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2013 McConnell 16 Inch, Brazilian/German Spruce
Custom built for one of our our own, this 2013 McConnell 16 Inch is everything (and more) that we’ve come to expect from Jordan’s shop: absurdly precise note separation, bracing depths, as flawlessly balanced as it is constructed. Seriously nice Brazilian Rosewood make up the back and sides, paired with a German Spruce top for creamy sustain, and everything is trimmed in eye-popping Snakewood (from the bridge to the headstock and everywhere in between, right down to the fretboard itself!).
Wrapped up with Jordan’s exciting marquetry across the rosette, fingerboard extension, and heel–and Snakewood-capped Alessi tuners–this 16 Inch screams elegance and rich potential. Oh, to play this guitar: it is an exercise in futility to put it down after the first strum. We put it through its paces with DADGAD and CGCGAD; no problems. The basses remained crisp and resonant, and those trebles continued to cut like a sushi chef’s knife. We’d advise you to jump on this while you can, ‘cuz it’s not long before someone else swoops in and snatches this work of art up for themselves!
If you’re intersted in how great a classical guitar Jordan can build in addition to his steel string models, check this one out! https://www.dreamguitars.com/shop/2001-mcconnell-classical-wood-wood.html.
Here’s a video of Jordan McConnell himself playing this beauty! https://youtu.be/toot_xwPOT0
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - German, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2009 Olson Presentation SJ, Brazilian Rosewood/Cedar
Really, can you get much more gorgeous than this? We’re talking about a masterpiece from one of America’s master builders, a 2009 Olson Presentation SJ in Brazilian Rosewood and Cedar. Adorned with striking blue-green Abalone across the headstock, fretboard, body, and rosette (right down to the Fossilized Ivory bridge pins and vine inlay), and voiced with Jim’s signature sound, this guitar makes perfection seem possible. Doesn’t hurt that it’s also dressed to the nines as a presentation grade instrument.
Not only is the Brazilian Rosewood of the highest calibre and the fit and finish flawless, but this SJ powerfully demonstrates the pinnacle of that classic Olson sound—crystalline bell trebles, sonorous basses, glass-smooth mids that hang in the air like confetti. Playability is so smooth as to be effortless, like feathers beneath your fingertips. In altered tunings this Olson really opens up and the Cedar warmth smooths the note separation. If more guitars were built this wonderfully, the guitar world would be so much the better for it.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.8130 in String Spacing 2.3100 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2004 Ryan Nightingale, Cocobolo/Cedar
Listen to this 2004 Nightingale sing, and you’ll understand why Kevin Ryan’s guitars are so revered: string-to-string balance is even and clear, the trebles smooth and round, the bass and mids with a profound sonority and depth. This is, simply put, a fingerstyle dynamo. Cocobolo for the back and sides, Cedar on top, and Kevin’s arm bevel and 25.7” scale all make for smooth clarity, and just the right amount of velvet overtones to make its acoustic voice an almost palpable presence.
Abalone appointments set off the dark woods, and Gotoh 510s are the golden capstones of the headstock. Playability is pure butter, not that hydrogenated junk. This Ryan Nightingale is the real deal.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, contemporary guitar, fingerstyle guitar, cocobolo rosewood, red cedar
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.7000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.3130 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
2008 Beneteau Nick Lucas, Quilted Sapele/Adirondack Spruce
Marc Beneteau’s take on the Nick Lucas model has a bucket full of bass and sparkling trebles on top. This deep bodied fingerstyle machine makes for a great companion for singer-songwriters, or for any devotee to open tunings (it’s particularly warm to Open G). Gorgeous Quilted Pomele Sapele back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, BRW bridge, Waverly tuners and a 25.4” fretboard—all the fixings for an energetic little sound cannon. And this gem from 2008 comes to us with nary a scratch on it! You can’t get much more minty than this without it arriving shrink wrapped in its original packaging.
Other keywords: don ross, nick lukas, gibson, altered tunings, slack key, singer songwriter, blues
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Sapele 
1998 Claxton EM Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce
This baby does it all. In essentially the same shape since its birth in 1998, this Claxton EM can take whatever tuning or genre you throw at it and make something beautiful out of it. The classic combination of Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce has rarely sounded so crisp, even, and projective–at Claxton’s SJ-size, this EM has a huge voice, but its lightweight construction makes for a guitar that’s easy on the shoulders to play for extended periods of time.
The string-to-string balance is yep, you guessed it, superb; the bass notes are rich but focused, paired sweetly with the trebles. When we flatpicked tunes, the EM roared, then with nails and fingertips we found the woody tones in the lower-middle register blossomed. After only a moment’s strum you can tell this EM has opened up deliciously since 1998.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.1800 in Woods xx, Rosewood - Indian 
1990 Martin HOM-35 60th Anniversary #60/60 Brazilian/Sitka Spruce
There might be thousands of Martin OMs singing their hearts out across the world, but there are only 60 60th Anniversary HOM-35s, and only one #60/60. This is the last king of the castle, folks: you won’t find another Martin HOM-35 with Sitka Spruce this tight grained, or Brazilian Rosewood so chocolate rich.
In commemoration of the 60th anniversary of their Orchestra Model, Martin Guitar Company built 60 of these world-class Herringbone OM-35s with great attention to detail and using only the finest tonewoods. As a result of their hard work and dedication, this guitar has an enormous, enveloping voice with a low-end that is total and absolute. Paired with shimmering trebles and subtle overtones, the tone can only be described as majestic.
Fingerstyle arrangements will feel like they were made for this guitar, and the string response is electric quick. A powerhouse in standard tuning, this HOM-35 becomes an entirely different beast in dropped tunings (we found that in DADF#AD this guitar has an even larger voice!), where the string tension of the 14-fret neck comes in handy to keep the guitar intonating cleanly, so you can hear each note as it fills the room. We recommend coming to play this guitar quickly, before it disappears into some lucky player’s hands, or collector’s vault!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.3100 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2014 Kraut Modified Dreadnought, Walnut/German Spruce
Agile in your hands, and equal parts dry response and sustain—this 2014 Mod D from Ray Kraut stole our hearts at first glance. The back and sides are a light-brown set of Walnut, with German Spruce on top and one of Ray’s purfling-and-burl rosettes terminating toward the Florentine Cutaway. This Mod D has a thin body that’s intimate to hold, and further there’s a body wedge that makes it even gentler on the right shoulder when you play. Black Alessi tuners seal the deal.
We love multiscale fretboards for how they allow for better intonation, and keeps the bass strings crisp and responsive in lowered tunings. Ray engineered a slight slant here that’s quick and easy to pick up, from the short-scale 24.9” treble strings to a standard long-scale 25.4” on the bass. An L.R. Baggs Lyric has been installed with the volume knob recessed beneath the soundhole, and the amplified tone is wonderfully clean. This Kraut has a truly impressive projection for a thin-bodied acoustic which competes with guitars much larger. Note separation is crisp without being harsh, from the bass to the trebles. Play with picks? This MD loves it when you dig in. For fingers, it’s articulate and balanced in a way that lends extra clarity to your arrangements.
How a single guitar can work so well, for so many applications? Ray’s got the touch.
This very Kraut belongs to California Guitar Trio’s own Bert Lams! You can see Bert performing with it here: https://youtu.be/6JTL3uxSYhI. And here: https://youtu.be/q5MIrHbZLOI.
Other keywords: Somogyi, apprentice, raymond kraut, md, modified dread, modified dreadnought
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.9 in - 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - German, Walnut 
2013 Merrill C-28, Brazilian Rosewood/Adirondack (Red)
Our square-shoulder sweetheart goes by the name of Merrill C-28, and brings a deadly set of Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce to the party. Played in and opened up since 2013, this dreadnought has good treble overtones, a crisp attack, and an extra dose of clarity in the mids that a lot of dreads seem to lack. Nickel Waverly tuners keep the weight down (to a scant 4lb 7oz), and the defined V neck is comfy to the touch with a bit of shelf space for your thumb to hang on to.
This Jim Merrill dread is a natural choice for the flatpicking Bluegrass player, but it’s got that extra clarity and punch to also work well for acoustic endeavors a little further afield. Really, this guitar nails it on all the points. With it wrapped up in the included Ameritage hardshell case, you won’t have to worry about harm coming its way—but you may have to watch your friends to make sure they don’t snatch this Merrill for themselves.
Other keywords: C28, C 28, 28-style, traditional guitar, martin guitar, gutiar, dreadnaught, brazilain, adrionodack, waverlies
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.3130 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Brazilian 
1963 Martin D-18, Mahogany/Sitka Spruce
A handsome piece of history that’s opened up sweetly, and has been restored to peak playability from the folks at Martin! From the first pluck, we were stunned by the volume, clarity, and sustain of this 1963 Martin D-18. Not only is the setup delightfully easy on the hands, but there’s plenty of meat left on the saddle too. That makes for a better transfer of string energy into the Sitka Spruce top, which in turn cranks up the volume for an edge over your bandmates.
This beauty is a flatpicking machine, with that dry Mahogany crunch and clarity. This ‘63 D-18 has an extra helping of mellow midrange, which sets it apart from a new D-18’s shrillness. Single owner for over 55 years, it’s now finally ready for owner #2. Please note, this guitar comes with the original nut, saddle, bridge, and Grover tuners in the case.
Other keywords: dreadnaught, dread, d18, d 18, 18-style
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.6800 in String Spacing 2.1880 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Mahogany 
2009 Ryan Nightingale, Madagascar Rosewood/Caspian Spruce
Kevin Ryan’s guitars are known for being methodically engineered for fingerstyle music and dressed to the nines with ergonomic features. We recently landed a whopper that exemplifies all of that and more. This 2009 Nightingale was custom built for a client who needed a thinner body for playability, so Kevin reduced the depth of the sides by a half inch, and added his acoustic flutes and arm bevel and a short 25” scale fretboard to make this instrument as effortless as possible. Primo-grade Madagascar Rosewood make up the arched back and sides, which Kevin paired with a set of his Caspian Spruce (Picea Orientalis), and a rose inlaid into the headstock from none other than inlay virtuoso Larry Robinson. The neck is reinforced with graphite rods, which enabled Kevin to pare the neck carve down to a trim C shape that flattens slightly at the peak.
Additionally, there’s an L.R. Baggs Lyric pickup installed, a Calton flight case custom fit for this Nightingale’s unique dimensions, and a fresh set of frets ready for action. The voice has opened up into a sweet panoply of overtones and clear fundamental since 2009. The trebles have that round quality reminiscent of bells, and we love how silkily the bass notes roll out of this guitar. With Kevin’s acoustic flutes, the player gets a bit extra in their ear, which is a wonderful boon when you’re on stage, or playing with another musician. In short, this Ryan Nightingale is the complete package for playability with no sacrifice to tone and projection.
Other keywords: nightinggale, lutherie, maddie rosewood, mother of pearl, mop, abalone, florentine cutaway
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.3130 in Woods Spruce - Caspian, Rosewood - Madagascar 
2016 Lowden S-50, Madagascar Rosewood/Sinker Redwood
Our 2016 Lowden S-50 comes with top-of-the-line Madagascar Rosewood and Sinker Redwood, and is trimmed in Tasmanian Blackwood with an arm bevel and Abalone fretboard inlays. This little gem has been kept in pristine condition, and features Lowden’s trademark satin finish so you’ll only blind the audience with your dazzling musicianship, not the glare from the lights.
The short 630mm scale makes for easy playability, and paired with the Sinker Redwood top makes for a smooth, warm response that fleshes out the bass and lower mids. Excellent sustain, especially considering this is a smaller guitar. It’s refreshing to find a guitar that plays so easily. This is one Lowden that’s hard to put down.
Other keywords: george lowden, lowdon, ireland, fingerstyle, lutherie, s50, maddie rosewood, rosewood
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.7000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.1250 in Woods Redwood - Sinker, Rosewood - Madagascar 
2017 Vines Artisan, Malaysian Blackwood/Carpathian Spruce
Silk-smooth playability and velvet in the voice make for a fine instrument. Our 2017 Artisan from Tony Vines fits that bill to a T. Tony’s chops as a player have molded his guitar designs from day one, and this particular model is tuned to the fingerstylist’s frequency with crisp note separation and a slim neck carve for deft left hand work. The mousse-dark set of Malaysian Blackwood for the back and sides with black inking catches the eye, and Tony paired that with a creamy Carpathian Spruce top and Bocote appointments for a soft study of dark and light. Bound soundport in the upper bout for a little boost for the player’s ear, and gold EVO frets for longevity.
This Vines Artisan is practically new, already smooth and articulate and colored by soft overtones in the upper register. A dyed-in-the-wool fingerstyle guitar.
Other keywords: malysian, malaysianblackwood, sound port, bocate, ameritage, lutherie
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.7000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Blackwood - Malaysian 
2014 Rein RJN-3 Cocobolo/Italian Spruce
These days, innovation is the name of the game when it comes to modern lutherie. Tom Rein’s approach to guitar building yields resonant instruments that are sturdily engineered to last for years. The inevitable heart surgery of the flattop—the neck reset—is here bypassed altogether with Tom’s RJN neck joint. This fully adjustable neck angle can be tweaked while the instrument is at full tension, enabling you to dial in the setup in seconds without shaving down the saddle and compromising the break angle of the strings from the bridge. This with a well-rounded C neck carve, Cocobolo back and sides, and Italian Spruce on top, make our 2014 Rein RJN-3 an incredibly robust build that’s responsive to even a delicate touch. The top is french polished to be as resonant as possible, and that lends an extra ounce of projection to the RJN-3. These trebles cut clean as a well-honed chef’s knife. The string-to-string balance lends itself to fingerstyle, but there’s enough heft to the body for flatpicking and strumming work as well.
If you’re looking for a guitar that’s going to last, last, and keep on lasting—our 2014 Rein RJN-3 is the ticket to the long game.
Other keywords: thomas rein, rnj, rjn3, luthier
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
2009 Circa Steve Baughman 7/8 Dreadnought Cocobolo/European
We’re not talking about your papa’s junkyard strummer. This 2009 Steve Baughman 7/8 Dreadnought from John Slobod is nothing short of mesmerizing, nothing more than flawless. You know how some guitars just grab you the second you pluck a string, how once in a long while an instrument just says, “Here we go!” and you’d better hold onto your pick before you lose it? That’s what sort of guitar we’re looking at here. Not to wax hyperbolic, but this 7/8 Circa Dreadnought sings unlike any angel you’ve heard.
The Cocobolo Rosewood and European Spruce, in John’s hands, come together for a voice that’s opened up in a way to invoke the envy of an old school Martin. From the bottom of the bass to the canopy of treble overtones, each note rings with the kind of clarity you could cut diamonds with. The 12-fret neck warms up the bass just enough to make it enveloping but not overwhelming, and makes the already easy play feel even more effortless. Altered tunings? Excellent choice. This Steve Baughman Dread was built with just such a fingerstylist in mind–drop it down to C and the clarity and articulation is still there, unadulterated. This Circa can go wherever you’d like, can murmer as subdued as you want or as energetically as you need. Smooth as goose feathers! If it sounds like we’re gushing, it’s because we are: this Circa has stolen all our hearts.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.2800 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.3100 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Cocobolo