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Fabrizio Alberico, luthier |
British Columbia |
$5,700 |
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Fabrizio has been handcrafting acoustic guitars for discriminating fingerstyle players since 1998. His guitars are noted for their simple beauty, emphasizing natural features of the woods used, and assembled with careful attention to the tiniest details. His unique tonal signature is distinguished by balance across the strings and responsiveness to even the lightest touch without breaking up under harder attack, giving the player a larger scope of musical possibilities to draw from. He will be exhibiting his OM and GA steel-string models, as well as introducing his newly-designed 00 model.
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P.O. Box 975, Gibsons BC V0N 1V3 Canada (604) 741-1854 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Classical and steel string
Years in business about: 11
Waiting list about: 8 months Base price (US dollars) for a steel string guitar is $5700, for a classical Guitar $6900. Many custom options available. He sells direct to customers and through select dealers. Alberico has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and in Montreal. He builds about 11 guitars per year.
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Andrews Guitars |
Washington |
$3,000 |
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Aaron Andrews has been designing, building, repairing, and restoring guitars and other stringed instruments since 1992. His repair history of thousands of instruments has given him broad insight into superior lutherie design. Aaron’s first priority is to produce instruments of superlative tone and playability, crafted with great skill and elegance. While he has great respect for tradition, Aaron is a natural innovator, striving always to advance state of the art lutherie.
The Healdsburg Guitar Festival 2009 marks the debut of a new line of Andrews archtop and flattop acoustic guitars with the working title, “May B.” Inspired by the early ’20’s Maybelle Style 74. |
5306 Roosevelt Way, NE, Seattle WA 98105 USA 206-295-4821 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and archtop guitars
Years in business about: 14
Waiting list about: 3 months Sells directly to customers (with a wait list of 3 months) and at select dealers. Aaron Andrews exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 16 guitars per year.
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Applegate Guitars |
Minnesota |
$5,000 |
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Applegate guitars are made to inspire the player. Traditional in design and construction, each instrument is crafted to bring out the optimum sound, beauty and character that the wood can offer. At the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Applegate introduced two new models: the SF, an articulate, small fingerstyle guitar with a sound that belies its smaller size; and a versatile new archtop. The show also featured Applegate’s 100th guitar, an SJ that is an “artistic showpiece” to celebrate this milestone. |
7350 Kurvers Point Rd., Chanhassen, MN 55317 USA 952-250-7063 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 11
Waiting list about: 12 months Brian sells both direct to customers and through select dealers. He builds about 16 instruments per year. Brian exhibited at the 2005, 2007, and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals. He builds about 18 guitars per year.
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Bashkin Guitars |
Colorado |
$5,500 |
The carved “X-Bracing” that you’ll see beneath the sound hole of a Bashkin guitar reflects Michael Bashkin’s holistic approach to design. It’s both an elegant visual signature and an innovative tool that provides more flexibility for balancing a guitar throughout both registers.
A former teacher of tropical forestry in Belize, Michael says, “Wood is one of nature’s most remarkable gifts. The ideal guitar allows the wood to fully express itself, both visually and tonally, with every element in perfect balance. It also faithfully expresses the personality of its owner.” Michael especially enjoys building with woods that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. |
1400 East Olive Ct., Suite G, Fort Collins CO 80524 USA 970-495-1011 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 15
Waiting list about: 24 months Sales are by custom order or through a small dealer network with a time from order to completion of about 2 years. Michael Bashkin has shown at recent guitar festivals in both Healdsburg and Montreal. He builds about 16 guitars per year.
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Beardsell Guitars |
Mannitoba |
$6,000 |
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For the past 15 years, Allan Beardsell has specialized in the creation of flat-topped steel and nylon stringed guitars. More recently, he has expanded this pursuit to include arched-top mandolins and electric guitars, electric banjos and harp guitars. His abiding interest in historical instruments and contemporary guitar technology has informed the visual design and structural components of his work. His varied client list includes Lou Reed and Henry Kaiser. He currently lives and works in Winnipeg, Canada. |
272 Aubrey St., Winnipeg MB R3G 2J2 Canada 204-774-9214 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, classical, archtop, electric
Years in business about: 13
Waiting list about: 18 months Sells custom instruments direct and at select dealers. He builds about 12 guitars per year. Beardsell Guitars has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Mark Berry Guitars |
California |
$3,200 |
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Mark Berry lives in Sonoma County, California. He has been a furniture maker for 30 years, and a luthier for the last eight. He was trained at Luthiers School International, and is a member of the Guild of American Luthiers and the Northern California Association of Luthiers. Mark has sold guitars to professional musicians in both the United States and Europe. While rooted in the Spanish tradition of guitar making, Mark is unable to control himself, and experiments with additional sound ports, use of carbon fiber and nontraditional bracing patterns in an obsessive attempt to make the best sounding and playing guitar possible. |
421 F Portal St., Cotati CA 94931 USA 707-664-0549 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: classical
Years in business about: 8
Waiting list about: 3 months Mark Berry handcrafts Flamenco ($3,200) and Classical ($3,600) guitars to meet the needs of each client. Substitution of woods, tuners, and finish are readily available. Scale length, string spacing, neck profile, and action are all tailored to the needs of each client. Builds classical, flamenco, and Pre-Tablao. Sells direct to the customer only. He exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and will be at the 2010 Miami show. He builds about 10 guitars per year.
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Blackbird Guitar |
California |
$1,599 |
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Blackbird Guitar founders Joe Luttwak and Troy Stevens, both musicians who moonlight as product designers, wanted a satisfying instrument to bring to the woods. It helped having all the latest modern tools. Being based in the San Francisco Bay Area meant access to many great luthiers who encouraged the project along. Their non-traditional backgrounds resulted in radically new directions and the result is the uni-body carbon fiber, hollow neck and head Blackbird Rider. At under three pounds and around 10 inches wide, it’s a richly resonant, compact and durable little instrument. Blackbird Guitars are designed and assembled in their shop in San Francisco overlooking the Bay. |
1736 Grove St., San Francisco CA 94117 USA 415-706-0632 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 3
Waiting list about: 1 months Order to shipping time is four-to-six weeks. Guaranteed craftsmanship for two years. You may audition your Blackbird guitar for three weeks and return it for a full refund, if you are not satisfied. Blackbird Guitars exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Mark Blanchard Guitars |
California |
$7,250 |
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Mark Blanchard’s lutherie career began in 1981 when he started repairing guitars for his musician friends. A continued fascination with string instruments led to the introduction of his own line of guitars in 1994, and the leap into full time guitar building in 1998. Over the years, Mark has studied guitar acoustics with Al Carruth and archtop guitar construction with Tom Ribbecke and Linda Manzer. When building a guitar today, Mark draws from a lifetime of handcraft experience, many years of lutherie study and practice, and a collection of the finest tonewoods from around the world. |
223 Massol Ave., Los Gatos CA 59917 USA 406-871-6314 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, archtop, and classical
Years in business about: 13
Waiting list about: 12 months The majority of the guitars Mark builds are to fill custom orders. He also has some instruments available on his website, through dealers, and at guitar shows. Base price for an archtop is $9,500, for a flattop $7,250. He exhibited at the recent Healdsburg Guitar Festival, and in Montreal. He builds about 10 guitars per year.
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Caldwell Guitars |
Texas |
$3,800 |
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Jimmy Caldwell began building guitars in 1979 and has continued to develop his craft ever since. Reproductions of guitars from the “Golden Age” of American lutherie (late 20’s-30’s) have been his focus for the past few years. Hide glue construction is standard on all of Jimmy’s guitars and a full range of vintage options are available including bar frets, banjo tuners, and "bird's beak" neck construction. |
2425 Founders Circle, Spicewood TX 78669 USA 512-470-1260 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 7
Waiting list about: 9 months Jimmy Caldwell believes that the construction of a handmade guitar is a true collaborative effort, and requires a great deal of communication between the player and the builder. He does sell through a few dealers though. Shown at the 2005,2007, and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals. He builds about 7 guitars per year.
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Alejandro Cervantes |
California |
$5,000 |
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Alejandro Cervantes has been playing classical guitar since the age of 8. His father began teaching him the art of guitar making at age 12. He practiced this art on and off until 10 years ago when he established Cervantes Guitars. Alejandro’s deep knowledge of the guitar as a player helps him build guitars with a more holistic approach. Alejandro resides in San Diego, California. |
P.O. Box 34197, San Diego CA 92163 USA 858-324-1806 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: classical and steel string
Years in business about: 15
Waiting list about: 8 months Sells custom handmade instruments through dealers and direct. Also sells instruments by his design made in Mexico through dealers. Alejandro has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and the Montreal Guitar Festival. He builds about 20 guitars per year.
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Chasson Guitars |
Washington |
$4,900 |
Kent Chasson blends time honored traditions with state of the art innovation. But it's not the traditional hide glue or the contemporary carbon fiber struts that make his guitars special; it's the passion, the training, and the 30 years of experience he brings to the craft (plus the hide glue and the carbon fiber ... and the wood of course, every piece hand-picked and well seasoned).
Chasson’s guitars are responsive to the player, and he is responsive to his clients. He works closely with players to build custom instruments perfectly suited to their style of music and touch. |
2606 38th St., Bellingham WA 98229 USA 360-734-4086 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 15
Waiting list about: 12 months The base price for most models is currently $3,900. Jumbo model is $4,100. Has exibited at the 2007 and the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals. He builds about 16 guitars per year.
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Clark Mandolins |
Idaho |
$3,000 |
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Austin Clark builds Mandolin family and archtop instruments in Boise, Idaho, where he lives with his wife and son. Initially influenced by early Gibson F5 and A5 mandolins, he has since moved on to develop his own style and approach to the modern mandolin. His traditional product line has grown to include a jazz inspired two point mandolin, an octave cutaway mandolin and a small-bodied archtop guitar. Austin is known for his attention to detail and clean work, striving for visual simplicity and elegance of line while creating a sound that appeals to a wide variety of musicians and styles. |
2621 Esquire, Boise ID 83704 USA 208-342-4396 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: mandolin and archtop
Years in business about: 5
Waiting list about: 18 months Sells direct to clients and has one dealer in the U.K. Base price for mandolin is $2,700, for an archtop, $4,000. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 18 guitars per year.
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John Decker guitarmasterworks |
Hawaii |
$3,500 |
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John Decker is the founder and owner of RainSong Graphite Guitars, which is generally considered to have developed the technology to make fine acoustic guitars using carbon-fiber/epoxy composite materials, similar to what is used in Boeing's new 787 Dreamliner. He designed, and holds the patent on, the braceless soundboard design used by Rainsong, and which he uses, under license, on his wood classical guitars. It produces a full and powerful sound, with exceptional clarity and balance. Currently, he makes only Classical and Flamenco guitars, using the finest obtainable tonewoods and the best tuning machines. |
307 South Alu Road Wailuku, Maui HI 96793 USA (808) 244-9486 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Classical
Years in business about: 12
Waiting list about: 6 months Since Decker is retired from Rainsong, He has the luxury of being able to make guitars by hand, one-at-a-time, and to produce only three or four instruments per year. They range from $3500 to $7500 in price, depending on the woods specified, tuning machines, etc.
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DMT Guitars |
California |
$4,700 |
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Dimitri M. Tenev was born in Bourgas, Bulgaria and studied fine arts in Sofia, Bulgaria and Madrid, Spain. He has worked as a cabinetmaker in the San Francisco Bay Area, but now makes his living repairing stringed instruments and building DMT Guitars in Albany, CA. He loves archtops. |
1080 Neilson St., Albany CA 94706 USA 510-558-0898 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: archtop
Years in business about: 9
Waiting list about: 3 months Sells direct and through select dealers. Dimitri has exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals. He builds about 4 guitars per year.
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Joe Dragony Guitars |
California |
$4,100 |
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Joe Dragony has been building archtop and electric guitars in his Sacramento area shop since 1995. This was initially a part time activity but became full-time in late 1999. In addition to archtops and electrics, Joe is now building Selmer-style guitars and small bodied steel string guitars. He also works one day a week in Tom Ribbecke's shop. Joe moved into guitar making after a career in the computer business thanks to Tom Ribbecke, Tom Cerletti and Michael Lewis who provided invaluable help and encouragement. |
P.O. Box 2177, Carmichael CA 95609-2177 USA 916-482-5060 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: archtop and electric
Years in business about: 10
Waiting list about: 9 months Sells direct with some occasional consignments. Joe has shown at every Healdsburg Guitar Festival since 1995. He builds about 12 guitars per year.
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Dry Creek Guitars |
California |
$2,500 |
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Dry Creek Guitars are crafted by John O’Hanesian in his one-man workshop. He built his first guitar almost thirty years ago at Charles Fox’s school in Vermont. He has apprenticed with archtop builder David Morse in Santa Cruz, repaired instruments at Jon Eaton’s busy shop (Woodsong’s Lutherie) in Boulder, Colorado and designed and built a line of small children’s/travel guitars with Breedlove guitars in Bend, Oregon before moving to Healdsburg ten years ago to help start C Fox Guitars. These days, shop time is split between doing repairs for local musicians and building custom acoustic and electric instruments.
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P.O. Box 833, Healdsburg CA 95448 USA 707-433-0412 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string repair
Years in business about: 5
Waiting list about: 3 months Specializes in travel guitars and offers repair services for local clients. Custom instruments sold direct. He builds about 10 guitars per year. Has exhibted at the 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Edwinson Lutherie |
Washington |
$3,000 |
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Stephen Sheriff built his first guitar in early 2000, lit afire with inspiration after attending the Healdsburg Guitar Festival for the first time in 1999. He now builds professionally, producing about sixteen guitars per year, in three categories. Mr. Sheriff has incorporated numerous innovations into his instruments, in the interior architecture, body shape and radius, bridge design, and decorative appointments. The Edwinson motto is, "Give pleasure to the Muse" and Edwinson brand name is an homage to the luthier's father, Mr. Edwin Sheriff, who is a master of fine woodworking. |
5306 Roosevelt Way N.E., Seattle WA 98105 USA 206-271-8743 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 2
Waiting list about: 5 months Sells direct and through select dealers. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 16 guitars per year.
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Michael L. Elwell |
Idaho |
$5,000 |
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Michael L. Elwell is a sensitive artificer dedicated to tone, playability and grace. Skills he developed through years as a woodworker and pattern-maker are applied to honoring the Spanish tradition of the guitar. |
2290 Desmet Rd., Desmet ID 83824 USA 208-274-2043 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: classical
Years in business about: 6
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells direct and at some smaller regional Northwest festivals (Guild of American Luthiers, NW Musical Instrument Exhibit in Portland). He builds about 6 classical and flamenco guitars per year. He has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 6 guitars per year.
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Fleishman Instruments |
California |
$6,500 |
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Harry Fleishman has been building custom guitars for over 35 years. In his Sebastopol, CA shop he builds 6-8 guitars each year, & directs Luthiers School International. Harry is a frequent contributor to Acoustic Guitar and American Lutherie magazines. He has lectured internationally at festivals and lutherie symposia on acoustic amplification, unconventional guitar design, and inlay. He designs for Fender FMIC and others, and continues his research in asymmetric design, multi-soundport and multi-tonewood instruments, electric upright basses and ultra-light electric guitars and basses. His instruments are original and delicious |
1533 Welter Ct., Sebastopol CA 95472 USA 707-823-3537 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, bass, and electric
Years in business about: 35
Waiting list about: 24 months Sells directly, but has one dealer in Japan. He builds about 8 instruments per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Violin Society of America, Newport, Sarzana International Guitar Meeting, Italy; Perth International Festival, Australia.
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Florian Vorreiter Lutherie |
Canada |
$6,000 |
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Since 2002, Florian Vorreiter has been making guitars and various other string instruments.
His instruments are best described as a challenge to both the traditionalist and the modernist, as they utilize modern scientific methods in combination with very traditional guitar making. His education has earned him a Bachelor of Arts in the Making of Plucked Instruments and a Master Craftsman Certificate from the German Chamber of Skilled Crafts.
His work with other luthiers has brought him an array of experience in repairing violins and double basses as well as making gambas, harp guitars, mandolins and electric guitars.
Recently Florian focuses on building new instruments, research, teaching and some repairs. He is currently working on researching historical Spanish guitars from the nineteenth century. This project has been funded by the Manitoba Arts Council.
Since his immigration to Canada in 2007, Florian has his workshop in Winnipeg, Manitoba.
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551 Carlaw Avenue Winnipeg Manitoba R3L 0V3 Canada 1 204 783 9872 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: classical steel string
Years in business about: 7
Waiting list about: 6 months Florian sells direct to the customer mainly, with limited dealers available soon. He builds about 7 instruments per year, both nylon and steel string. Has exhibited at Montreal 2009, as well as the Musikmesse Frankfurt (Germany) and several other guitar festivals in Germany.
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Ken Franklin Guitars |
California |
$2,995 |
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Ken Franklin makes a variety of fine acoustic guitars in his Northern California workshop. Each instrument is built with the highest regard for sound, playability and visual beauty. Ken Franklin’s take on the small jumbo body is a very versatile guitar with great warmth and openness. A wide range of tonewoods are used and Ken builds each guitar to fit the individual player's needs. A Ken Franklin guitar will feel at home for what you like to play, yet take you somewhere you have never been. |
2790 Oak Court Rd., Ukiah CA 95482 USA 707-468-9609 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 6
Waiting list about: 8 months He builds about 6 instruments per year. Ken has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at Montreal.
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Freeborn Guitars |
Oregon |
$4,200 |
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You name it -h’es probably taken a crack at it: boats, houses, cabinets, furniture, light fixtures, metal, wood, plastic and glass. But the one consistent passion for Freeborn has been guitars. Back in the 8th grade he would ride his bicycle to work in a music store in order to hang out with the guitar repairmen, looking over their shoulders and collecting their discards. The wide ranging methods he’s learned in 30+ years of building has given him the freedom to let imagination range unfettered by conventional wisdom or methods. His guitars are an example of this. Form, function and artistry are what he strives for. |
3935 SE Ash St., Portland OR 97214 USA 503-367-8957 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 7
Waiting list about: 9 months Keeps a small inventory in stock but builds mainly custom instruments. He builds about 20 instruments per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and Newport / Miami.
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Galloup Guitars |
Michigan |
$6,500 |
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For over 20 years, Bryan Galloup has been repairing and restoring many of the world’s finest vintage guitars for museums and private collections. This work has been an in-depth study of how the best guitars are constructed. Each of Bryan’s guitar models embodies this knowledge and respect for fine instruments, yet has its own distinct style. |
10840 Northland Dr., Big Rapids MI 49307 USA 800-278-0089 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 22
Waiting list about: 12 months Bryan builds about 18 guitars per year selling direct and through select dealers. He has exhibited in Healdsburg, Montreal and Newport/Miami. He builds about 18 guitars per year
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Geiger Guitars |
California |
$4,000 |
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Mark Geiger is a self taught luthier, who has been building guitars since 1975. Mark says he cannot think of a better job than building guitars. It has to be engineered to withstand hundreds of pounds of pressure from the constant tension of strings and the rigors of playing. It has to be beautiful, not just in decoration, but in proportion and execution. Most important of all, it has to sound rich, vibrant, and possess the soul and personality of both its maker and its new owner. |
19138 E. Walnut Dr. N., Suite 201, Rowland Heights CA 91748 USA 626-917-8088 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and electric
Years in business about: 8
Waiting list about: 8 months Mark believes that no factory can accomplish what happens between the builder and the player. It is that marriage that creates something unique, and personal. He builds about 12 instruments per year. He has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Greenfield Guitars |
Montreal |
$14,500 |
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With a history as a working guitarist, a vintage and antique instrument restorer and a former Michelin trained chef and consultant to the international hospitality industry, Montréal native Michael Greenfield has handcrafted 15 or so guitars each year since the early 90s. His passion is handcrafting exceptional acoustic guitars. Greenfield is constantly experimenting with the geometry and acoustic physics of the guitar; looking for new ways to insure road-worthy stability, effortless playability and to squeeze every last molecule of tone possible out of each instrument |
6833 Ave. de L'Epee #403 Montreal Quebec H3N 2C7 Canada |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string archtop classical
Years in business about: 17
Waiting list about: 30 months Greenfield sells direct and through dealers He has exhibited in both the Healdsburg and Montreal shows. He builds about 14 guitars per year.
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Hamblin Guitars |
Colorado |
$6,200 |
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Kent Hamblin has been making steel string flat top guitars since 1991. He has been an educator in the field of guitar making and guitar repair. He has worked for both large manufacturers as well as independent luthiers. His work reflects a dedication to craftsmanship, design, playability and tonality. Kent produces 12-15 guitars a year independently in a small shop in the mountains of south western Colorado. |
4164 Austin Bluffs Pkwy. #148, Colorado Springs CO 80918 USA 970-708-1741 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 18
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells directly to customers and through 3 dealers and stores. He builds about 15 instruments per year. Kent has shown at recent guitar festivals in Healdsburg and Montreal.
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Hemken Guitars |
California |
$10,000 |
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Michael Hemken has been making acoustic instruments since 1976. He has specialized in archtop guitars for the past twenty years. Michael’s one-man shop is located in St. Helena, California. He also builds Viola and Violins. |
1121 Zygmunt Dr., Saint Helena CA 94574-1554 USA 707-963-8256 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: archtops
Years in business about: 35
Waiting list about: 16 months Michael Hemken builds about 7 archtop guitars per year and sells direct and through dealers. Shown at the recent guitar festivals in Healdsburg and Montreal.
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Hill Guitar Company, Inc. |
California |
$6,500 |
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Kenny Hill, a luthier building world-class concert classical guitars since 1973, presently works with a small crew of artisans in his shop in Ben Lomond, California. His guitars are played world-wide by professionals, aspiring professionals and enthusiasts alike. He is a classical guitarist, recording artist, and regularly writes for several national magazines. |
8011 Hwy. 9, Ben Lomond CA 95018 USA 831-336-9317 or 800-262-8858 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: classical
Years in business about: 36
Waiting list about: 4 months All Hill label guitars are handmade using timeless Spanish traditions and the finest materials available. 150 instruments are built per year in the Hill shop by Kenny and his staff. He exhibits at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at Montreal.
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Hollingworth Guitars |
Australia |
$3,500 |
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Graham Hollingworth has been building and repairing guitars professionally since 1995. Never one to copy other guitars, Graham’s passion for guitar building has led him to develop his own style. Graham believes a guitar should delight a player’s 3 main senses, it should look great, feel great to play, and most importantly should sound balanced and rich. Whenever possible Graham uses Australian native timbers, and inlays Australian opal producing a beautiful look, unique sound and unbelievable feel. Graham builds steel string acoustics, acoustic bass, electrics, archtops, and lap steel guitars. |
P.O. Box 254, Ulmarra, NSW Australia +61 417469062 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, archtop and electric
Years in business about: 15
Waiting list about: 8 months Sells directly to customers. The base price for a steel string is $3,500, acoustic bass is $4000, for an Acoustic Lap Steel it is $2500, an electric is $4,00, and an archtop is $7000. He builds about 10 to 12 instruments per year.
He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Hopkins Guitars |
British Columbia |
$9,500 |
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Peter Hopkins lutherie style is firmly grounded in tradition, yet has an eye to the future, as evident in his Monarch Regal and Contessa interpretations of the classic archtop. With the introduction of his brand-new Nova series, featuring the Tessa Nova among others, he has begun exploring new directions for the contemporary archtop. |
97 Grandview St., Penticton BC V2A 4E5 Canada 250-276-4780 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: archtop
Years in business about: 8
Waiting list about: 12 months Sells direct and through select dealers. He builds about 10 instruments per year. Peter has shown at the recent guitar festivals in Healdsburg and Montreal.
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John How Guitars |
California |
$3,400 |
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John How first started building stringed instruments in 1984 with a violin. He built his first guitar in 1986 and has never looked back. Residing in Cool, California, he now builds his ladder and x-braced finger style guitars in three sizes and from many different exotic woods. The vintage styling of John’s guitars is inspired by the work of Oscar Schmidt and the Stella models of the late 1800’s thru about 1930. Vintage style guitars with modern comfort and playability is what John is all about these days. |
2395 Indian Rock Rd., Cool CA 95614 USA 530-886-8916 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 5
Waiting list about: 8 months Most instruments are sold direct. He builds about 12 instruments per year. He has exhibited at the 2005, 2007, and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals, and the 2008 Miami show. He builds about 12 guitars per year.
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James Watts Fine Instruments |
New Mexico |
$4,500 |
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Jim Watts has been pursuing the art of guitar building for the past 14 years. He is an engineer with a background in advanced materials. Jim incorporates that knowledge into the construction and design of his instruments. This includes the use of carbon fiber and honeycomb cored double tops. He has shared his knowledge on composite materials as a presenter for the Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans at Symposium 2000. Jim’s models include a variety of steel stringed guitars including double tops and a classical guitar model as well. |
418 Grand Canyon, Los Alamos NM 87544 USA 505-672-9419 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 15
Waiting list about: 12 months Watts builds about 5 custom instruments per year. He sells both direct and through a dealer. Jim has exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals. He builds about 5 guitars per year.
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Jenkins and Son - Lame Horse Instruments |
Texas |
$5,200 |
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Jeremy and Chris Jenkins operate Jenkins & Son - Lame Horse Instruments together from their own Texas shops 200 miles apart, one in Austin, the other in Mansfield. The father/son duo produces unique guitars, Gitjos (6-string guitar banjos) , and 5-string banjos. Lame Horse Instruments builds about 45 total instruments per year with about 12 being steel strings. The wait list for a steel string is about 8 months, for banjos, gitjos, and ukuleles, a bit shorter. |
829 Kingston Dr., Mansfield TX 76063 USA 817-366-5568 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, banjos, ukulele, and repair
Years in business about: 13
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells custom orders direct to clients and through dealers. Base price for a steel string is $5,200, a banjo or ukulele is $1,950, and a Gitjo is $2,450. They build about 25 instruments per year. In 2009 they exhibited at the Healdsburg and Montreal festivals.
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Kinnaird Guitars |
Texas |
$3,600 |
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With a background in pipe organ performance and home construction, it seemed to Stephen that guitar building was the next logical step. Armed with a music degree and a love of exotic woods, his quest to build fine guitars began. After 30 years in lutherie he still thinks this is the greatest craft in the world. His shop is located in the beautiful piney woods of East Texas, where Ryan Middlebrook helps him produce steel string guitars in four models. They enjoy the challenge of building unique instruments – no two alike – while giving each customer a satisfying musical tool.
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485 County Rd. 630, Nacogdoches TX 75964 USA 936-560-5342 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 30
Waiting list about: 10 months Selling through dealers and directly to clients, Stephen builds about 12 guitars a year. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Howard Klepper Guitars |
California |
$6,000 |
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Howard began repairing and customizing guitars in 1968. He built his first acoustic guitar in 1977. He mainly builds steel-string flattop guitars, but also makes archtops, classicals, and solid-body electrics. All his designs are original, and all his instruments are one-of-a-kind. While some have called Howard's guitars works of art that should be displayed in museums, he insists that they are always built to make music; tone, playability, and structural integrity are the foremost considerations. |
CA USA 510-684-5187 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, archtops, classical and electric
Years in business about: 8
Waiting list about: 9 months Howard sells direct and through select dealers. He builds about 12 instruments per year. He has exhibited at the 2005, 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals and at Miami. He builds about 12 guitars per year.
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Knutson Luthiery |
California |
$6,500 |
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This year John Knutson celebrates his 30th Anniversary as a full-time luthier. Over his career he has produced many hundreds of acoustic and electric guitars, mandolins, and basses. Knutson is, and remains committed to being, a one-man operation producing his limited-edition handmade archtop guitars, Messenger upright electric basses, and Songbird flattop guitars. John’s instruments can be heard on recordings by artists as diverse a as Mick Jagger, Bob Weir, David Lindley/ Ry Cooder, Asleep At The Wheel, Ozzy Ozbourne, Merle Haggard, Willie Nelson, Huey Lewis, Mike Marshall, Metallica, and the Cult. |
6812 Covey Rd., Forestville CA 95436 USA 707-887-2709 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String, Archtop, Electric, Mandolin and Bass
Years in business about: 30
Waiting list about: 6 months John sells direct only. He builds about 12 instruments per year. Knutson exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Randall Kramer Guitars |
California |
$4,800 |
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Each instrument is fantasized in detail before construction begins. Randall “Sparky” Kramer settled in the Lake Tahoe region of CA in the early 80’s. After designing and building his home and shop he resumed his career as a custom furnituremaker. With his expertise as a woodworker he began the transition to building guitars in early 2000. Precise craftsmanship and knowledge of tonewoods combine to make each instrument aesthetically beautiful with a rich, complex range of tonal qualities. Randall is guided by the principle that an acoustic guitar should be beautiful, inspirational, a joy to play, a pleasure to hear, and created to become a family heirloom. |
P.O. Box 9855, 11860 Old Mill Rd., Truckee CA 96162 USA 530-587-1757 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 9
Waiting list about: 6 months He builds about 6 instruments per year. He has exhibited at the 2005, 2007, and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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H. G. Leach Guitars |
California |
$8,000 |
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Harvey Leach has been building handmade musical instruments since 1972. Harvey is probably best known for his photo-realistic inlay work which has been featured not only on his own guitars, but also for clients such as C.F. Martin, Paul Reed Smith and Warrior Guitars. Harvey is also the founder of Voyage-air Guitars, a separate company that has created a unique line of full-size, full-featured guitars that fold in half and fit into a backpack-style carrying case. Clients of Voyage-air Guitars include; Brad Paisley, Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, Thom Bresh, Zac Brown and Todd Hallawell. |
P.O. Box 1315, Cedar Ridge CA 95924 USA 530-477-2938 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 37
Waiting list about: 8 months Harvey builds about 12 custom instruments per year. Custom Shop guitars can be ordered with simple appointments or as “canvases” for cutting edge inlay work. He has exhibited at each of the Healdsburg Guitar Festivals since its inception, and the Newport/Miami show twice. He builds about 12 guitars per year.
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Michael Lewis Instruments |
California |
$7,200 |
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Michael made his first instrument in the early 60s, but viewed lutherie as a hobby until 1981, when he began doing repairs on a professional basis. The mandolins he had made drew the attention of D’Angelico Guitars in 1992, and the following year he was invited to make authorized replicas of the legendary archtop guitars. He enjoys making the traditional designs of D’Angelico guitars and Gibson style mandolins as well as developing modern designs. His climate controlled studio workshop is nestled in the foothills of the majestic Sierra Nevada Mountains near the town of Grass Valley, where he and his wife have lived since 1980. |
20807 E. Spring Ranches Rd., Grass Valley CA 95949 USA 530-272-4124 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: mandolin and archtop repair
Years in business about: 28
Waiting list about: 24 months Michael builds an average of 10 instruments per year in addition to his busy repair schedule. He has exhibited at recent guitar festivals in Montreal, and every Healdsburg Guitar Festival since its inception. He builds about 10 guitars per year.
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Todd Lunneborg Guitars |
Minnesota |
$3,700 |
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Todd Lunneborg is the product of his influences. His work blends the best aspects of traditional custom guitar building with a progressive and multi-influenced design approach. His acoustics reflect classic Minnesota guitar building traditions while clearly establishing his own perspective. His electrics are full of progressively designed shapes and building techniques with hand carved tops, neck through lines, and well balanced bodies. His education as a luthier started at the age of 13 as a repair apprentice in Alexandria, MN and he currently is a regular contributor to the Fretboard Journal. |
4420 158th Ave. NW, Andover MN 55304 USA 612-991-9360 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and electric
Years in business about: 6
Waiting list about: 6 months He builds about 15 instruments per year. He will be at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and Newport Miami.
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Manzer Guitars |
Ontario |
$18,000 |
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Linda Manzer has been designing and building world-class flattop and archtop acoustic guitars since 1974. She studied with master luthiers Jean Claude Larrivée and the late James D’Aquisto. Her creative journey has given birth to many cutting edge innovations including in 1984, the “Wedge”TM, an ergonomic tapered guitar body. Manzer's latest project is a limited edition special model to celebrate her 25 years collaboration with Pat Metheny. Only 30 guitars will be made. Her guitars have been displayed in the Smithsonian, Washington D.C.; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Museum of Civilization, Canada. |
65 Metcalfe St., Toronto Ontario M4X 1R9 Canada 416 927-1539 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String, Classical and Archtop
Years in business about: 31
Waiting list about: 24 months Manzer builds 15 to 20 instruments per year. 30 models to choose from in various sizes and configurations: flattops for folk and pop, archtops for jazz and blues, and nylon string guitars for classical music. Her wait list is closed right now, but the lead time is generally one year. She has exhibited numerous times at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Montreal and Miami / Newport. She builds about 20 guitars per year.
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Mauel Guitars |
California |
$4,000 |
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Hank Mauel completed his first guitar in 1972 using Irving Sloane’s book as an aid to his existing woodworking knowledge. A job transfer to Sacramento in 1976, building a new home and raising a family, relegated guitar building to a long hibernation. When the last child graduated from college in 1995, the well aged woods were dusted off, new molds and jigs built and the smell of wood chips and lacquer again filled his Sierra foothills shop in Auburn, California. He currently builds a variety of instruments from parlor to dreadnought models, with wide choices of woods and options. |
P.O. Box 3014, Auburn CA 95604 USA 530-885-1265 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 14
Waiting list about: 8 months Sells direct only. Hank has exhibited at every Healdsburg Guitar Festival since 1999. He makes about 10 instruments a year, All orders are made direct with the luthier.
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McElroy Guitars |
Washington |
$5,500 |
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Growing up in a family of artists, musicians, and woodworkers, Brent McElroy decided to pursue a career in carpentry and fine woodworking. After 25 years of perfecting these crafts, Brent felt it was time to incorporate his true passion for art and music. In 1995 Brent embarked on a career in lutherie and never looked back. Even though today Brent is crafting some of the finest guitars available, he is still on a never ending pursuit to find the perfect balance of tone, playability, and beauty. |
6750 Murray Ave. SW, Seattle WA 98136 USA 206-728-9055 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 14
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells both direct and through select dealers. He builds about 15 instruments per year. Brent has exhibited at every Healdsburg Guitar Festival since 2001, and has shown at Newport/Miami and Montreal.
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McKnight Guitars |
Ohio |
$5,500 |
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Mcknight Guitars, is a unique company in that it consists of a husband and wife team. Mary handles customer service and helps to guide their customers through the exterior design phase. Tim does the building, finish and set up work and answers questions about tonewood choices, voicing and ergonomic features that help clients feel more comfortable playing their new guitar. Another of Mary’s roles includes keeping the clients connected throughout the building process with LOTS of digital pictures. This is a feature customers really appreciate. They often say that “We don't sell just guitars, we adopt members of our ever growing family”. |
P.O. Box 6, 187 W. South St., Morral OH 43337-0006 USA 740-465-2371 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 17
Waiting list about: 30 months Prefers to deal direct with the customer, though occasionally works with dealers. He builds about 20 instruments per year. McKnight Guitars has exhibited at Healdsburg, Miami and Montreal exhibitions.
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John F. Mello, Luthier |
California |
$8,900 |
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After enthusiastically building two guitars as independent study projects at Oberlin College, John figured that if it was that much fun to do wrong, he couldn’t wait to learn to do it right. He apprenticed under Richard Schneider and shared a shop with Jeffrey Elliott, two makers who taught him the standards and techniques that are the basis of his work today. Examples of his work have contributed to numerous recordings, have been exhibited at the Renwick Gallery of the Smithsonian Institution, and are played by artists throughout the United States and Europe. |
437 Colusa Ave., Kensington CA 94707 USA 510-528-1080 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, classical and repair
Years in business about: 35
Waiting list about: 6 months John builds instruments to client specifications and also sells from his extensive inventory. The base price for a steel string is $8,900. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival as well as recent festivals in Montreal and Newport / Miami. He builds about 6 instruments per year.
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Mervyn Davis Guitars |
NW South Africa |
$2,750 |
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Mervyn Davis has been a full time luthier since 1978. He operates from South Africa and his work has been characterized by clearly African influences and the use of woods indigenous to Africa. He is the inventor of the SmoothTalker, a totally unique guitar that in recent years has steadily been gaining in popularity, internationally. . |
Plot 120 Kalkheuwel, Broederstroom NW 0240 South Africa +27 722315890 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String,Classical, Archtop, Bass and Baritone
Years in business about: 31
Waiting list about: 12 months Prices range from $2750.00 for a Smoothtalker to $12000.00 for a custom instrument. He sells direct to the customer and through select dealers. He exhibited at the 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 20 guitars per year.
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Micheletti Guitars |
California |
$3,700 |
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A luthier for over 25 years, Rick Micheletti established his shop in Northern California's Mendocino County about 15 years ago. There he enjoys the craft of “tailoring the art to the artist”. With a background in engineering and a passion for woodworking, Rick has combined his talents to create guitars that inspire musicians to new levels of creativity and performance. His real joy in building is, not just shaping the wood itself with all its art within, but working with his clients on a one on one basis. His goal is to create a piece of “playable” art that the client can enjoy for a lifetime. |
19590 Shafer Ranch Rd., Willits CA 95490 USA 707-459-0820 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 27
Waiting list about: 6 months Rick Micheletti creates about 12 guitars a year and sells direct to customers. He currently has no pre-built instruments in stock. He builds about 12 guitars per year. He has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Michihiro Matsuda |
California |
$10,000 |
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Michihiro Matsuda was born in Japan. After finishing an apprenticeship with master luthier Ervin Somogyi, he started his own shop in Oakland, CA. Pairing traditional woodworking skills with an innovative sense of design and construction, he builds around ten guitars each year, striving to make instruments that integrate fine materials with organic shapes and graceful lines. Each of his guitars is unique, personal, and individual. He has also studied guitar repair with renowned instrument repairman Frank Ford of Gryphon Stringed Instruments, where he is currently a member of the repair staff. |
1218 Miller Ave. #305, Oakland CA 94601 USA 510-536-5587 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 7
Waiting list about: 18 months Builds about 10 to 12 instruments a year and sells direct to customers and through select dealers. He has exibited at Healdsburg and at Miami / Newport and Montreal. He builds about 11 guitars per year.
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Mirabella Guitars & Restorations Inc. |
New York |
$12,500 |
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Recognized as one of the best and most sought after restorers of fine vintage archtops, Cristian Mirabella’s own instruments now receive similar acknowledgments. His attention to detail and design is only matched by the instruments refined harmonics, balanced tone and flawless playability. Combining the best elements of old world craftsmanship with contemporary advances in luthiery, Cristian is able to produce instruments of great tonal voice and marry them to visual art. For nearly 30 years Cristian has been dedicated to his work and his instruments, with each completed instrument it’s a dedication he is proud to have and continues to make. |
88B Montauk Hwy. Copiague NY 11726 USA 631-842-3819 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Archtop and repair
Years in business about: 13
Waiting list about: 24 months Sells direct to customers only. Specializes in restorations as well. He builds about 13 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Montreal and Newport / Miami.
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Monicas Guitars |
California |
$4,500 |
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Mónica Esparza began building her first flamenco guitar in 2000 and went to the source for training, working in Spain with Maestro Jose Romanillos in his intensive master classes. Mónica creates the warmth and beauty only seen in old world guitars by crafting an eloquently designed body of top quality woods with intricate decorative accents. A French polish imparts a final delicate finish and enhances tonal response. She currently teaches traditional classical guitar construction in Southern California. |
1021 Calle Sombra, Suite B, San Clemente CA 92673 USA 949-842-1439 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Classical and Flamenco
Years in business about: 9
Waiting list about: 4 months Sells direct to customers and through select dealers. She builds about 5 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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RS Muth Guitars |
New York |
$3,500 |
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A trained scientist with an explorer’s heart, Randy enjoys experimenting and developing new ideas toward achieving that ever-elusive “perfect” sound. Randy not only incorporates state of the art features and materials in his work, but he also pays respect to the Spanish masters by incorporating classic time tested design features, such as the Spanish foot and V-jointed headstock. Every guitar Randy builds is customized to meet the player’s needs for tone, playability and aesthetics. RS Muth Guitars currently offers three models, the S14 (concert) , the S15 (orchestra) , and S16 (small jumbo) . |
6584 Craine Lake Rd., Hamilton NY 13346 USA 315-630-4010 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 5
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells direct and through select dealers. He builds about 14 guitars per year. He has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Montreal and Newport / Miami.
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Myka Guitars |
Washington |
$3,500 |
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David Myka is a true custom builder. Over the last 25 years he has developed his skills to be able to produce innovative and interesting new designs that are quite versatile and modern, yet still very familiar. Always willing to explore a new idea, David is more than willing to incorporate your custom details into a truly unique musical instrument. |
6523 California Ave. S.W. #374, Seattle WA 98136 USA 716-913-4157 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Electric Archtops and Steel Strings
Years in business about: 6
Waiting list about: 12 months Sells mostly direct to the customer and with some dealers. Builds about 18 instruments per year, specializing in electrics but also building flat tops, arch tops, and hybrid archtop electrics. Exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and will be at the 2010 Montreal show. He builds about 18 guitars per year.
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D. L. Noble Guitars |
Washington |
$4,500 |
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Duane began building in 1998. He offers 7 different models ranging from a small parlor guitar to multi-stringed harp guitars. Harp guitars, in particular, are what got him interested in lutherie and are a major portion of his business today. |
1524 Rimrock, Richland WA 99352 USA 509-948-0120 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and harp guitars
Years in business about: 11
Waiting list about: 9 months Noble Guitars sells directly to customers. The base price for a steel string is $4,500, and a harp guitar starts at $7,000. He builds about 10 guitars per year. He has exhibited at the 2005, 2007 and 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festivals. He will be at the 2010 Miami Festival.
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John Osthoff Guitars |
Massachusetts |
$4,450 |
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From his shop located in the beautiful Berkshire Hills of Massachusetts, John focuses his attention primarily on building steel string acoustic guitars. John’s approach to guitarmaking, although based in traditional practices, is always evolving. Never satisfied to say, “That’s good enough,” John continues to develop his process, yielding subtle refinements in his ongoing quest to make the “perfect” guitar. |
52 Pill Dr., Becket MA 01223 USA 413-623-6106 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 8
Waiting list about: 18 months Sells direct to the customer and though select dealers. He builds about 12 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at Montreal and Miami / Newport.
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Pederson Custom Guitars |
Iowa |
$6,000 |
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Kevin started making guitars in 1996 and since then has created well over 200 instruments of all sizes, shapes and styles. As a student of traditional acoustic guitar construction, and a great intuition for innovation, he is always striving for the pursuit of the perfect tone. With a never-ending appetite to learn and grow in the luthiery field, Kevin is not afraid to apply this knowledge to push the envelope of modern construction in a custom design. |
535 N. 13 St., Forest City IA 50436 USA 641-590-2593 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String and electric
Years in business about: 13
Waiting list about: 18 months Sells acoustics direct to the customer. He builds about 25 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and Newport / Miami.
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Perlman Guitars |
California |
$8,500 |
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Alan has been building fine classical and steel string guitars for over 35 years. He also specializes in major restoration of vintage guitars. His repair work includes neck resets, carefully fabricated new components (necks, tops, etc.) if the old are beyond repair, rebuilding seriously damaged instruments and finish touchup, always with great respect for the guitar’s antiquity and value and, in the cases where there is no option besides a new part, blending in the finish to match the original. He is also known for building harp guitars and guitars with custom string configurations. |
1319 48th Ave., San Francisco CA 94122 USA 415-242-4457 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: classical and steel string repair
Years in business about: 35
Waiting list about: 24 months Sells direct to customers only. Has a busy repair schedule builds about 6 guitars per year. Has exhibited numerous times at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Phoenix Guitar Co. LLC |
Arizona |
$3,000 |
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George Leach began building guitars in 1988 under the name of GSL guitars, and formed the Phoenix Guitar Company in 1994. In addition to building guitars and doing repairs, George started teaching guitarmaking in 2001, where Diana Huber was one of George's first students. In 2006, Diana joined the Phoenix Guitar Company as a partner, and they opened a new shop in Scottsdale, AZ. Since then, they have been building a variety of innovative custom instruments like the Nylon String OM, and several small body archtops. They continue to teach guitarmaking in group and one on one classes. |
7302 E. Helm Dr., Suite 2005, Scottsdale AZ 85260 USA 480-664-6315 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, classical, and archtop
Years in business about: 15
Waiting list about: 6 months Phoenix Guitar company sells mostly directly to clients and select dealers. The base price for a steel string is $3000, for a nylon OM $3000, for a classical $3450, for a pressed archtop $3,000, and for a carved archtop $5000. They build about 15 guitars per year. Has exhibited at Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Poling Guitars |
Ohio |
$4,650 |
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Brock Poling builds custom acoustic flattops from his home studio in Columbus, Ohio. Brock's Guitars are responsive, lightly constructed instruments with clean contemporary aesthetics and a focus on the modern fingerstyle player. |
7679 Crossbill Ct., Dublin OH 43017 USA 614-746-5695 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 10
Waiting list about: 18 months sells directly to customers and through select dealers. He builds about 12 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at Montreal and Miami / Neport.
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Queener Guitars |
Germany |
$5,300 |
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At the age of 14, Patrick Queener got his first guitar in Philadelphia. It was made in Asia–a plywood guitar. At that time he thought: “What a cool guitar!” Well, he learned better.
It was while living in California that he realized he could merge his love for guitars and wood, and he decided to commit his life to building guitars.
So, in 1997, he found an apprenticeship as a luthier in Munich–designing his own guitar in 1999, the QJ. Stevens Custom Guitars later hired him as a luthier.
Patrick’s guitars have had great test reviews in the leading German acoustic magazine, and is considered one of the most innovative guitarmakers in Germany today. |
Fallstr.20, Munich Bavaria 81369 Germany +49 89 7693926 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string and classical
Years in business about: 10
Waiting list about: 8 months Patrick sells directly to clients. Converted from Euros in September, 2009, his base price for a steel string is $5,300 and a classical is $5,700. He builds 10 to 12 instruments per year. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at the Newport / Miami show.
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Red Mountain Guitars - Norm Urmy |
Tennessee |
$3,500 |
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Norm Urmy founded Red Mountain Guitars to build one-of-a-kind, custom guitars to order. He works with his customers to design and build a guitar that is responsive to their playing style, is pleasing aesthetically and fits their budget. His aim is to deliver an instrument that his customers will love to play, will be wonderfully musical and that will be beautiful to behold. He likes using the best woods available and works hard to exceed his customer’s expectations. |
2412 McIntyre Court Franklin TN 37069 USA 615 -975-7720 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 3
Waiting list about: 4 months Norm builds up to 12 instruments a year. He sells direct to customers only.
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Tim Reede Custom Guitars |
Minnesota |
$2,300 |
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Tim Reede is a certified sound engineer and a graduate of the Red Wing MN guitar construction program. He first began modifying guitars in 1988, trying new ways to make guitars play and sound different. He has worked as a professional woodworker for over fourteen years. His mission is to create instruments that are beautiful, have superior sound quality and are a joy to play. This is accomplished by using time honored designs and materials and methods that have proven to be worthy. By combining his love of guitars and his passion for woodworking Tim can create a remarkable instrument. |
3302 24th Ave. S., Minneapolis MN 55406 USA 612-721-8032 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Archtop steel string electric
Years in business about: 5
Waiting list about: 8 months Tim sells direct to the customer and through select dealers. He builds around 5 instruments a year. Has exhibited the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and Newport / Miami..
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Rigaud Guitars |
North Carolina |
$5,000 |
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Rigaud started his lutherie life in 1978 at the Roberto-Venn School of lutherie as a student and instructor. Later he set up shop in Greensboro N.C. and started building a few guitars and restoring many. Servicing Gibson guitars at Level A for over 25 years, he has learned a lot about factory made guitars and their limits.
In 2004 Bob created his new models using the best aspects of the guitars he had rebuilt and repaired, plus a lot of faith and an open mind. Bob thinks we are presently in the Golden Era of Guitars.
Some of Bob’s clients include Nokie Edwards, Todd & Dave Cecil and John Hiatt.
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2819 Kivett Dr., Greensboro NC 27407 USA 336-852-2816 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 31
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells direct. He builds about 12 guitars per year. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at the Newport/Miami show.
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Rivera Guitars |
California |
$7,500 |
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Tye Rivera was born in San Francisco and raised in Windsor, Ca. Fresh out of high school he started his apprenticeship with Master Luthier, Tom Ribbecke.
After completing his apprenticeship, Tom asked him to fill the position of Forman at his private practice in Healdsburg Ca. He is currently still assisting Tom, as well as building his own practice.
Bringing traditional guitar making together with modern design, each year he is able to produce six to eight guitars out of his shop in Santa Rosa, Ca.
Tye says, "My instruments are an expression of my artistic vision both sonically and aesthetically, while meeting the players technical needs. Using only the finest materials, each guitar I make is an individual with its own voice. A piece of fine art as well as an exceptional musical tool." |
9675 Orion Dr., Windsor CA 95492 USA 707-236-2759 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Archtop
Years in business about: 4
Waiting list about: 8 months Selling direct to customers only. Exhibted at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and will be at the 2010 Montreal show. He builds about 6 guitars per year.
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Robinsong Guitars |
California |
$4,000 |
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Jim Robinson has been committed to acoustic guitar excellence since he began repairing and modifying guitars in high school. He built his first prototype guitar in 1975. Jim’s use of hand tools combined with his expertise as a master machinist, CAD designer and CNC programmer, enable him to build instruments of high precision. Jim carefully hand selects and thins all woods, assuring each Robinsong Guitar has the tone and beauty to meet the desires of the most discriminating players. Jim currently builds eight different models in every tonewood combination to satisfy virtually every playing style. |
263 Irish Way, Pismo Beach CA 93449 USA 805-773-6698 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 9
Waiting list about: 3 months Usually sells direct to the customer with occasional consignments. Builds about 4 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival several times.
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Running Dog Guitars/Sound Guitar Workshop |
Washington |
$4,250 |
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Rick Davis has been crafting Running Dog guitars since 1992, first in a home workshop in Vermont, now in a Seattle working/teaching space shared with luthier Cat Fox. He has completed over 180 guitars, taught guitar making, and served as Director of the Assoc. of Stringed Instrument Artisans and editor of “Guitarmaker” magazine. Running Dogs build on the tradition of American guitars, incorporating modern materials and concepts while building on the great designs of the past. All reflect Rick’s profound respect for the lutherie tradition and his studied, empirical approach to guitar building. |
118 North 35th St., Suite 105, Seattle WA 98103 USA 206-547-1407 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string
Years in business about: 17
Waiting list about: 12 months Direct sales to customers only. Rick builds about 15 instruments per year. Has shown at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival and in Montreal.
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Sakashta Guitars |
California |
$12,000 |
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Taku Sakashta entered the guitar industry in 1985 working in the research and design development division for major guitar companies in Japan and the United States. He made prototypes and worked on endorsement projects.
In 1995 Taku became an independent luthier and began designing and crafting guitars for the general public in addition to professional musicians. He has built guitars for Tuck Andress, Pat Martino, Boz Scaggs and Robben Ford, among others.
Taku’s known as the original designer of the revolutionary Version-R hybrid archtop guitar designed in 1997.
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P.O. Box 2236, Rohnert Park CA 94927 USA 707-623-9917 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, archtop and electric
Years in business about: 24
Waiting list about: 15 months Sells direct to the customer only (with a dealer in Japan).Taku’s base price for an electric is $5,000, for an acoustic or archtop $14,000, and for a Version-R hybrid $12,000. Has exhibted at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 20 guitars per year.
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Santer Instruments |
California |
$3,500 |
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Lewis Santer’s building style is a blend of the West Coast ethos and the East Coast wethos. He apprenticed in the early ‘90s with TJ Thompson, immersed in the disciplined beauty of the Depression era Martin OM. As shop manager for Somogyi Guitars, he contributes to the newness of Pacific Rim, boundary - pushing lutherie. 17 years as a custom builder, repairman, and gigging musician keep him keenly focused on great sound and buttery set-ups. He is currently bringing his affinities for hide glue, bar frets, decades old Red Spruce, and organic shapes to the building of Irish bouzoukis. |
1218 Miller Ave., 305 Oakland CA 94601 USA 510-364-3112 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: bouzouki and steel string
Years in business about: 14
Waiting list about: 9 months Sells direct and specializes in the Irish bouzouki with a base price of $3,500. Builds about 8 instruments a year which begin at $6,000. Exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 8 instruments per year.
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Schenk Guitars |
Washington |
$6,900 |
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Rod Schenk was deemed one of the “Top 8 Luthiers of North America” by Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Winner of the coveted 2008 Gold Player Choice Award, his design, innovation, and superior truss-rod are grabbing the attention of the finest players in the world including: Franco Morone, Alan Thornhill, Mark Casstevens, Kerry Marx, Bill Cooley and Martin Young.
His guitars have accompanied Garth Brooks, Vince Gill, Huey Lewis, Trisha Yearwood, Steve Wariner, Carrie Underwood, Kelly Pickler, Trace Atkins, Hal Ketchum, Roy Clark, Jewel, George Jones, Ronnie Milsap, Point of Grace and Marty Stewart. |
14535 Olympic View Loop Rd., Silverdale WA 98383 USA 360-307-9776 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 5
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells direct to the customer and through dealers. He builds about 40 guitars per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and Newport / Miami.
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Bruce Sexauer, luthier |
California |
$8,500 |
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An idealist committed to working unassisted by coworkers or computers, Bruce Sexauer has abandoned industry standard molds, fixtures, and jigging in favor of absolute flexibility. This allows, in fact requires, constant change. No two guitars are the same then, and each one has a good chance of being a better instrument than the previous. |
724 H. St., Petaluma CA 94952 USA 707-782-1044 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, classical, ukulele, and archtop
Years in business about: 43
Waiting list about: 20 months Building about 12 guitars a year, Bruce sells through five dealers as well as directly to to the specifications of clients. His base price for a steel string or classical is $8,500, for an archtop $12,000, and for a ukulele $1,800. Bruce exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival and at the Montreal show.
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Solomon Guitars |
New Hampshire |
$3,500 |
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Seeing a picture of a D’Angelico New Yorker in a magazine when he was 17 years old was what inspired Erich Solomon to make building archtop guitars his life’s work. His Phidelity model is the culmination of his building and design skills and is at once traditional and modern, drawing inspiration from classical guitar and violin influences, with its design and dimensions being derived from Phi, or the Divine Proportion which is found everywhere as a basic building block throughout nature. Erich is focused on bringing art, science and magic together to make musical tools that will inspire and bring out the best in every player. |
22 Old Stagecoach Rd., P.O. Box 873, Epping NH 03042 USA 603-679-8082 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: archtop, steel string, and Wesisenborn
Years in business about: 14
Waiting list about: 12 months Available directly to the customer. Base for a steel string is $3,500, a Weissenhorn is $4,200, and an archtop is $4,900. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Montreal and Newport/Miami. He builds about 12 instruments per year.
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Ervin Somogyi |
California |
$26,000 |
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Ervin Somogyi has been building guitars since 1970. He has influenced a generation of luthiers through his building, writing, teaching, lecturing, exhibiting and training of apprentices. His guitars are legendary, and he half expects to wind up being himself exhibited in a museum some day. (With Social Security, it should be a workable retirement.)
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516 52nd St., Oakland CA 94609 USA 510-652-5123 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 39
Waiting list about: 12 months He builds about 20 instruments per year. He has exhibited at every Healdsburg Guitar Festival, at Montreal and Newport / Miami. He builds about 20 instruments per year.
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Spira Guitars |
Australia |
$3,500 |
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Jack has a life long commitment to guitar making. He started as a teenager in 1987, was formally trained in Modern fretted instrument technology at the London college of furniture, and set up his business in Australia in 1991.
He now lives and works in the Dandenong ranges near Melbourne. Where he builds mostly steel string guitars. Like most Australian makers, he has spent a lot of time investigating the use of Australian native timbers. He has made many custom and experimental design over the years, which have all developed into his current designs.
Most years you can meet him and see his work at the National and Port fairy folk festivals in Australia, and also at the Melbourne Guitar Makers Festival
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80 Kilvington Drive text Emerald Victoria 3782 Australia text |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 19
Waiting list about: 8 months Spira sells mainly direct but occasionally through shops and at festivals and show. Shows at the Melbourne Guitar Makers Festival.
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Stagnitto Guitars |
New Jersey |
$2,800 |
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Jim Stagnitto has been involved in lutherie since 1993, making a variety of steel stringed instruments, including guitars, mandolins, basses and mandocellos. |
19 Silver Leaf Court, Riverdale NJ 07457 USA 347-461-2847 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 16
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells direct and consignment sales through select dealers. He builds about 5 guitars per year. He exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Joe Striebel Guitars |
Germany |
$4,200 |
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Born in 1973 in Munich, Bavaria (Germany), Joe Striebel has spent his lifetime in this alpine region. Addicted to woodworking and guitar playing early in life (thanks to his parents), Joe learned cabinet making and then apprenticed as a guitarmaker. He was eventually selected as the “Best German Luthier 1998” and reached Master Luthier status in 2001, when he also won “Best Luthier of the Year”. After making 500 handmade guitars, Joe settled into his current workshop in 2006. Now his brand is getting international attention with dealers from the U.S. to Japan and with endorsers such as Steve White and Peter Autschbach. |
Weidacher Hauptstr.1c, Wolfratshausen Bavaria 82515 Germany +(0) 8171-345986 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: steel string, classical, mandolin, and archtop
Years in business about: 6
Waiting list about: 6 months Sells through dealers and directly to clients. Converted from Euros in September, 2009, his base price for a steel string is $4,200 and a archtop is $4,850. The 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival was Joe’s first international show.
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Threet Guitars |
Alberta |
$6,000 |
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In 1990, Judy quit her day job (teaching philosophy) to learn the basics of guitar building from Michael Heiden. She’s built guitars ever since — specializing in smaller-bodied steel-string guitars and unique inlays. A devotee of hand tools, she builds fewer than 10 guitars per year
Judy is a long-standing member of both GAL and ASIA. She served on ASIA’s board (1998-2003), contributes to their magazine and offers presentations at their symposia and in her local community.
And though she rarely finds time to play it, she counts her grandmother’s ukulele as one of her most prized possessions. |
P.O. Box 70054, Bowness R.P.O. Calgary AB T3B 5K3 Canada 403-232-8332 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 19
Waiting list about: 18 months With a current wait list of 3 years, Judy has decided to accept no more orders for awhile. A few stores have guitars in stock and/or have orders outstanding. If you are interested in a Threet guitar, you are encouraged to contact one or more of the establishments listed on her website. She builds about 10 guitars per year. Shown at the recent guitar festivals in Healdsburg, Montreal and Newport / Miami.
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Toru Nittono Guitars |
California |
$6,000 |
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Toru Nittono’s guitar building career began in the late 70’s at a guitar factory in Japan. In 1981 he moved to Los Angeles to manage a repair and custom building shop, acquiring valuable knowledge by working on many vintage instruments for high profile, knowledgeable artists such as Robben Ford, John Pisano and Ted Greene. Since 2000, Toru Nittono Guitars has been offering a custom line of archtops and small bodied, hollow/semi-hollow, Model T Series guitars featuring a carved Maple or Spruce arched top. Carlos Santana recently chose to play his Jazz Electric Nylon model on tour. |
15734 Stagg St., Van Nuys CA 91406 USA 818-901-8675 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Electric and Archtop
Years in business about: 30
Waiting list about: 12 months Sells direct to customers in the US with dealers overseas. He will be at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival. He builds about 10 guitars per year.
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Kathy Wingert Guitars |
California |
$12,500 |
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Kathy’s passion for the beauty of the guitar, coupled with her desire to find each guitar’s individual voice, keeps production low with fewer than 15 guitars built per year. While the language and perception of tone is subjective, Kathy loves the process of finding a common language with each client to ultimately understand the voice and appearance of the ordered guitar. That process has given Kathy very satisfied customers.
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28364 S. Western Ave. #451, Rancho Palos Verdes CA 90275 USA 310-522-9596 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 14
Waiting list about: 14 months Sells direct to customers and through select dealers. Kathy builds about 12 instruments per year. Her main focus is steel strings but she also builds harp guitars, nylon stringed instruments and ukuleles. Has exhibtied at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, Montreal and Newport / Miami.
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Woolson Soundcraft |
Wisconsin |
$5,250 |
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A love of elegant lines and simplicity are what fuel Paul’s Woolson's passion for guitar building. With a background in design, he sees the guitar as a whole and designs each instrument that way. He combines modern technology with time-honored traditions. Paul is described as “the pre-eminent double-top builder in the steel-string world right now.” |
3818 Meyer Ave., Madison WI 53711 USA 608-238-7803 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 9
Waiting list about: 18 months Sells direct to the customer and through select dealers. He builds about 12 instruments per year. Has exhibited at the Healdsburg Guitar Festival, at Montreal and Newport / Miami. He builds about 12 guitars per year.
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Xiaoshi Guitars |
China |
$5,000 |
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The first ever Healdsburg Guitar Festival exhibitor from China, Xiaoshi Xie was a technician in the mechanical and electrical industry for 10 years and worked in mold making for another 10 years. In addition he has done toy designing and has won the top award on functional designs from the toy industry in the Hong Kong Area. In 1982 he also won 2nd place at the aviation mold national competition in China. He has been building steel string guitars full time since 2003.
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No.1B138, Chang le lu qing gong shi chang, Xi'an Shaanxi 710032 China +86 13072986369 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String
Years in business about: 3
Waiting list about: 3 months Xiaoshi (who is also known as 'Stone')builds about 10 instruments per year. He has exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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Yamamoto Guitar |
California |
$3,000 |
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Yamamoto learned guitar making from Harry Fleishman during his stay in California as an electron microscope engineer. He started building guitars in Dublin, California after he retired from the electron microscope industry and he is currently making 15 guitars annually. He builds various types of guitar from OM to Jumbo size, 6 to 12 string, short scale instruments and long scale guitars such as baritone guitars. One of his more unique instruments is a multi-scale 12-string baritone in “all octave tuning”. Players of Yamamoto guitars include Steve Baughman, Doug Young and other Bay Area musicians. |
7922 Agate Way, Dublin CA 94568 USA 925-803-0476 |
Quick Facts
Instument type: Steel String and Baritone
Years in business about: 7
Waiting list about: 3 months Om sized guitars start at $3000, Baritones $4000, Multiscale 6 strings start at $4500. Tony builds about 15 instruments a year and sells direct to the customer and through select dealers. He exhibited at the 2009 Healdsburg Guitar Festival.
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