Uncategorized Archives - Page 134 of 145

1983 Guild D-80-12 East Indian/Spruce

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Guild Guitars

Guild Guitars were one of the first companies to put 12-strings on the map in the 1960s, singlehandedly establishing the industry standard for double-course guitars. The huge, powerful sound that we associate with 12-strings? Guild’s handiwork. This 1983 D-80-12 is an excellent example of their hallmark voice with East Indian Rosewood back and sides and a Spruce top. Built like a brick house, this 12-string is equally suited to delicate fingerstyle and aggressive flatpicking, with miles of sustain and an L.R. Baggs Anthem pickup for unrivalled clarity when amplified. This particular 12-string was custom built by the then-Master Luthier of Guild Guitars before Jerre Haskew, the former president of the company who hired Kim Walker to save it and pave the way for his own work, acquired the instrument–and we trust Jerre when he tells us, “This is the finest production 12-string guitar I’ve ever seen, heard or played regardless of brand.” If you’re interested in the classic 12-string sound in an iconic package with smooth action and a sweet, fiery sunburst finish, look no further than this Guild D-80-12.

July 3, 2023/by

2003 Martin 000JBP Mahogany/Sitka

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Martin Guitars

Break out the flip flops and limes–it’s Margaritaville time. Number 302 of 305, this 2003 Martin Jimmy Buffet “Pollywog” 000 is one of the very last in a limited run of beach-going guitars designed for easy playability and warm tones. With a Mahogany back and sides and Sitka Spruce top in Martin’s 000 package, this nautically themed 12-fret is fun and lively, with the warmth and ease of play that comes from the shorter neck and moving the bridge to the center of the lower bout, optimizing the Sitka Spruce top’s ability to resonate. For a smaller guitar, this one’s got great projection, and it doesn’t peak easily. This guitar is designed for fingerpicking, but it can handle some serious strumming, too–just don’t scratch the Blue Paua Abalone rosette! We only say that because, right now, this guitar is practically mint; good luck looking for a scratch on this one. And lastly, because Jimmy Buffet’s a stylish man and likes to dress his “Pollywog” appropriately, this guitar comes protected by a deluxe leather Martin hardshell case.

July 3, 2023/by

2015 Sheppard Ave Maria GC, Higuerilla/Sinker Redwood

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Sheppard, Gerald

It’s easy to get lost in this one. Gerald Sheppard upgraded this Grand Concert with his cream-of-the-crop Ave Maria package in Snakewood appointments, arm (and rib, and cutaway) bevels, Select Blue Paua inlays. Higuerilla back and sides is here paired with a gorgeous Sinker Redwood top for a comprehensively chocolate appearance that sets this Sheppard apart from the crowd. Tonally, this GC is a smooth talker. Excellent note separation, glassy and balanced trebles, an extra helping of sustain. Like we said, it’s easy to lose track of time with this Sheppard, it’s such a breeze to play and responds exactly how we need it to, regardless if we’re playing softly or with grit.

Here’s an additional demo with our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/KMouzCt01To

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, rosewood, soundport, ameritage, fingerstyle, fingerpicking, gotoh, venetian cutaway

July 3, 2023/by

New Emerald X20 Opus Series Red Carbon Fiber/Carbon Fiber

Composite, Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Emerald Guitars

Powerhouse tone and stability like only Carbon Fiber can offer make this guitar a force to be reckoned with. Emerald’s X20 Opus Series offers all the advantages of Carbon Fiber at an easy cost. These guitars have a huge, fierce voice, and thanks to that upper bout soundhole/soundport, the player gets their music delivered right to their ears. Full-sized body and a larger-than-life tone; this Emerald X20 Opus Red will see you through every gig, come rain, snow, sleet, hail, tsunami or monsoon, blizzard or beach.

July 3, 2023/by

New Emerald X20 Artisan Series Woody Amber Carbon Fiber/Maple

Composite, Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Emerald Guitars

Powerhouse tone and stability like only Carbon Fiber can offer make this guitar a force to be reckoned with. Emerald’s X20 Artisan series pulls out all the stops–gloss finish, B-Band AST pickup and preamp, arm and cutaway bevels–then Alistair went one step further and added a gorgeous Rock Maple veneer to the top and headstock to really separate this guitar from the pack. These guitars have a huge, fierce voice, and thanks to that upper bout soundhole/soundport, the player gets their music delivered right to their ears. Full-sized body and a larger-than-life tone; this Emerald X20 Artisan Woody will see you through every gig, come rain, snow, sleet, hail, tsunami or monsoon, blizzard or beach.

July 3, 2023/by

New Emerald Amicus12 Opus Red Carbon Fiber/Carbon Fiber

Composite, Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Emerald Guitars

Emerald Guitars has been pushing the boundaries of what a Carbon Fiber guitar can look, feel, and play like for several years now. Do you like 12 strings, but hate the bulk? Do you love mandolins, but pine for more strings, more depth? Emerald’s Amicus12 Opus Series placates both players: its 18” scale is slim, the Carbon Fiber body is light, and the 12 strings have a multitude of voices.The Amicus12 has a bright, merry tone, and is easy to play for long periods of time without fatigue or boredom, thanks to its cutaway and lightweight neck and headstock. The upper bout mounted sound hole helps deliver your music right to your ear, and the guitar comes with a well-padded gig bag for storage and transport, so you can really bring this double course gem wherever you wish, whenever you wish.

July 3, 2023/by

New Oxwood Handmade Carmen Cocobolo/Engelmann

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Oxwood Handmade

“Carmen,” fresh from Bradley Daniels‘ shop, sings like she’s got something to prove. We were taken aback when we first opened the case and tuned her up: how could so much voice project out of a body this size? Needless to say, Oxwood Handmade is setting the bar pretty high for competition. This multi-scale beauty comes to us with Cocobolo Rosewood back and sides and an Engelmann Spruce top in a curvaceous package teeming with energy.With Gold Evo frets adorning the fan-fret Ebony fingerboard at 25″ on the Low E and 24″ on the high E, Carmen is a shorter overall scale than folks are used to with multi-scale fingerboards, but the impact on the guitar’s tone is palpable. That Low E has a giant, round tone that perfectly complements the shimmers of the high E, and the warm, expressive strings between.Blessed with haunting sustain and excelling at lower tunings, Daniels‘ Carmen feels and plays like a smaller guitar, but sounds like a much bigger instrument. With understated and tasteful appointments like the Wenge rosette and backplate or the magnetic truss rod cover, the guitars from Oxwood Handmade make a powerful, poised statement.

July 3, 2023/by

1997 Collings OM3-BaA Brazilian/Adirondack (Red)

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Collings Guitars

Folks, gather round: we’ve got another powerhouse Collings on the rack! This 1997 OM3-BaA exemplifies everything we associate with Collings Guitars, from the big and bold voice to the flawless fit and finish and well-balanced registers. In their 14-fret OM shape, this guitar gives you the strength and projection of a Collings Dreadnought with a very easy to play size.The Brazilian Rosewood back and sides are a treat to behold, and when combined with a Sunburst Adirondack Spruce top, the result is easy on the eyes and heaven for the ears. Think about it: all the warmth and richness of Brazilian Rosewood, the powerful drive of the Adirondack Spruce, and Collings‘ top-notch craftsmanship, in one guitar. We’re talking about quite the number of awesome forces at play under the hood!This 1997 OM3-BaA runs like a well-greased engine, folks–come take a spin!

July 3, 2023/by

Late ’60s Michael Millard and William Cumpiano Replica Gurian Model #2 Brazilian/Spruce

Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Bill Cumpiano And Michael Millard

***Clarification: This is not a Froggy Bottom Guitar, but rather a project guitar built prior to the launch of Froggy Bottom. See below. This, folks, is an interesting guitar from the early days of independent makers. In the world of contemporary guitar construction, the names Bill Cumpiano and Michael Millard (founder of Froggy Bottom Guitars) are synonymous with early innovation–we have these men to thank for our present plethora of builds, designs, voices, and styles that populates the contemporary guitar world. Back in the lates 60’s/early 70s, when Bill and Michael had just begun their solo careers after years spent with Gurian Guitars, they shared a workshop to cut costs. They came together to build this one in the style of a Gurian #2 model, this guitar has a three-piece Brazilian Rosewood back, Spruce top, and a slightly smaller body that packs a punch (or several). The voice is sweet and rich and loud (thanks to the fully-opened Spruce top), and performs beautifully for American Trad music or for Blues and Rags. Note: This guitar does have a hand drawn label inside that reads Froggy Bottom, but it was likely done in fun during construction.

July 3, 2023/by

2015 Sheppard Ave Maria Grand Auditorium, Madagascar Rosewood/Swiss Spruce

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Sheppard, Gerald

Gerald Sheppard, you slay us! This Grand Auditorium is a dyed in the wool powerhouse. Like, woah. We were impressed with this beauty when we first played it in 2015, and now in 2021 we’re absolutely blown away by how much it’s opened up. This one’s got gears, and gears—and trimmed out in his exclusive Ave Maria appointment package! Dramatically figured Madagascar Rosewood back and sides pair up with a creamy Swiss Spruce on top for power, overtones, and control. It’s fabulous for fingerstyle, and the larger Grand Auditorium body size holds up great for strumming as well. Creature comforts include arm and rib bevels and a soundport, as well as a svelte Venetian Cutaway. Snag this livewire while it’s still here!

Here’s an additional demo with our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/phtPMyKsxqY

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, sheppard guitars, fingerpicking, select paua, ameritage, 9668

July 3, 2023/by

2015 Sheppard Ave Maria Grand Concert, Brazilian Rosewood/Swiss Spruce

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Sheppard, Gerald

This 2015 Sheppard Ave Maria Grand Concert is smooth, smooth, smooth. With the back and sides, Sheppard reminds us what Brazilian Rosewood is all about–the pinnacle of majestic, sweeping tonality. With a Swiss Spruce top thrown into the mix, this GC shows off trebles with are well-defined and bass which is rolling and expressive. Sheppard’s mastery of the craft is obvious in the perfect fit and finish, the lower bout soundport, and the arm and cutaway bevels, which are smooth, arcing, and supremely comfortable. Fingerstylists, this is the guitar you’ve been dreaming about ever since you first put fingertip to string–the articulation is profound, the string-to-string balance pianistic.

Here’s an additional demo with our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/ylxv0tMBEIA

July 3, 2023/by

2008 Sexauer Companion O Cocobolo Negro/Carpathian

Guitars, Instruments, Multiscale, Steel String Guitars Sexauer, Bruce

Want a guitar which is small enough to travel with, but as loud, rich, and dynamic as a full-sized guitar? Enter: the Sexauer Companion 0. If you close your eyes while playing it (and trust us, that’s going to happen), you’d think a much larger instrument was making music in your lap than this little gem! Featuring Cocobolo Negro back and sides (a rare and desirable tonewood similar to Brazilian Rosewood) and a Carpathian Spruce top, the Companion 0 has amazing depth and projection, with a warm, expressive bass and trebles with an electric shimmer.And, as if Bruce’s excellent construction methods and tonewood selection weren’t enough, this guitar aso has a multiscale design with 25 3/4″ bass and 25 1/4″ on the treble to allow this smaller-scale guitar to handle lowered tunings like DADGAD without sounding cheap and tubby, and is easy on the hands. Lastly, the strange and beautiful Cocobolo Negro is a rarity in the back and sides department: Bruce himself claims to have only seen one or two such sets, and this one’s coloration probably comes from a submerged log, so you could even call this “Sinker” Cocobolo Negro, and features a clean, bright tap tone.Protected by its Cedar Creek hardshell case, the Companion 0 is ready for the car, the bus, the train, the airplane–and will give you amazing tone and playability wherever your travels take you.

July 3, 2023/by

2006 Keystone SJ-C Honduran Mahogany/Western Red Cedar

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Keystone Stringed Instruments

This guitar is a piece of history from one of the most talented young luthiers working today. Nishi Keisuke’s first guitar in 2006 after his apprenticeship with Mario Beauregard, this SJ-C is what happens when talent and patience come together: an instrument of astounding depth and flawless playability. Western Red Cedar for warmth and range, Honduran Mahogany for depth and attack, and an SJ body for balanced tone–this guitar is the trifecta for Fingerstyle music. The trebles are bright and present, and the guitar exhibits projection which is expansive but not overwhelming, meaning that even delicate waltzs or somber airs sound clear and expressive. Nishi’s honed the low-end to have a well-defined edge which persists even in lowered tunings, making the SJ-C an instrument that can easily handle your eclectic tunings. Thanks to a gorgeous set of Honduran Mahogany for the back and sides, this guitar is responsive like lightning, sonorous as thunder.

July 3, 2023/by

New Emerald X20 Opus Series Black Carbon Fiber/Carbon Fiber

Composite, Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Emerald Guitars

Powerhouse tone and stability like only Carbon Fiber can offer make this guitar a force to be reckoned with. Emerald’s X20 Opus series offers all the advantages of Carbon Fiber at an easy cost. These guitars have a huge, fierce voice, and thanks to that upper bout soundhole/soundport, the player gets their music delivered right to their ears. Full-sized body and a larger-than-life tone; this Emerald X20 Opus will see you through every gig, come rain, snow, sleet, hail, tsunami or monsoon, blizzard or beach.

*Please note, the color of the guitar in the video may not match that of the actual instrument being sold, here a black Emerald X20 Opus.

July 3, 2023/by

New Greg German Agave Ziricote/Adirondack (Red)

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars German, Greg

Caramel-sweet and firecracker hot, this brand-new 2015 German Agave has got a voice to strike other guitars dumb. Greg German‘s too kind: he’s given us an enormous amount of tone, and some sweet appointments, for a great deal. Complete with a soundport, gold Gotoh 510s, interlocking fretboard inlays and rosette, Venetian Cutaway, the Agave has more options than you can shake a pick at. That said, wait until you actually have the instrument in your hands–the setup is glass-smooth, and the voice is charged and energetic. Trebles which are bright and talkative, a middle register with lots of power that speaks for itself, and a tight, controlled low-end give the Agave a punchy flavor more commonly found in smaller-bodied guitars–but with all the volume and sustain traditionally found in Grand Concerts or Dreadnoughts.

July 3, 2023/by

1999 Henderson 000 Brazilian/Adirondack (Red)

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Henderson, Wayne

This guitar was built for one purpose: to be the perfect companion for any guitarist, regardless of style. Played softly, this Henderson OM/000 whispers sweet and sultry; aggressively, she wails “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” to put Earl Scruggs‘ banjo to shame. At the touch of your fingertips, each string has its own voice and sings perfectly in unison with the others; flatpicks give this Henderson a chance to stretch its jaws and really howl. Basically, this Henderson OM/000 can take whatever piece of music you throw its way and make it ten times cleaner, more dynamic, and sweet. For the definitive powerhouse OM/000, look no further: this one is bold, articulate, and responsive, with trebles that have a huge presence and the kind of warm, sweeping low-end we always associate with Hendersons. Would you expect less from Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, an Adirondack Spruce top, and Wayne’s absolute mastery of the craft? We wouldn’t; never has a Henderson passed through our shop that didn’t leave our jaws hanging–this one just happened to bring a tear to our eyes, too.

July 3, 2023/by

New Avante Gryphon 12 string Tobacco Burst Mahogany/Spruce

12 String, Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Avante by Veillette

This Avante Gryphon by Veillette in Sitka Spruce and Mahogany is one of the most fun and inspiring guitars we have played! You can play any song that you know on a standard guitar and play it on the Gryphon for a wonderful mandolin effect. Playing one of these Gryphons is an almost meditative experience, with the drones of the strings making the sound full and chorus like. These little six course guitars are expertly built and play as easy as a dream right out of the box. The neck attachment is left to one bolt, so adjustments are a breeze. They are favorites of many headlining artists around the world and it’s easy to see why: with a unique and intriguing aesthetic, incredibly versatile tonal range and a perfectly palatable price point, the Avante Gryphon is a strong contender for that next instrument you’ve been thinking of…

July 3, 2023/by Logan Wells

2010 Forster Guitar Bouzouki Camatillo/Italian

Bouzoukis, Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Mandolins, Octave Mandolins, Other Instruments, Steel String Guitars Forster

The Irish Bouzouki is the result of constant evolution. What began as a bowl-backed, three-course instrument from Greece has undergone a series of transformations in the past 40 years to become the flat-backed, four-course (or more) instrument we now find in Irish and Folk scenes across the world. A select few luthiers have taken the instrument one step further, by experimenting with using guitar bodies instead of the accepted teardrop shape, in an attempt to create a more dynamically-voiced and easier to play Bouzouki. Nigel Forster, former apprentice of famed luthier Stefan Sobell, is one of these pioneers–and the territories he’s exploring are deep and resounding.This, his Guitar Bouzouki (or Gouzouki, or Gitzouki, if you prefer), is a specialty of his, and this one in particular stands apart from his standard Guitar Bouzouki model with a removable neck, which the original owner conscripted Forster to include, in order for him to remove the standard four-course neck and swap it for a fretless version, or a different profile, or whatever caught his inspiration. Alas, this Guitar Bouzouki only comes with the one neck, but the possibility is still there.Tonally, this 2010 Guitar Bouzouki is fearsome. With a voice characterized by its clarity and depth, and a projection capable of shattering windows, Forster has built an exceedingly loud and expressive instrument. This Guitar Bouzouki is louder than an instrument this size has a right to be–honestly, it can achieve volumes most instruments need to be electrically amplified to achieve. Forster has written extensively on the particulars of his building style which result in this magnificent voice, and you can read his own thoughts on the subject below: http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog/loud-acoustic-guitars/ Forster’s use of a “cylindrical top,” based on a Howe-Orme design from the 1800’s, allows the Italian Spruce top to be incredibly light (literally: check out the photos below which show light passing warmly through the top)–and all of that lightness translates into dynamic voicings, projection, sustain, and a well-defined top end.This Guitar Bouzouki, with Camatillo Rosewood back and sides and a Cuban Mahogany neck, has an otherworldly voice, at once persuading, ecstatic, thoughtful yet confident, moving but focused.

July 3, 2023/by

2008 Mustapick Aurora Macassar Ebony/Koa

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Mustapick, Matthew

Every now and then, we get a guitar in the shop which is so staggeringly beautiful, it reminds us of the first time we fell in love with music. This, a custom build from Matt Mustapick which became his standard Aurora model, is just such an instrument. With a huge, bold voice, articulate and finely honed, the Macassar Ebony and Koa body are tuned with depth and sonority in mind.Set up for lowered tunings like DADGAD, the Aurora is perfect for the fingerstylist looking to blow doors down with the force of their arrangements–with a monstrous projection and haunting sustain, the Aurora sounds more like a three-piece band than simply a six-string guitar. The Macassar Ebony provides a clarity to the low-end, and Mustapick’s renowned skills with Koa have yielded a top that evens out the tone and provides the trebles with great body and a clean, invigorating presence.Per the custom build specs, this guitar features gorgeous crimson Bloodwood bindings, rosette, and headstock veneer, with a slight arm rest bevel and a slight Manzer Wedge for ease of playing–and let’s not forget the upper bout soundport to project the bass straight to the player’s ear! As mentioned above, this guitar has a longer-than-average multi-scale fretboard (27 3/8″ on the low E and 25 5/8″ on the high), so we recommend keeping this guitar in lowered tunings, rather than up to standard, unless you use lighter strings.Replete with sumptuous appointments and playability upgrades, this Aurora is your next guitar to expand your definitions of what a guitar is, and what it can sound like.

July 3, 2023/by

2008 Schwartz Advanced Auditorium Cutaway, Cocobolo/Engelmann Spruce

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Schwartz, Sheldon

Sheldon Schwartz may just be a miracle worker–the voice of this Advanced Auditorium is seraphic. In pairing Cocobolo Rosewood back and sides with a gorgeous Engelmann Spruce top, Schwartz gave this Grand Auditorium-sized guitar a tonal palette which is rich but controlled, with a great balance across the registers. Flatpickers, rejoice: the Advanced Auditorium responds with resounding projection and clarity. Prefer your fingertips? Fingerstyle accentuates the balance and scope, letting the low-end mellow out and accompany the middle registers in perfect harmony.
Airy overtones in the trebles fill out the voice, lending the instrument a sweetness and poise that is matched only by Schwartz’s appointments, from the figured Curly Maple bindings to the Mother-Of-Pearl and Shell vine inlays across the rosette and at the twelfth fret. Kept in immaculate condition, you won’t believe this guitar isn’t even a decade old. There are probably brand-new guitars out there with more scratches. Protected by an equally immaculate Ameritage hardshell case, there’s no need to worry about the instrument ever getting hurt in your travels.
Combining easy playability, rich tonality, be prepared to play this Advanced Auditorium for many, many long hours.

Here’s an additional demo with our own Al Petteway: https://youtu.be/7KMfzW_TImA

Here’s an additional demo with Paul from 2018: https://youtu.be/CVWOuGHfS64

July 3, 2023/by Billy Presnell

2005 Merrill C-18 Mahogany/Adirondack (Red)

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Merrill

Jim Merrill’s guitars often sound more vintage than vintage guitars themselves, and that’s right out the gate. Imagine what these guitars will sound like once they’ve opened up for a few years! The 2005 C-18 we’ve got here is a golden opportunity to see just how much a contemporary instrument can sound like its long-lost prewar cousin.Built sturdily but to lightweight specs, this C-18 comes with Mahogany back and sides for a clean low-end presence and Adirondack Spruce top for a bright, punchy middle register and attack. Not surprisingly, this Dreadnought is built with the Bluegrass player in mind, but thanks to trebles which are well-balanced and a bottom E string that is tight and expressive, the C-18 performs beautifully for fingerpicking passages, as well as lightning flatpick sessions. Overall, the voice is muscular, full of vim and vigor, and the bottom-end has enough warmth to warm you on the coldest winter nights.

July 3, 2023/by

2003 Martin D-42K2 Koa/Koa

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Martin Guitars

Koa, Koa, and more Koa! One of Martin’s coveted all-Koa Dreadnoughts, this 2003 D-42K2 has the lucky opportunity to have the best of both worlds: it sounds as gorgeous and aggressive as it looks. The typical Koa tone, this guitar has in spades–dry and crisp, with lots of punch in the mids–and with the typical Dreadnought voice (huge and brash), this guitar reinforces why Martin Dreadnoughts are the best in the business.And she packs a wallop, of that you can be sure. Flatpicked Old Time or American Trad music rings with muscularity and bark. Country Blues fingerpicking really lets the trebles shine, accentuating the great balance across the strings. With projection like an ocean wave–tsunami-size–and a sustain which hovers like endless sky, this D-42K2 has a primal, vigorous tone perfect for group settings and an aggressive attack. And, with shimmering Abalone trim, inlay, and rosette, you’ll be the envy of every guitarist.

July 3, 2023/by

2012 Charis Heart’s Home Series SJ Pau Rosa/Cedar

Flattop, Guitars, Instruments, Steel String Guitars Charis (Bill Wise)

Not a Charis passes through our shop that doesn’t leave our jaws hanging and our hands itching for one more minute with that butter-slick neck and that resounding projection–this “Heart’s Home Series” SJ is no different. Bill Wise’s technique lends each guitar with scientific precision and laser-cut articulation between the strings. Blessed with Pau Rosa back and sides and a Cedar top, what we have here is an SJ with all the expressiveness of a 00 and the power of a Dreadnought–while simultaneously maintiaining a flawless separation of notes. Fingerstylists, of course, will love the articulation and even presence of each register, but there’s also an ease of playability and aptitude for projection and sustain which flatpickers recognize as essential for a guitar to faithfully broadcast chords, leads, fiddle tunes, and overtones. Here’s something on which both kinds of players can agree: this SJ handles dropped tunings like no guitar’s business, lending the guitar an even more full-bodied voice. Packed up securely in a Cedar Creek hardshell case, this Charis is ready to go anywhere and play any tune.

July 3, 2023/by

Buscarino Virtuoso European Maple/Spruce

Acoustic, Archtop Guitars, Electric, Guitars, Instruments Buscarino, John

A king among Jazz boxes! Whenever John Buscarino’s hands touch wood, the wood sings. This, his top-of-the-line Virtuoso, is no less than what we’ve come to expect from his guitars: strong attack, flawless construction, a hearty, meaty tone with that big jazz box feel, dynamically voiced for rhapsody or jitterbug.A gorgeous set of European Maple has here been paired with a European Spruce top to produce a muscular sound, with very present trebles with great sustain, and a fat low-end dripping with sweet sustain. For such a large-bodied guitar, it is surprisingly gentle to play, thanks in part to Buscarino’s glossy Nitrocellulose finish and glass-smooth neck profile, but it’s the little details and appointments which really let this looker shine. Featuring bound F-holes, Burl headstock veneers, Maple bindings throughout, and a laminated tailpiece and pickguard which exhibit gorgeous alternating bands of Ebony and Maple. Of course, let’s not forget his custom floating Humbucker pickup or the fleur-de-lis inspired soundport on the upper bout–a motif which is returned to in both the headstock inlays and in the tailpiece.With warmth like a roaring fire, and attack like lightning, this Virtuoso is ready to get down to the business of making music.

July 3, 2023/by

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1983 Guild D-80-12 East Indian/Spruce

2003 Martin 000JBP Mahogany/Sitka

2015 Sheppard Ave Maria GC, Higuerilla/Sinker Redwood

New Emerald X20 Opus Series Red Carbon Fiber/Carbon Fiber

New Emerald X20 Artisan Series Woody Amber Carbon Fiber/Maple

New Emerald Amicus12 Opus Red Carbon Fiber/Carbon Fiber

New Oxwood Handmade Carmen Cocobolo/Engelmann

1997 Collings OM3-BaA Brazilian/Adirondack (Red)

Late ’60s Michael Millard and William Cumpiano Replica Gurian Model #2 Brazilian/Spruce

2015 Sheppard Ave Maria Grand Auditorium, Madagascar Rosewood/Swiss Spruce

2015 Sheppard Ave Maria Grand Concert, Brazilian Rosewood/Swiss Spruce

2008 Sexauer Companion O Cocobolo Negro/Carpathian

2006 Keystone SJ-C Honduran Mahogany/Western Red Cedar

New Emerald X20 Opus Series Black Carbon Fiber/Carbon Fiber

New Greg German Agave Ziricote/Adirondack (Red)

1999 Henderson 000 Brazilian/Adirondack (Red)

New Avante Gryphon 12 string Tobacco Burst Mahogany/Spruce

2010 Forster Guitar Bouzouki Camatillo/Italian

2008 Mustapick Aurora Macassar Ebony/Koa

2008 Schwartz Advanced Auditorium Cutaway, Cocobolo/Engelmann Spruce

2005 Merrill C-18 Mahogany/Adirondack (Red)

2003 Martin D-42K2 Koa/Koa

2012 Charis Heart’s Home Series SJ Pau Rosa/Cedar

Buscarino Virtuoso European Maple/Spruce

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