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1985 Greven #500 White Lady, Cocobolo/German Spruce
Few milestones are quite so handsome as John Greven’s #500 White Lady. From the baseline gorgeousness of brick-red Cocobolo and tight-grained German Spruce, the eye candy has only one direction to go, and that’s up. So much canvas to make use of, and John didn’t shy away. The fretboard, headstock, bridge, pickguard, purflings—all inlaid in Abalone and Mother-of-Pearl. A moon-silhouetted woman poses between the tuner posts, and an etched dragon lurks on the opposite side between the tuner machines. An Ivory face is inset into the heel, itself ornately carved and abutting the sides with Ivoroid and MOP, and Ivory for both nut and saddle. Thistles and vines twine across the length of the fretboard, populated by sprites and winged creatures.
The generous curves of the 16 inch lower bout lend the voice a heaping spoonful of extra bottom end that retains clarity and articulation. An incredible flatpicker; the slight V neck gives the left thumb a bit to hang onto. When we went south into dropped tunings, Greven #500 kept up without breaking a sweat. This is the sort of guitar which, the more you dig in, the more it gives back. It’s opened up handsomely over the past few decades, and after some recent neck and setup work by Pat Diburro, this swansong of a milestone is ready for many more years of action.
Believe us when we say there’s not another guitar quite like this one in existence, especially considering that John has since developed an allergy to Cocobolo–this is one of only a very small handful of Cocobolo Grevens in existence.
Other spellings: graven, grevan, white laydie, grevin, grevne,
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.1875 in Woods Spruce - German, Rosewood - Cocobolo 
1997 David S. Daily Concert Brazilian/Spruce
If a builder is passionate about their craft, their instruments will bear testament to that passion. And with great dedication comes great instruments: our 1997 Concert Classical from David Daily is no exception. Brazilian Rosewood paired with Spruce, played in and opened up, voiced with a smooth fundamental and rolling bass, trebles that cut well but not too sharply, precise string separation. From a luthier with over 500 guitars under his belt, it comes as no surprise that this Concert Classical sings in a velvet-rich voice and plays effortlessly. And should you prefer a higher or lower action, it’s a simple matter of sliding the saddle from one side of the bridge to the other: the saddle is extra long and wedge-shaped for precisely this reason.
Daily’s doing something right if virtuosos like Andrew York play his guitars. This 1997 Concert is an excellent opportunity to get one for yourself.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6250 in Nut Width 2.06 in String Spacing 2.2400 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1888 Martin 1-21 Brazilian Rosewood/Spruce
An absolutely wonderful 1888 Martin Style 1-21. All original and it even includes the wooden Coffin Case! This Brazilian Rosewood/Spruce parlor guitar was obviously stored away for most of it’s life. Master Luthier Bill Tippin went over this guitar for us and did a great setup on the bar frets and it plays like a dream. The voice is as big as an OM, just huge like a piano. We all love this little sweetheart. But then we are suckers for a great guitar that’s over 120 years old!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.5000 in Nut Width 1.8800 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2012 Galloup Borealis, Indian/Sitka
Recipe for a great guitar: 1) choose classic tonewoods, 2) dial in the setup for slick playability, and 3) get Bryan Galloup to build it. Our 2012 Borealis is a beast with appointments that stand out from the crowd, and projection to level doors. Indian Rosewood back and sides, Sitka Spruce top, Laskin-style arm bevel, cutaway, and the piéce de resistance: wine glass inlays across the fretboard extension. We’d like to think it’s a Malbec to match the lively and spicy tone.
As we mentioned, the setup has that slick quality to it that guarantees effortless playability, in standard tuning and beyond. 25 1/2 inch scale gives a smidgeon extra bite to the bass, and the 1 3/4 inch nut feels right at home.
When a guitar plays this well, and sings this sweetly, it’s difficult to put it down. Be prepared to annoy friends and family when you start making excuses to slip away and pick up this Galloup Borealis again. Just one more tune, honest!
Other spellings: gallup, boreals, borealus, brian galloup,
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.1250 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Indian 
2015 Lowden S-35 40th Anniversary Edition, Walnut/Cedar
Lowden’s midsize S body, here in Claro Walnut and Cedar, offers the right amount of warmth for a fingerstyle approach but not at the cost of projection and bark for flatpicking. In fact, we found this 2015 40th Anniversary S-35 to respond beautifully to picks. You don’t find that every day in a smaller guitar, but this Lowden manages to defy expectations left and right.
Number four in Lowden’s limited 40th Anniversary line, this S-35 commemorates George Lowden’s journey in lutherie over four decades, and bears that designation on both the label and the backstrap. The box is bound in Maple, 1 3/4” bone nut, split saddles, and the whole operation weighs in just under four pounds.
This Lowden S-35 more than fits the bill if you need a smaller guitar with lots of punch and breezy playability.
Other spellings: lowdon, lawden, s35
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.8750 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Cedar, Walnut - Claro 
Brand New Skytop Grand Concert, Flamed Mango/Bearclaw Sitka Spruce
Eric Weigeshoff’s got some good mojo working: our latest Skytop Grand Concert is a sharp-dressed firebrand in Sitka and Mango. The woods alone make this GC shine (gorgeous Bearclaw figure across the top, vibrant Flame Mango back and sides), right down to the Koa 12th fret. But put finger to string, and the real fun begins!
Brand new, this Skytop has a very lively response with trebles that cut through the mix with aplomb. The bass and mids are crisp and crunchy with a clean projection sustained up and down the neck. Slick setup is easy on the hands, and this pretty sans-soundhole guitar keeps on singing when you drop it into altered tuning territory. Twin soundports on the side give you a glimpse into Eric’s bracing style, and the paired Ziricote bridge and fretboard set off the Bearclaw Sitka in a classic study of light and dark.
Already this explosive and it’s brand new? We shudder to think how this latest Skytop GC will blossom with the addition of a few hours’ play time.
Common Misspellings: weigshoff, weigeshof, wegeshoff, sky top, sikta, ziricode
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.7800 in String Spacing 2.1250 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Mango 
1980 Greven 0000, Brazilian/Adirondack
A quality 0000 comes up for sale but so often, and one from John Greven even less so. This aged beauty comes to us all the way from 1980, and it’s got the mojo working with finish crazing, whip-crack bass, and a chunky C neck that verges on the softest V you’ll ever lay hands on.
The wood game is on point: brick-red Brazilian Rosewood and 1000 thread count tight-grain Adirondack Spruce on top. Rosewood peghead overlay, Rosewood bridge, and an L.R. Baggs Lyric pickup is the cherry on top (well, bridge plate to be exact). The Lyric is a lively fellow with a volume knob adhered under the soundhole, and captures the acoustic tone of the top while simultaneously canceling out the “boxy” tones other in-guitar mics suffer from.
The 0000 has some serious hips but slender sides, marrying projection with clarity. This Greven 0000 gives you all that in a sweetly opened-up package.
Alternative spellings: grevan, graven, oooo
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.1560 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Brazilian 
Brand New Tippin Al Petteway Crescendo, Brazilian/Moonspruce
Working with our favorite builders is always a dream come true—and that holds doubly true for Bill Tippin. This latest Al Petteway signature model is a bona fide dream machine with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, Alpine Moonspruce top, Koa appointments and arm bevel, and the piéce de resistance: a delicate needle & thread inlay on the fretboard extension in an homage to the client’s mother.
In like a lion, and right back out like one too, this Tippin AP Crescendo was a whirlwind to play, and a sumptuous feast for the eyes.
Other keywords: Al Pettaway, AP Signature, signature guitar, french polish
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5000 in Nut Width 1.8100 in String Spacing 2.2800 in Woods Spruce - Moonspruce, Rosewood - Brazilian 
2012 Martin 00 Custom Shop Cambodian/Adirondack (Red)
She’s a beauty in every sense of the word! This 2012 Martin 00 Custom Shop is what we like to call “The Complete Package:” flawless finish, glass-smooth neck, silky trebles, articulate middle register, and punch (she’s got projection in spades)! This 00 is the perfect companion for the Old-Time fingerstylist, the Ragtime player, the Open G Blues picker. You’ll love how effortlessly the neck frets, and how clear the voice. With the dry articulation of Cambodian Rosewood and the attack and projection of Adirondack Spruce, this Martin 00 Custom Shop makes a great recording instrument, and can really fill out your favorite fingerstyle arrangements with its excellent articulation and the hearty pop from the bottom E string. Boxed up in a Martin TKL hardshell case, this 00 will be protected from all the elements as you carry it everywhere you go–and believe us, you’ll be doing just that.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Cambodian 
1979 Gibson Johnny Smith, Maple/Spruce
Certifiably cool, calm, and collected: our 1979 Gibson Johnny Smith cuts a fine figure in your hands, and dresses your tone in pure velvet with a Kent Armstrong humbucker. Our repair team recently went over this archtop from tuners to tailpiece, removing the original corroded pickguard and pickup and replacing the former with a matching vintage guard, and the aforementioned Armstrong humbucker. Vintage vibe is further maintained with the inclusion of an 1/8” jack for the pickup, mounted right to the pickguard with volume and tone knobs (cable included).
We’re talking serious juice. The trebles are dripping with it, and the bass does some kind of miracle work with note definition that cuts cleanly through the mix with smoothness and expansiveness. The setup? Butter is tough by comparison. Such a well-preserved Johnny Smith is not to overlooked!
Other spellings: gibsen, givson, johny smith, jonny smith
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.8750 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.07 in Woods Spruce, Maple 
2014 Greven 1937-D-28V, Brazilian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce
Don’t have the investment portfolio needed to afford an actual 1937 D-28? Try a spec-for-spec recreation from a master like John Greven. Gorgeous, straight-grained Brazilian Rosewood, Adirondack Spruce, V neck that rounds out as you approach the heel, yellow-toned Grained Ivoroid bindings and herringbone trim. All the I’s are dotted, the T’s crossed (with one extra T: this beauty comes with an adjustable truss rod).
The tone! This Greven 1937-D-28V has a bass response that goes down smooth, an articulate middle register with added note definition, and trebles that cut well but don’t bleed into the other strings. A primo example of a traditional-style Dreadnought.
John Greven’s got the chops, and we’ve got the guitar to prove it!
Alternative spellings: graven, grevan, d28, d28v, dreadnaught, dreadnot, dreadknot, martin
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Brazilian 
2011 Baranik 00m, Spalted Manchinga/Sitka Spruce
Looking for something off the menu, but not too far afield? Try on our 2011 Baranik 00m (that’s zero-zero-M) for size. It strikes a balance between a 00 body and a full-on OM, giving the player a bit more oomph and projection in a trim package. Add to that a subtle multiscale fretboard (24.625-25”) and a cutaway bevel reminiscent of Uchida’s style. Cantilevered fretboard? Check. Seriously gorgeous Spalted Manchinga body? Yup. With a shoulder-to-shoulder tight grain Sitka top.
The voice features a focused midrange that cuts well through the mix, and errs on the side of dry rather than overtone prone. Mike’s neck carve and ergonomic appointments make for an effortless playing experience.
Other spellings: baranick, oom, oo-m, 00-m, machinga
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.625 in - 25 in Nut Width 1.7500 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Manchinga - Spalted 
1999 Hauser III Segovia Model, Brazilian Rosewood/Spruce
Two names that have inspired generations, Hermann Hauser and Andrés Segovia. This gorgeous example of the living tradition in which Hauser III works comes to us from 1999 in Brazilian Rosewood and Spruce, opened up and balanced from tuners to bridge. The Segovia model is based on the man’s 1937 Hauser I, the very design that has so informed classical guitar for the better part of the last century.
Excellent note separation across the registers, and a warm bass response clarified by a focused fundamental. A veil of haunting treble overtones round out the voice and lend extra depth to sustained notes.
This Segovia model from Hauser III is a prime example of the heirloom-grade classical guitar. Here, tradition excels.
Other spellings: hausor, hasur, hausar, hoser, segavia, sogvia
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 2.04 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Brazilian 
1964 Masaru Kono No. 2 Classical, Rosewood/Spruce
A blast from the past which packs a wallop! Our 1964 No. 2 from Masaru Kono (later spelled Kohno) is a keen example of why we love well-preserved old guitars: the voice has opened up completely, and the projection is there in spades.
This Concert Classical is in great working shape considering its age; there’s only the usual play wear across the Indian Rosewood and Spruce typical for a five-decades-old guitar. The bass response is very lively and crisp, and pairs well with the sparkling trebles. Simply appointed, but voiced for articulation and clarity, this Kono No. 2 is a great deal for a vintage classical that’s ready to roll for many more years to come.
Common misspellings: kohno, kano, masaro, masru
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 2.02 in String Spacing 2.2500 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Indian 
1987 Santa Cruz OM, Brazilian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce
A beautifully preserved and dynamically resonant piece of Santa Cruz history: SCGC OM #11, built in 1987. Straight-lace Brazilian Rosewood, tight-grained Sitka Spruce, and a V neck for vintage vibe. Wrap all that up in a herringbone bow, and you’re looking at a pretty fingerstyle package that’s opened up handsomely.
Not quite as loud as a Tony Rice D, this OM is nonetheless a powerful strummer with lots of projection lurking under the hood. The middle register has a breathy, opened up quality that gives extra color to fingerstyle arrangements, and the setup feels slinky and smooth to the touch. Taken down to Open D, the play feel remained crisp and responsive. It’s hard to put this one down.
We’re impressed by just how clean this 1987 SCGC is: aside from a few pickguard scratches it looks heaps better than guitars a quarter its age. All that and an obviously played-in tone? A winning combination.
Common misspellings: santacruz, sczg, cruze, barzilian, brazilin, brazlian, sika
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4000 in Nut Width 1.7800 in String Spacing 2.1800 in Woods Spruce - Sitka, Rosewood - Brazilian