When it rains, it pours. That’s exactly what happens as soon as you put finger to string on this brand new, soundproofed Grand Concert from Skytop Guitars: a torrent of colorful overtones and crisp attack. After our recent visit to the 2017 Woodstock Invitational Luthier Showcase, we came home with a number of new builders to showcase at our shop, but this one takes the cake for originality. Flamed Myrtle back and sides, almost 3,000-year-old Ancient Sitka Spruce top, Koa appointments, and two large bass-side soundports in lieu of a traditional soundhole.
In so doing, Eric was able to brace the top much more lightly without compromising its structural integrity (like putting a big hole in the middle might do). The result is a warm, round fundamental with a quick response! Great balance across the registers, and it doesn’t take an aggressive attack to get heaps of projection; even a light touch goes a long way.
This Skytop GC is not your granddaddy’s ole Martin; it’s a whole new breed of guitar.