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One of the fun and fascinating aspects of the acoustic guitar is the many fine guitars that are available today. My favorites are those made by small builders and individual luthiers. Some of the guitars I own or have owned in the past are shown below. Click the thumbnails for a closer view. Ryan Mission Grand Concert (Luthier: Kevin Ryan)I received my Ryan in Feb 2002. It has a wonderful rich, deep, warm tone, and a neck and fret board that is fast and easy to play. I used this guitar on 8 of the 16 tunes on my Laurel Mill CD
Detail closeups:
Ryan NightingaleI had a chance to play several of Kevin's latest model at Healdsburg in 2003, and was quite taken with the sound and feel of his new model, the Nightingale. I had the good fortune to be able to purchase one shortly after the show. This guitar has a Spruce top and African Blackwood back and sides, with a Madagascar Ebony bevel. The sound is unbelievably deep, the low notes make me feel like I'm playing a piano, especially in lower tunings.
Kathy Wingert Model E (Luthier: Kathy Wingert)I first saw one of Kathy's guitars at Steve Swan's (a model F), and was quite taken with it. Some time later I grabbed this Model E at the advice of Mike Joyce at Luthier's Collection. It has a huge, deep sound, with lots of sustain and ringing highs. I used this guitar on 7 of the 16 tunes on my Laurel Mill CD, and it proved to be very versatile.
Olson SJ (Luthier: Jim Olson)I stumbled on this Olson while I was waiting for my Ryan and couldn't resist. It's the classic Indian Rosewood/Cedar cutaway, with a LB6 pickup. The neck width is 1 13/16 at the nut, which gives it a roomier feel. The sound is warm and round, with fat trebles. I've more recently had the LB6 replaced with a bone saddle and a PUTW #54 pickup.
Goodall Concert Jumbo (Luthier: James Goodall)This guitar has the classic Goodall sound, lots of overtones. The Sitka spruce top is especially pretty.
Ralph Bown BaritoneThis baritone, built by UK builder Ralph Bown, was an ebay purchase. The guitar was originally sold by Martin Simpson, (to someone, not me). By the time I got it, it had suffered a broken headstock, so well repaired that I didn't notice it at first, as well as a few other wounds. In spite of the problems, it plays well, and sounds amazing. I usually tune it down to Bb or even A, so it's almost like playing a bass. It has a Sitka Spruce top, but the wood used for the back and sides is a bit of a mystery. I heard indirectly from Ralph that the wood is "Jaguar's Ear". There's a sound clip of this guitar on my music page.
Collings OM3I've always admired the sound Laurence Juber gets from his Collings OM, and I finally found one I couldn't resist at Gryphon. This one is Indian Rosewood and Sitka Spruce, with an amazing Brazilian Rosewood headstock. It's a punchy guitar; I think of it as being sort of a small hotrod, compared to the more luxurious Ryan and Wingert instruments. I used this guitar on the opening cut of my Laurel Mill CD.
BourgeoisThis is a Swan-Bourgeois, made by Dana Bourgeois to spec for Steve Swan. It's an OM, with some incredible bear claw, and rich, colorful Brazilian Rosewood. The guitar is very similar to a Schoenberg Soloist, which Dana used to build for Eric Schoenberg.
Hamblin (Luthier: Kent Hamblin)Kent Hamblin is an up and coming luthier who isn't too well known (yet). I walked into Gryphon Stringed Instruments one day, and the guys said, "we have something you've got to see". I sat and played it for well over an hour. I really tried to leave the store without it, since I didn't need another guitar, but got as far as my car, when I turned around and went back in and grabbed it. I just couldn't let this one get away. The guitar has an Englemann spruce top, and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. It has a big warm, resonant tone, and is fun to play.
True North (Luthier: Dennis Scannell)A guitar I commission from Dennis Scannell. Here're some photos, in-progress, and then completed courtesy of Dennis:
McCollum Baritone (Luthier: Lance McCollum)Very cool, deep chest-rattling sound, incredible playability, gorgeous wood
This site was last updated 02/27/07 |
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