Instruments
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2000 Sobell Model 1 Brazilian/Sitka
They just don’t make them any finer than this, folks. The perfect storm of dynamic tone, easy projection, and effortless playability, this 2000 Sobell Model 1 is the epitome of the fingerstyle guitar. This guitar was custom built to accomodate fingertips rather than flatpicks with its 1 13/16″ nut, and the profile of the neck was altered from Sobell’s standard C shape to a more shallow version–one which is absurdly comfortable for the left hand to hold.
No matter if we were playing this Model 1 in Standard, DADGAD, or more esoteric C tunings, big chords or small, the voice was rich and expressive, with seemingly endless sustain. You really don’t have to give the strings much force in order to achieve a powerful projection, but neither does the Model 1 “top out” when played with an aggressive attack, so you can play subtle ballads and rousing reels with equal presence. Of course, flawless playability isn’t the only trick up this one’s sleeve: there’s also the gorgeous set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides to consider, or the Sitka Spruce top, or the Highlander IP-1 pickup!
The previous owner of this instrument has taken excellent care of her, so you’ll be hard-pressed to find any scratches or dings across these beautiful woods–and this Sobell comes in a Calton flight case, so there’s no worries about the Model 1 coming into harm whenever you happen to not be playing it.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6300 in Nut Width 1.8100 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1987 Sobell 12 String Archtop Indian/European
12-String players, gather round: we’ve got one of the all-time greats in the store today: a 1987 Sobell 12-String Archtop! Stefan Sobell is recognized as one of the original builders of Irish bouzouki, and other double-stringed instruments, and his long career attests to decades spent honing his craft. It is always a pleasure to have one of his guitars in the shop, and it’s even more of a pleasure to have one of his 12-String Archtops. With Indian Rosewood back and sides and a carved European Spruce top, this guitar has a rich and dynamic range, with octave strings that project with clarity. What’s more, this guitar features 12×12 construction: it is both a 12-String and a 12-fret guitar. When these two design features are brought together, the result is effortless playability and an enveloping, complex tonality. Finally, Sobell believes that a 12-string design is best supported by an archtop body–and it’s clear why that is: the arched top creates just the right separation between the notes and make the pairs of strings discrete and clear. This is one of only a handful ever made and is as collectible as it is beautiful.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.8100 in String Spacing 2.3800 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Indian 
2009 Sobell New World Brazilian/European
Stefan Sobell is a world renowned guitar builder from North Umberland England. His guitars are widely regarded as some of the most responsive and powerful available. This is in part due to the fact that Stefan used to perform regularly and found he needed instruments that would fill up the space of an un amplified room. What Stefan did to solve this problem was design a radically different guitar, resulting in an instrument with the cutting power of an archtop but with the sweetness of tone you find with the flat top guitar. One of the main design features of the Sobell guitar is the heavy lateral arching of the top and back, this helps provide power, and also has the unique benefit of making the guitar extremely comfortable to hold. This is the New World model in Brazilian Rosewood and Spruce. This is exactly what we expect from a Sobell guitar, it has power and clarity, with a wonderful warmth that really sets it apart from the pack.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.8400 in String Spacing 2.3400 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1989 Sobell 0 Indian/European
This fine Sobel Model O was formerly owned by Alistair Russell of Battlefield Band. A joy to play, like all Sobells, it is a great sounding guitar that has opened up nicely from being played over the years. European Spruce over Indian Rosewood, with the distinctive Sobell cutaway and oval soundhole. These instruments truly deserve the reverence they are given by professional players around the world. A fine example of Sobell’s work. Comes complete with a pickup and a Calton case that boasts many stickers from it’s travels with Alistair Russell.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.1900 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Indian 
2001 Sobell Model 1 Brazilian/European
We delivered this amazing Sobell Model 1back in 2001 to a great client who studied with Martin Simpson and DG owner Paul Heumiller. At that time Stefan had a stash of wonderful dark, Brazilian and this Model 1 Sobell features a perfect set of it. The tone of this Model 1 is incredibly rich thanks to this very special Old Growth Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and European Spruce top. This guitar is also stunningly gorgeous all around, with birdsfoot Rosette and trim and tri-color purfling. Incredibly playable and hard to put down. The label is signed by Martin Simpson and Stefan Sobell. It also includes an English made Calton Flight Case.
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Sobell Model 2 7 String Brazilian/European
This may be the only Sobell 7 string ever made. We custom built it back in 2001 for one of our good customers. It features Stefan’s larger Model 2 body in deep, rich Brazilian and European Spruce, the only Spruce Stefan will build with. The 7th string can be employed numerous ways from simply adding a low B to Standard tuning or a low A or G to DADGAD. Of course the sky is the limit for other tunings as well. The tone is stellar, this is one of the finest sounding Sobell guitars we’ve sold, period. It’s full and strong with lots of body and character. It’s complete with a Highlander pickup and a Calton case. We love the musical doors that a 7 string opens up. Step through the door…
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6000 in Nut Width 2.063 in String Spacing 2.6250 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Sobell Octave Mandolin Cocobolo/Euro, 4 Course
Stefan Sobell has been focusing primarily on building guitars for the last several years so his Cittern family instruments are becoming quite rare indeed. This beautiful Octave Mandolin features a 22.875″ Scale and 4 courses. It is upgraded with Cocobolo Rosewood and an L.R. Baggs pickup system and it is in like-new condition, just perfect. Here’s a chance to have a Sobell Octave Mandolin, quickly becoming a rarity.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 23 in Nut Width 1.5000 in String Spacing 1.8750 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
Sobell Model 1 Sicilian Brazilian/European
Stefan Sobell’s Model 1 Sicilian Design was made famous by fingerstyle guitarist extraordinaire Martin Simpson of England. Sobell’s design features a unique radiused top and back that makes for great clarity and separation that is the key feature of the Sobell sound that one hears in Martin Simpson’s recordings. The trebles are strong and the bass is controlled to allow everything to be heard. This Model 1 Sobell features a lovely set of Brazilian Rosewood and Stefan’s favorite topwood, European Spruce. In typical Sobell fashion the appointments are understated birdsfoot perfling and rosette and Brazlian Bindings. This one is like new but sounds better than new…
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.8100 in String Spacing 2.3800 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2006 Sobell 1 Sicilian Cuban Mahogany/Adirondack Red
Another fantastic instrument from Stefan Sobell.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6000 in Nut Width 1.8100 in String Spacing 2.3800 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Mahogany - Cuban 
2002 Sobell Model 1 Brazilian/European
This is the best sounding Model 1 I’ve ever played and the reason is the amazing, dark black Brazilian Rosewood Stefan used for the body. It was one of a few sets he built with in 2001 and 2002 and it’s quite special. The Sobell Model 1 is the sound made famous by fingerstyle virtuoso Martin Simpson, who it just so happens was instrumental in Dream Guitars coming to be. This Sobell has Stefan’s trademark clarity and separation coupled with unbelievable sustain and richness. If you’ve been waiting for that special Sobell, fate has brought you this beauty.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1980 Sobell Large Body Mandolin Indian/Red Cedar
Stefan Sobell is not currently making any mandolin family instruments due to his large backlog of guitar orders. So these are becoming very hard to find. This is the first we’ve seen in quite a while and it’s a good one. These early mandos from Stefan are loud and clear with his distinct European tone. They excel at Celtic music and this one plays great and is in lovely condition. This particular mando is on the album “First Flight” by Gerald Trimble.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 12.5000 in Nut Width 1.4400 in String Spacing 1.5600 in Woods Cedar - Red, Rosewood - Indian 
2008 Stelling Virginian, Maple
2008 Stelling Virginian comes upgraded with a Tony Pass Old Wood rim, Maple resonator and flame neck, a slim neck profile, and extensive bird-and-flower inlays rendered in MOP and Abalone.
Other keywords: billy presnell, bluegrass, claw, 6544
SOLD Read moreScale Length 26.1250 in Nut Width 1.2810 in String Spacing 1.7500 in Woods Coated Banjo Head, Maple - Figured 
1988 Stelling Staghorn, Tony Pass Lost Timber Rim
This Stelling Staghorn might have fewer strings than a standard guitar, but we can’t hold that against it for long: it’s got a helluva sound. And it’s still looking fantastic after its 1988 build date, here updated in 2008 with a Tony Pass Lost Timber rim. Nickel hardware throughout, plus extensive MOP position markers and the ubiquitous stag horns at the headstock. D-tuners are installed, fine, and functional and ready for action!
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, allenn shadd, bluegrass, scruggs, banjo, 3426
SOLD Read moreScale Length 26.1250 in Nut Width 1.2500 in String Spacing 1.7500 in Woods Skin - Fiber, Maple 
2004 Stelling Crusader, Mahogany
Stelling’s first Mahogany model, the Crusader, has been going strong since the 70s! This beauty comes to us from 2004 with a Tony Pass Lost Timbre rim with Stelling Wedge Fit flathead tone ring, nickel hardware, and Mahogany resonator. Long scale at around 26 1/2” for added power (see: sizzling trebles), and playing smooth as butter with an easy setup, and railroad spikes already installed.
Other keywords: bluegrass, al petteway, fingerpicking, mahagony, 5803
SOLD Read moreScale Length 26.5000 in Nut Width 1.2500 in String Spacing 1.6900 in Woods Skin - Fiber, Mahogany 
2011 Walter Millennium Classical, Brazilian Rosewood/Redwood
From venerable luthier and classical guitarist Steven Walter, we’ve got a special Millennium model in the shop today that is an absolute delight. This 2011 Millennium was Steven’s personal guitar for several years, and has the rich and opened up voice to prove it. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides over Redwood, an elevated fingerboard in Thomas Humphrey’s style, fan bracing up top and twin soundports flanking the neck heel. 650mm scale and a medium thickness neck; weighs in under four pounds; responsive to a range of attacks and articulate to a fault.
Here’s an additional demo with our own Andy Jurik: https://youtu.be/01crMQXP0bE.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, stephen walter, classical guitar, nylon string, brw, braz, classical music
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6000 in Nut Width 2 in String Spacing 2.1880 in Woods Redwood, Rosewood - Brazilian