Shop

Dressed up for a night on the town! The custom shop folks at Larrivée Guitars are particularly known for their intricate inlay work, and our 1996 D-10 is a primo example of that level craftpersonship with an engraved jester inlaid at the headstock with at least five different kinds of shell. The attention to detail is incredible, and so finely executed. And of course only the king of tonewoods would do to match these inlays—a primo set of Brazilian Rosewood that’s chocolate-dark and the right mix of straight grain and dramatic figure. Sitka Spruce on top, Abalone trim in a 42-style package to set off the Rosewood bindings, and Ivoroid along the fretboard and for the heelcap for a touch of the traditional.

Other keywords: jean larrivee, lutherie, luthier, larivee, larrive, al petteway, 20139, dreadnaught, flatpicking

This Grand Concert from Kent Hamblin is characterized by focus, balance, and a meaty midrange that really fills out the voice. It was built in 2005, and has over 15 years of opening up under its belt—and it shows in the ease with which it responds to both a light touch and more aggressive attack. Note definition is crisp and distinct, giving chords a technicolor aspect that we find particularly enveloping in altered tunings. A soft V neck in Mahogany with slick, fast setup makes for an effortless playing experience, and this Hamblin’s further outfitted with a comfy 1 13/16” nut for a spacious fretting feel. The tonewoods Kent pulled together here are astounding. Madagascar Rosewood back and sides feature dramatic black silk lines, and the European Spruce top has yellowed nicely with age (all the better to show off its tight grain patterns). The weight ratio between the neck and body is dialed in for a comfortable balance that keeps the GC square on your leg. Everything about this Hamblin just feels comfortable and sweetly familiar—and it’s got enough gears under the hood for years of good music yet.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerstyle, schaller, tkl, fingerpicking, modern guitar, 0549

Pull out all the stops, and then pull out some more, and you’ll get Taylor’s primo line of Builder’s Edition instruments. This 2018 K14ce is like new, but wide open under the hood. Koa back and sides pair up with Sitka Spruce on top in a satin finish that feels like velvet to the touch. At the lower bout they’ve added a Ryan-style arm bevel, and the Venetian Cutaway has been reengineered with a smooth contour to the neck heel and a beveled top edge for effortless upper fretboard work for the left hand. The Expression System 2 is plug-n-play perfection, warm and faithfully acoustic at a touch. The Grand Auditorium body boasts a generous 16 inch lower bout for added projection and power. We’re happy to report that this K14ce Builder’s Edition has a lot of gears, and responds beautifully to both a light attack and a more aggressive hand.

Other keywords: bob taylor, andy powers, boutique guitar, bespoke guitar, stika, k-14ce, k14-ce

Halland brings it home again with his latest DC-H. We commissioned this beauty with Wenge back and sides and a Sitka Spruce top, plus Gage’s lambs tongue-appointed arm and rib bevels immediately after the last one came to us (and promptly sold before we could hardly list the darned thing). Here we find exquisite note definition and sustain, letting the voice simultaneously fire right out of the soundhole and also linger around the player with mellifluous overtones. It’s got gears, essentially. We love putting this one through its paces in C tunings (even managed to pull a low B out for a bit!), right on up to Standard pitch.
Halland’s voice is representative of the modern guitar sound: clean, precise, powerful, and dynamic. We love Gage’s sense of line and curve with his builds; the aesthetics at play here are reminiscent of his apprenticeship with famed Michael Greenfield, but very much in his own style.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, fingerstyle, holland guitars, 2020, gotoh, hoffee