so well. Add an L.R. Baggs Element pickup to the mix, and you’re ready to take all of that onto the stage!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, preston thompson guitars, fingerpicking,1620, adriondack, brazilain