There is something about this Blanchard Bristlecone that just calls out to you when you walk into the room. It resonates as soon as there is the slightest movement near it, just begging to be played. This 2000 Bristlecone in Indian Rosewood and European Spruce is simply appointed, shifting all of the player’s focus to the incredible tone and playability. If you are looking for a perfectly balanced voice, look no further: this beauty sings bold and true from the low E string to the high. Fingerpickers will fall head over heels for this beauty.

Mark Blanchard has been making some of the finest steel string and classical guitars in the country since the mid nineties out of his one-man shop in Los Gatos, California. The Pinyon, a stunning small-bodied guitar constructed from Lucky Strike Redwood and straight-grained Brazilian Rosewood reflects the builder at the very top of his game. It boasts a twelve-fret body join, which places the bridge in the middle of the sweet spot of the lower bout, while also offering a generous contoured cutaway, for those who want the best of both worlds — tonal superiority and full-fretboard access. The results are nothing short of magical — the legendary responsiveness of ultra-rare Lucky Strike Redwood is complimented perfectly by an absolutely exceptional set of Brazilian, and in Mark’s hands, the results are greater than the sum of the parts — superb balance, crisp response, and a full, robust voice that belies it’s small size. This just might be the perfect guitar.

Mark Blanchard custom built this Tamarack guitar for a player who wanted an deep cutaway and extended fingerboard to make the most of the high register. You can easily play the entire fretboard. It also has stainless steel frets for long fret life. It’s wedge body is constructed from terrific Madagascar Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce which provides all the headroom you could ask for. This is a guitar for the player who likes to dig in and be rewarded with full rich trebles and powerful bass that holds up.

Rudolph “Rudi” Blazer (of Blazer & Henkes fame) is a fantastic luthier, and this Jumbo from 2000 proves it. Gorgeous Birdseye Maple back and sides with Spruce top, and overall featherweight construction, make for an extremely energetic and snappy voice. It’s one you can really lean in to–in fact, we find we’re hardpressed to not lean on the gas as soon as we pick this one up. The Maple/Moon combo, with the big Jumbo curves, is bright but not shrill, powerful but not overpowering. This one grabs you and doesn’t want to let go.

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