This 2009 Charis SJ is the one for you, if what you’re looking for includes the following: note separation, powerful bass, expressive mids under bell-like trebles, player ergonomics, as well as premium tonewoods. Bill Wise built this beauty with African Blackwood back and sides, Engelmann Spruce on top, and then went one step further by adding a soundport to the upper bout and an arm bevel at the lower (and even a second bevel at the back waist). Combined with his slim neck profile, the result is an exercise in effortless playability. All of this comes wrapped up in a custom Calton flight case to keep things safe and sound.

Other keywords: charis acoustics, 226, abw, englemann

Strong, oh so strong. Glassy response, and this glass is clearly tempered since it holds up well to a heavier attack just as well as a light touch. Bill Wise of Charis Acoustics, after working with the venerable Jim Olson, has had an excellent career of building premium modern flattops, and we’ve had nothing but great experiences with both Bill and his guitars. This 2009 SJ Cutaway is quite the sharp dressed number! African Blackwood body with Engelmann Spruce top, flamed bindings and arm bevel, 5-ply neck and silky setup. The voice has chocolatey darkness in the bass response, and a fully developed and articulate midrange that really fills the room. Sweet trebles have a slight blooming quality after the immedate attack, making this an exquisite instrument for fingerstyle.

Other keywords: james olson, fingerpicking, abalone, gotoh, accord case, 218

Real strength. That’s what The Everbloom SJ Charis from 2014 exudes. The voice is strong, vigorous, quick and rich at the same time. We love the power of individual notes flatpicked, and how at the same time big chords mix up and blend smoothly. It holds up handsomely for fingerstyle work, and in defiance of popular opinion about Redwood tops this Charis is a great strummer under a flatpick as well. Part of Bill Wise’s success here comes from his eye for tonewood. The fabled “The Tree” Quilted Mahogany, pairing up with Sinker Redwood, makes for that balance between warmth and crisp note decay, as well as overall power. A soundport in the upper bout adds a little more “me in the monitor” to the player’s ear, and sprawling across the fretboard, headstock, and rosette we find a series of delicate vine and flower inlays. Hence, The Everbloom. This Charis is a tonal work of art, with a visual aesthetic to match.

Other keywords: jim olson, charis guitars, fingerpicking, open tuning, art guitar, gotoh, inlay art, abalone

Tonewood maestro Bill Wise has been crafting world class fingerstyle guitars for years now, and he’s nailed the sweet spot between easy playability and projection, sustain, and dynamic response. This 2008 Charis Grand Concert comes to us with Indian Rosewood back and sides, Cedar top, 5-ply Rosewood neck, and a glassy setup that practically plays itself. Additionally, there’s a K&K Trinity Pro pickup system installed, which is one of our favorite dual source systems of all time.
This Charis has an exquisitely well-tempered response that’s even from string to string and all the way up to the tiptop frets. Cedar gives a little more warmth and presence to the upper mids and trebles to round things out, and it really loves to go down to altered tuning territory, thanks to a 25 5/8” scale length. The voice has opened up nicely since 2008, and we’re happy to report that the condition is superb.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, IR, red cedar, fingerpicking, tkl, k & k, gotoh, abalone

A Bill Wise masterpiece. 2009 Charis SJ in Amazon Rosewood and Cedar, 5-ply Mahogany neck, Wenge arm and rib bevels for added player comfort, 25.5” scale for crisp, powerful response—the list goes on. This is a fabulous fingerstyle instrument, and with the addition of a Florentine Cutaway and a soundport in the upper bout keeps you in tune with your tunes. Bill’s guitars are famously easy to play, a nod to Jim Olson’s builds with a slim neck carve and SJ body dimensions, and this 2009 SJ is no exception. Silky smooth and quick. Gotoh Delta tuners, Calton flight case, and custom diamond fretboard inlays round it all out.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbulding, olson guitar, fingerpicking, amazonian rosewood, clear pickguard

A guitar shouldn’t be allowed to sound this good. And yet, this 2015 Charis SJ does, with a voice that is thoughtful, probing, and articulate. Bill Wise has outdone himself again, but we hope he didn’t break the mold when he built it, because nothing would make us happier than to see more and more of these compellingly rich-sounding guitars come through our showroom.

This Mango-and-Engelmann Spruce SJ follows you like an old bandmate: perfectly in sync, with nothing lost in translation, just one mind between guitar and player. The trebles have a silky sheen to them which masks a strong, unshakeable clarity underneath. The low-end is eloquent and resounding, well-balanced with middle register that has a small trove of sweet and subtle overtones all of its own. Intonating perfectly, you can play any genre with any style, and the result is humbling. This SJ exudes an aura of effortlessness–it knows how to play the part of virtuoso with grace.

Wise’s choice of Mango and Engelmann is an excellent one: the slightly softer voice of the Engelmann complements the richness of the Mango and creates a tonal palette which is expansive and expressive, but not overwhelming. In a word, this SJ has poise. With the addition of a Koa arm rest and rib rest, Koa bindings across the neck and body, and a Koa-bound soundport, Wise knows how to pair different grains to beautiful effect–right down to the microbevel in the Ebony fretboard binding. Just in time for the holidays, this Charis SJ comes as the perfect present, more valuable and important than pearls or another gold watch.