We commissioned this GC with the powerful combination of Cocobolo Rosewood and Red Cedar. The idea was to have a responsive guitar with a warm top end. Bill certainly delivered, the voice is tremendous and the woods look very elegant together. The Rosewood bindings finish it with class and Bill’s wonderful neck shape is one of our favorites.

We’ve been waiting anxiously for this next Dream Series from Bill Wise. We knew it would be special because we added a few new treats to the already outstanding design which features the best Brazilian Rosewood money can buy. For this one Bill gave us his new armrest Bevel in Makore, a full fingerboard border and a fingerboard inlay of wooden leaves in fall colors. The voice is full of rich color, brilliant highs and perfectly balanced lows. The Charis sound is very special as any current owner would tell you and the Brazilian here really is special, we rarely see it so tight grained and uniform anymore. Bill decided on an Italian top for this one which enhances the clarity and shimmer.

The Dream Series is a very special collaboration with Bill Wise of Charis Acoustics. The goal of this series is to build a guitar with uncomprimised tone and to adorn it with understated wooden appointments. For this one, #4 of 10 to be made we selected a very old and rich set of Brazilian rosewood. It has very tight grain just a hint of wave to it, definitely quarter sawn for classic tone. This is a much higher grade of wood that most sets you see today. Combined here with Cedar for a deep, warm tone that is rich and glorious. The strummed sound is warm, shimmering and full. Played fingerstyle it’s very rich and powerful, lot’s of projection and sweet, sweet mids. Bill Wise is creating some very special guitars indeed.

This is the first Chasson to find our shop and we hope it’s not the last. We are very impressed by the build quality, warm, balanced voice and great setup work. This Chasson Concert was owned by guitarist extraordinaire and Fingerpicking Champion Steven King, http://www.guitarbystevenking.net/. This guitar is dressed in figured Brazilian Rosewood with an extremely silky Engelmann Spruce top and these premium woods combine for a lush and very full sound that has a good fundamental with just the right amount of overtones. The entire guitar is bound with Figured Maple and it’s outfitted with a K&K dual source pickup system. This is a stunning guitar with a sumptuous voice.

Kevin Chubbuck has been on the scene for a number of years now after working with both the Santa Cruz Guitar Company and our own Bill Tippin. This Rogue model was originally built for our shop in 2009, and now it’s come back to find it’s next home! Indian Rosewood body with Koa appointments; Waverly tuners; “slipping” purflings at the rosette, back strip, and fingerboard. On top, a special treat: “Grey Ghost” Sitka Spruce harvested from a standing dead tree in Washington State by John Wagner. This top is full of silky medullary rays indicating it is perfectly quarter sawn and special. You can hear it also as it blends with the Rosewood body to create a clear, articulate voice. We are proud to be able not visit with this Chubbuck again—it’s opened up handsomely in the intervening years, and it’s ready for more action.

Other keywords: lutherie, guitarbuilding, chubbuck guitars, cedar creek, fingerstyle

If ever there was a guitar for both fingerstylists and flatpickers, this guitar is it. Kevin Chubbuck’s years at first Santa Cruz guitars and later Bill Tippin’s shop inform his excellent skills, and have given him countless hours to hone his craft. Thus, when we offer you his large-bodied 2015 Kalliope, we do so with great confidence in his guitars. Not only does the Kalliope project like a dreadnought–it also has the agile, articulate tonality of a much smaller guitar. The result is an instrument with a deep, resounding low-end that is perfectly balanced with rich trebles and a dynamic range. The Panamanian Rosewood back and sides have a desirable tight grain and the upper bout boasts a slender soundport which really projects a great portion of this guitar’s complex tone right to the player’s ear. Paired with a Swiss “Moon” Spruce top, the soundbox is light and responsive–the strings respond to the lightest touch, but the sound doesn’t become distorted under a more aggressive attack, either. Each note rings clear as a bell on this guitar. Chubbuck has added a Ryan-style arm bevel for playing comfort and a K&K Pure Mini pickup with vintage jack. Lastly, this guitar will travel with you safely wherever you go, thanks to the custom-molded fiberglass Calton Flight Case.

We’re all fans of John Slobod here at DG. His fit and finish is primo, and his voicing is clear, precise, and powerful. This is a great example of just how good you can get with classic Indian Rosewood and Spruce–already expansive and wide awake from 2020 and in gorgeous condition with herringbone trim on top à la 28-style, and a torch inlaid at the headstock with sparkling Abalone and flanked by nickel Waverly tuners. If you’re looking for a top tier 000 from one of the field’s finest, congrats! You’ve arrived.

Other keywords/misspellings – ir, 28-style, 211, ameritage, fingerstyle