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Add to CompareNew Traphagen BRS Concert, Brazilian Rosewood/Carpathian Spruce
Get it while it’s hot! Our latest new BRS Concert from Dake Traphagen just landed, and we’re here to tell you: it’s a powerhouse in velvet. Plays as easy as breathing, and with a quick-n-rich voice that projects well and clear. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides have here been paired with a Carpathian Spruce top, known for its lively energy and similar qualities to Adirondack Spruce. The neck carve is a generous C profile that’s been buffed to a mirror shine and feels so, so smooth to the touch. Dake hand rubs his varnish finishes, and the result is a thin, responsive finish that catches the light like a gem.
There’s some extra meat to the mids to really bring out the colors in big chords, and the treble response is bright and sweetly defined; there’s no worries about shrill or harsh overtones with this Traphagen. As you’ll hear in Paul’s demo, the bass response has just enough rumble to flesh out the voice, but not so much as to take over. As a result, this gorgeous new BRS Concert is a lovely fingerstyle guitar, but one that can handle a pick with aplomb as well.
Brand new! But it won’t be here long. Give us a shout before it strolls right back out the door.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, finger style, flatpicking, brazilain, capathian, peacock, hand-rubbed finish, varnished
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to CompareNew Indian Hill Concert, Mahogany/Torrefied Sitka Spruce
We haven’t had an Indian Hill from Michael Kennedy for some time, and there’s definitely been a gap in our inventory as a result. That’s why it’s such a pleasure to reconnect with such a powerhouse as this brand new Indian Hill Concert in Mahogany and Torrefied Sitka Spruce. Mike installed a wooden tornavoz to the soundhole, lowering the resonant pitch of the guitar and giving it an incredible amount of energy in the voice. You can easily tap into it with even a gentle attack, but this Concert also loves an aggressive right hand.
The bass response is crisp and focused, and you better watch out for those trebles! They’ll bite! They’re very energetic and expressive, and we love how they seem to fire right out of the soundhole. There’s a small soundport in the upper bout to give you a little more “me in the monitor,” and Mike finished the back, sides, and neck in satin to keep weight down (and make the neck so swift in your left hand).
If you want a balance of power and clarity, in a very comfortable package, our Indian Hill Concert will do nicely. Very nicely indeed.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerstyle, mahagony, baked sitka, baked wood, baked spruce, torrefied spruce, tornavos, hog, mahog
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Mahogany 
Add to Compare2018 Ivanov Snow Parlor, Flamed Maple & Swiss Alpine Moonspruce
Maple loves company! Especially when it’s more Maple. Dontcho Ivanov’s ever popular Snow Parlor guitars are a study in blazing white, and the latest one to grace our shop comes to us with a Swiss Alpine Moonspruce top and Flamed Maple everywhere else. From the back and sides to the bindings, the neck to the fretboard, the bridge to the headstock, this Ivanov Snow Parlor is practically a Maple tree unto itself. Everywhere you can see Dontcho’s exquisite attention to detail, right down to the purflings on the wings of the bridge. Under the hood, Dontcho doesn’t slouch: this is a loud and powerful guitar by any measure, but especially so for a Parlor. It is a fantastic addition to any guitarist’s collection, but even more than that this Snow Parlor is an excellent choice for just about any mood you happen to find yourself in. And all that wrapped up in with a trim fighting weight of 3lbs 5oz!
Be warned: the Snow Parlor doesn’t linger on our doorstep for long. Snag this one before it’s gone!
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, flame maple, moon spruce, waverly, slotted headstock, EVO frets
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.375 in Woods Spruce - Moonspruce, Maple - Figured 
Add to Compare1981 Manzer Manzer, Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce
A blast from the past, with tone to spare: our 1981 Manzer has a pocketful of mojo, and it ain’t afraid to show it. Indian Rosewood back and sides, Sitka Spruce top, and easy playability come together to make this one a challenge to put down. We found she took to DADGAD exceedingly well, but standard tuning brought it home just as sweetly. It’s really a great example of a top-of-the-line workhorse for both fingerstyle and flatpicked approaches, and it’s such an easy player for a variety of applications that we don’t expect this Manzer to gather dust in its case for too long. Moreover, this Manzer was originally built for Red Shea’s son!
Other keywords: linda manzer, schaller, abalone, pickup, finger style, gig ready
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to CompareNew Wingert FVC Multiscale, Cocobolo/Sitka Spruce
It’s been a few years since we’ve seen a brand new guitar from Kathy Wingert, but if this FVC is any indication, she hasn’t been idling away the time! This guitar is nothing short of incredible. Dark red Cocobolo back and sides, tight grained Sitka on top, and an expansive multiscale fretboard (27.2” at the bass to 25.5” at the treble) that dips this Model F into semi baritone territory. That makes this an obvious choice for the intrepid fingerstylist who prefers open and altered tunings (C9 was our favorite), and needs the bass string to still feel as crisp and responsive as though it were tuned up to Standard.
If we could only describe this Wingert in three words, they’d have to be: velvety, warm, and enveloping. The trebles have a smooth, liquid quality that gives the overtones an extra dose of sugar, and we love how well Kathy balanced that with the mids and bass response for a smooth, consistent response across all the registers. Adding a micro arm bevel and venetian cutaway only makes the deal that much sweeter. This one has been in Kathy’s possession since she finished it in 2015, and it’s ready to meet it’s first owner.
This is your chance for a lifelong partner, all you fingerstylists!Other keywords: luthier, lutherie, cathy wingert, winger, multi scale, fanfret, fanned fret, semi-baritone, hoffee, bocote, baritone
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in - 27.2 in Nut Width 1.78 in String Spacing 2.1 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
Add to Compare2018 Wilborn Lion, Honduran Mahogany/Sitka Spruce
Hands down, one of our favorite parts of the job: working with builders to craft a guitar specific to a client’s needs. Our latest Lion from Ben Wilborn is just one such collaboration, and we’re happy to announce it came out even better than we hoped. Honduran Mahogany back and sides, Sitka Spruce top, and Ben’s surgical attention to fit and finish all come together in a package that catches your attention right at the start, and runs with it. The voice of this small-bodied gem echoed the precision of its handworked facets to a T: a smooth, easy player with lots of definition for individual notes, and an ability to let all the colors of complex chords ring out. Ben buffs his guitars to a mirror sheen which catches the light easily and holds it. So much so that we found it difficult to play the Lion for any length of time without pausing just to watch how the light played across its curves.
Ben’s guitars have a master’s touch, and it’s an honor for us at Dream Guitars to get to work with him. If you’re interested in commissioning one of Ben’s guitars yourself, give us a shout! We would love to help.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, custom guitar, bespoke guitar, custom build, finger style, fingerstyle
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.9 in Nut Width 1.72 in String Spacing 2.188 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Mahogany - Honduran 
Add to Compare2007 Somogyi 000-12, Brazilian Rosewood/Bearclaw Sitka
It’s a sincere pleasure to meet guitars again after they’ve seen a bit of the world. Paul couldn’t agree more, when this Somogyi 000 came strolling in the door. He commissioned this very guitar from Ervin in 2007, and he pulled out every. single. stop to make sure it was the perfect instrument. Brazilian Rosewood to make your grandpa cry, a Bearclaw Sitka set on top, tight-grained and amber, custom Rodgers tuners, hand-carved rosette and end graft with a celtic flair—the list goes on. Paul ordered a 12-fret neck for this 000 to maximize the sweetness and warmth of the tone, and added a multiscale board (26” bass to 25” treble) to keep that sweetness and clarity across the myriad of tunings he employs. Right down to the asymmetrical neck carve (borrowed from Al Beardsell’s necks), laminated saddle, and scalloped nut, this Somogyi stands apart from the already rarified crowd that makes up Ervin’s body of work. Back at Dream Guitars for a reprised role as coolest guitar in the shop, this beauty is available for the next lucky owner to claim it!
Here are some samples of Paul playing this Somogyi in G Tuning, C9 Tuning, and Standard Tuning.
Here’s an additional video Paul recorded to thank Ervin for the guitar when it was first delivered: https://youtu.be/45Gcw7gkQLY
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in - 26 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to CompareHalland OMC-H Sunburst, Mahogany/Sitka Spruce
This is our first instrument from Gage Halland’s Portland, Oregon shop—and we don’t want to let it go. This brand new OMC-H is loud, it’s crisp, and it is an absolute pleasure to play. Here’s the skinny: Honduran Mahogany back and sides, Sitka Spruce top, tasteful sunburst, and an arm bevel with lamb’s tongue ends. Pinless Ebony bridge, bone nut and saddle, deep Florentine Cutaway, and a Hoffee flight case for maximum protection. The fit and finish on this guitar is flawless—we’d expect no less from a builder who apprenticed under Michael Greenfield—and the setup is like spreading warm butter over steaming toast; you melt right in.
The tone of this Halland OMC-H is equal parts clarity, Mahogany crunch, and smooth projection. We had a blast in standard tuning, as well as DADGAD, and we’re more than happy to report that this beauty holds up so well to picks, we almost forgot to test its mettle as a fingerstyle guitar. On that front, the Halland excels. Isn’t this guitar brand new? You wouldn’t notice by the tone alone: it already sounds wide open and chock full of energy.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, handmade, contemporary guitar, abalone, gotoh
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Mahogany - Honduran 
Add to CompareNew Noemi The Wedge, Ebony/Italian Spruce
Our latest instrument from Noemi of Italy is an astounding example of contemporary lutherie, and that starts with the materials themselves. The back and sides are a striking set of Ebony, and Noemi paired that with a creamy Italian Spruce set for the top. The body is bound in Ebony, and Noemi’s multifaceted pickguard (here in Buckeye) is integrated into the upper bout, fretboard extension, and down onto typical pickguard territory. The body itself has been built with a slight wedge shape, making the bass side slimmer than the treble, which helps to keep this guitar an effortless player.
The Wedge is voiced for excellent note definition and separation between the strings. We found it a perfect candidate for fingerstyle playing where articulation and clarity are of the utmost importance. The trebles are, at their core, clean and smooth. In fact, there’s nothing we can really point to about this guitar that doesn’t come off as elegant and organic. Noemi’s The Wedge plays without effort, and that voice is pure glass.Other keywords: luthier, finger style, fingerpicking, horse chestnut, gotoh, hiscox, venetian cutaway
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.76 in String Spacing 2.188 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Ebony 
Add to Compare1969 Martin D-28 From Bob Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks
A piece of history which gave us goosebumps at first sight: Kevin Odegard’s 1969 Martin D-28, featured on Bob Dylan’s Blood On The Tracks. This was also the last year for such beautiful Brazilian Rosewood to grace a standard D-28, and the decades of playing that Kevin has put it through since have given the Sitka top a well-loved and played-in appearance. We can only guess at how many hours of music this Martin has seen since 1969. The neck feels familiar and intimate with a few faint marks along the back, and the slim 1 11/16” nut makes for quick and easy left hand work. But what really makes us smile? This Martin is still ready for action. Kevin has installed a Fishman Ellipse Blend pickup + mic system, and the setup is dialed in just like a well-oiled tone machine should be. Not only is this D-28 a piece of American history, it’s also a guitar that’s eager to keep singing its heart out. We’re honored Kevin has entrusted a Martin with so much pedigree to our care, and we’re honored to offer it now to you.
Other keywords: Tangled Up In Blue, dreadnaught, dreadnought, flatpicking, mainstage case, historic guitar
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.68 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare1995 Deering Gabriella 5-String Banjo, Brazilian Rosewood
It’s fitting that a shop like ours, which deals with Somogyis and McConnells, and Traugotts all day, would come across a banjo worthy enough to pass muster among the guitar world’s greatest builders. Enter: our 1995 Deering Gabriella, owned by banjo maestro and “banjoholic” Mary Z Cox. This model is the pinnacle (read: to date, only 15 ever made) of Deering’s catalog, and this example from 1995 goes one step further than even its rarified siblings in that it features a Brazilian Rosewood resonator and neck. Gold hardware abounds, right down to the tuners and tailpiece, and both the resonator and neck are trimmed out in both Abalone and Ivoroid. The fingerboard is wrapped in Mother-of-Pearl, with vine-and-leaf inlays across frets 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 12, 15, 17, 19, and 21. The headstock is also inlaid with MOP, a tangle of vines surrounding the Deering logo and the (you guessed it: MOP) truss rod cover. The back of the resonator features a wreath of raised MOP-and-Maple vines, and just above that you’ll find an intricately carved heel with yet more twisting leaves and vines.
The sheer number of hours that went into this Deering Gabriella baffles the mind. It feels like holding a craftperson’s entire career in your hands when you play it. A banjo for the record books.Check out this demo with our own Billy Presnell: https://youtu.be/VFhcOVRpAiE
If you’d like to hear Mary’s recording of “Ponce de Leon” on her Florida Banjo record with the Gabriella, check it out here: https://www.maryzcox.com/florida_banjo/
Here’s a demo with Mary in our recording studio and this Gabriella: https://youtu.be/EXvtuJa-M0I
Want a taste of local banjo phenom Derek Vaden at the helm of this Gabriella? Check it out: https://youtu.be/-F2Q1zx583A
Here’s an additional demo with our very own Allen Shadd at the wheel! https://youtu.be/N1KplaB25ao
Other keywords: Mary Z Cox, bluegrass, banjo inlay, Deering banjo, Gabriella banjo, craft, craftsmanship
SOLD Read moreScale Length 26.125 in Nut Width 1.281 in String Spacing 1.6875 in Woods Skin - Fiber, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2005 Franklin OM, Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce
With a lively and opened up guitar in your hands, it feels like the sky’s the limit for what you can do, right? This 2005 Franklin OM fits that description to a T. From the soft V neck and slightly wider nut (1 13/16”), to the herringbone trim and gold Gotoh open gear tuners, this Franklin is as easy on the hands as it is on the eyes. It’s in excellent shape, with hardly a mark on her, and that’s especially impressive considering it’s almost 14 years old. This beauty comes in Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce, and is a steal of a deal if you’re looking for that Franklin tone without breaking the bank on a Brazilian Rosewood guitar. The top features a rear-shifted X brace, non-scalloped braces throughout, and an aged toner look that’s right at home in a vintage arsenal. This is an OM that lives up to its workhorse heritage, responding well to both picks and fingertips, and dips into altered tuning territory. We found it help tune well with the use of a capo, and the overall lightweight build (3lbs 14oz) meant we never got tired of playing this handsome Franklin.
Other keywords: nick kukich, orchestra model, IR, east indian rosewood, fingerstyle
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.375 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to Compare2010 Matsuda M1, Koa/Italian Spruce
A guitar from Michi Matsuda is the best of both worlds: contemporary aesthetics dovetailed with impeccable tone. We’re proud to offer this 2010 M1 with a set of Koa unlike anything we’ve ever quite seen before, and a tight-grained Italian Spruce top with Wenge-and-Abalone rosette. This one is gorgeous, lightweight (4lb 7oz), and the setup is slinky and smooth to boot. Michi’s heel has a thumb slot carved into it that helps the left hand get up and over to those dusty top shelf frets. The voice has a sweet, opened-up tone that’s you only find after a guitar’s had some time to stretch its wings.
This Matsuda M1 has definitely found its voice, and it’s one that’s smooth, easy, and well balanced. The bass and mids have a drier, crisper fundamental than the Brazilian M1s we’ve seen, and we think that’s a pretty exciting way to stand out. It doesn’t take much effort to get a lot of volume and sustain out of this Matsuda. Michi’s works of acoustic art are in a class all their own—and this one’s making straight A’s.
Other keywords: michihiro mastura, somogyi, ervin somogyi, finger style, fingerpicking, finger picking, gotoh
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Koa 
Add to Compare2018 Bailey PRJ-7 Signature, Cocobolo/Sitka Spruce
Here’s a lovely treat built by Mark Bailey for one of contemporary fingerstyle’s most famous faces, the one and only Preston Reed. Mark and Preston live just a few miles apart, and Mark’s been repairing Preston’s guitars, in addition to designing two signature models with him, for some time now. This is Mark’s PRJ-7 Jumbo, with Mexican Cocobolo back and sides, Sitka Spruce on top, and a multi-source pickup system combining a K&K Pure Mini with a Fishman rare earth humbucker/mic combo. Tying these two elements together makes for an incredibly lush and articulate amplified tone, and acoustically this Bailey is delightfully energetic, responsive, and loud.
For percussive styles, this Bailey is an instant fit, but it also performs perfectly for a variety of techniques and genres. The neck has a slim, quick profile and slender nut width at 1 11/16”, keeping that left hand relaxed and agile. We appreciated the extra definition and presence of the bass response, which at the same time avoids overpowering the voice. Big chord shapes and double tapping runs both come out clear and crisp.
Trimmed in a novel inlay material, Heathergems from Preston and Mark’s own native Scotland, this Bailey Preston Reed Signature cuts a fine figure in striking greens and purples and tans. Whatever our fingers threw at this guitar, it ate it all up with relish.Please note, this is Preston’s personal guitar, and therefore with us only in a demonstration capacity. If you’re interested in getting one for yourself, give us a shout! We’re more than happy to get the ball rolling for your own Preston Reed Signature from Mark Bailey.
Check out our interview with Preston here, where he and Paul discuss this gorgeous instrument in detail: https://youtu.be/j4ScEAG0o9M
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.72 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
Add to Compare2013 Martin D-21 Gruhn Custom Shop, Madagascar/Adirondack Spruce
Sometimes it’s hard to stand out in the Martin crowd, but with a Custom Shop like this 2013 D-21 spec’d out by George Gruhn we’d say it’s as easy as breathing. Incidentally, that’s also how we’d like to describe the experience of playing this like-new D-21. The setup is slinky and smooth, and responsive enough for fingerpicking when you want to add a different flavor to your playing. Madagascar Rosewood back and sides, Adirondack Spruce, and a Spanish Cedar neck outfitted with a true-to-vintage T-bar reinforcement. Flamed Koa bindings and Waverly tuners complete the picture, and hide glue construction keeps this Dreadnought as resonant as possible.
For a guitar in such pristine condition, it’s got quite the opened up voice. We found that the clarity of individual notes, and the articulation between strings and registers, was precise enough to give extra definition to big chords and lead work alike. This Custom Shop D-21 cuts right through the mix, but it plays well with others thanks to a smooth, balanced tone and projection.Other keywords: CF Martin, C.F. Martin, dreadnaught, dread, flatpick, gruhn’s, maddie roseewood, adrondack, adriondack, adirondak, custom guitar
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Madagascar