With a guitar from Jason Kostal, we know we’ve got a special treat in store. After apprenticing under the godfather of modern guitarbuilding, Ervin Somogyi, Kostal struck out on his own several years back, and he’s been hard at work honing his own style and voice. The result? This work of elegance from 2020. Here Jason lets the tonewoods speak for themselves—dark Indian Rosewood, pale German Spruce, Rosewood bridge and two-tone headstock veneers. At the soundhole he used his trademark Stained Glass rosette to add a splash of color (here a mix of purples, lilacs, and earthy pinks); otherwise, it’s the quality of the craftpersonship and the materials that dictate the aesthetic.
That understated quality is echoed in the voice to a degree as well. Note definition is smooth and balanced across the registers, and we love that the response is even and consistent along the fretboard. There are also some haunting treble overtones that come out under a delicate and spacious touch which we loved. The setup is silk smooth to the touch, just like every other aspect of this Kostal OM.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, fingerpicking, stain glass rosette, hoffee, 2-tone headstock, 171

Smooth operator from tuner to tail. This 2017 Modified Dreadnought from Jason Kostal is truly a powerhouse guitar, with clarity, elegance, and precision to temper the raw strength of the voice. It’s worth it just to see the jaw-dropping Brazilian Rosewood back and sides Jason used, here paired with a creamy German Spruce top that absolutely sings. The bass register has a rich and rolling fundamental that fits in well with a warm midrange. The trebles are crisp and defined, and cut through the mix. A svelte florentine cutaway, combined with Jason’s trademark stained glass rosette, rounds out the picture of a perfect Kostal Mod D. Premium Hoffee flight case comes included to keep this beauty as clean and ready for action as day one.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitarbuilding, ervin somogyi, fingerpicking, modern guitar, gotoh

If it’s good enough for Michael Watts, it’s gotta be good enough for us! We love Jason Kostal’s work, and have happily followed his career for years now. This is a lovely 2012 OM done up in striking Brazilian Rosewood with a German Spruce top and Jason’s stained glass rosette and a Hoffee flight case. The neck carve has a full, generous carve to it that feels great in-hand, and on top Jason built a short, 25 inch scale fretboard to maximize playability and add a little sugar to the trebles at the same time. That sweetness pairs well with a warm and rolling bass response that fills up the voice, but doesn’t spill over into the other registers.

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, ervin somogyi, fingerstyle, contemporary guitar, stained-glass, brazilain, gotoh, florentine cutaway

This is as close to a new Kostal you’re likely to get without shaking hands with Jason himself when he finishes a build. OM #131 was built only a few months ago in 2017 with eye-catching Flamed Mahogany back and sides and a German Spruce top. Jason’s hallmark Stained Glass Rosette sets off the creamy palette of the German top, and the extra thin finish which protects it from the elements (ditto for the Hoffee flight case) keeps that Spruce as lively and responsive as possible. The C profile neck has well-rounded cheeks, and the crest flattens just a smidgen.

The voice is a bit of a firecracker: the bass response has a distinct pop that projects out from the guitar, rather than enveloping the player. Similarly, the upper mids have lots of punch, and you’ll be surprised how well this Kostal OM responds to a medium to aggressive attack. Digging in, you really have to try hard to make it top out. All this crispness, and in a 14-fret, short scale 25 inch package, is further proof of Jason’s formidable lutherie chops. Top of the line fingerstyle guitar that’ll cut right through the mix? Look no further, your finely-honed axe has arrived.

Other keywords: somogyi, somogyi apprentice, luthier, figured mahogany, jason kostal