Guitar List
Tim Maggio
Guitar Listing Rec.Music.Makers.Guitar.Acoustic
September 8, 1995 Rec.Music.Classical.Guitar
Contents
i. Recent Changes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Guitar Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1 Large Companies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.2 Luthiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.3 Resonators . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4 Archtops . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4.1 Larg(er) Makers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.4.2 Luthiers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.5 Classical and Flamenco . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2. Guitar Buying . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.1 Beginner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.2 Mid-Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.3 High-End . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
2.4 Concert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3. Guitar Building and Repairing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.1 Guitar Kits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.2 Educational Centers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.3 Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.4 Books . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3.5 Internet Resources . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
4. Credits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
i. Recent Changes
8/30 - Added info to the guitar buying section to indicate if the
company builds steel string and/or classical guitars.
If there are any errors, please send me a correction.
8/27 - La Si Do has introduced new fit and finish to their Seagull
line.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
1. Guitar Companies
1.1 Large Companies
Alvarez
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
lower-cost line of Alvarez-Yairi
Company address:
Internet resources:
Alvarez-Yairi
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
well-made, mostly copies of traditional American designs. Lately
they've been making good quality new designs based on working with
a variety of pop musicians.
Company address:
Internet resources:
Gibson -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
(212) 582-0430 (Gibson Showroom, 1600 Broadway, NYC)
(800) 4-Gibson (Walter Carter- Gibson Historian)
Internet resources:
http://www.gibson.com
Guild -
Company profile:
Guild is an all-american (still?) guitar company that produces
some of the best guitars in their price range.
Guitar characteristics:
The construction is robust but the sound is uniformly good. There
are not many 'fancy' details built into these guitars. Solid
spruce tops, solid sides on some models, laminate on the backs
that are unbraced, and solid backs for the braced models. They
also tend to be heavier than alot of other guitars. Prices range
from $450 to $1,500 (USD). Used Guilds make excellent purchases,
and are quite common. There tends to be surface cracks that
appear on older models that extend from the ends of the bridge to
the end of the lower bout, parallel with the strings. Not sure
what causes this, but I have seen it on several older Guilds.
Company address:
Guild Guitars
P.O. Box 51327
New Berlin, WI 53151
Internet resources:
Martin -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
510 Sycamore Street
P.O. Box 329
Nazareth, Pennsylvania 18064
(215) 759-2837
Internet resources:
Ovation -
Company profile:
Ovation was the music industry's first roundback and first
acoustic-electric guitar. The only roundback guitars made by Kaman
are under the Adamas, Ovation, and Applause names, and only these
brands offer the acoustic-electric technology and quality
associated with Ovation.
Adamas, Ovation and Applause guitars have U.S.-made Lyrachord
bowls, advanced bracing patterns and electronics specifically
designed for the roundback guitar. Furthermore, all Kaman
roundbacks include the comprehensive Kaman Music Corp. warranty
that protects the purchaser's investment.
Guitar characteristics:
Ovation guitars have a distinctive roundback made of Lyrachord.
Except for the new 1995 Viper model that has a Carved Mahogany
Body.
"The Sound" is distinctive, many wood purists report that the sound
is plastic, this may refer to the amplified sound. Acoustically,
higher end models have a "mid-rangey" tone. The bass end is not
pronounced or boomy and is best enhanced with amplification and
equalization.
[Evidently] all of the Adamas and Ovation models can have
integrated electronic setups, but only some of the models are
available in Acoustic only format. (No information on the Applause
line at this time).
The 1995 Adamas and Ovation family of guitars include:
Model Top Bracing Electronics
---------------- ---------------- -------- ----------------
Adamas Carbon Fiber Fan Optima Preamp w/tuner
Adamas II Carbon Fiber Fan Optima Preamp w/tuner
Collectors Ed. Sitka Spruce ?? OptiMax Bridge/Internal Mic
Elite AA Sitka Spruce Quintad OP-X Preamp
Elite Standard Sitka Spruce Quintad OP-24 Plus Preamp
Custom Legend AAA Sitka Spruce 'A' Optima Preamp w/tuner
Legend Sitka Spruce 'A' OP-X Preamp
Foklore/Country Sitka Spruce ?? OP-X Preamp (steel or steel)
Std. Balladeer Sitka Spruce 'X' OP-24 Plus Preamp (steel string)
Std. Balladeer AAA Cedar Fan OP-X Preamp (nylon string)
Viper Sitka Spruce ?? Thinline Graphic eq. (st.or ny.)
Ultra Delux Spruce or Maple 'K-5' OP-24 Plus Preamp
All of the above have solid tops. The models listed below do not
mention solid tops in the 1995 catalog.
Model Top Electronics
---------------- --------------------- ----------------
Celebrity Deluxe spruce,cedar,sycamore OP-24 Plus Preamp
Celebrity spruce, cedar OP-24 Plus Preamp
The options (not on all models) include: Deep, Mid-Depth, and
Shallow Bowls Cutaways, 12 string, integrated Roland system.
Ovation also has these models:
Long Neck, 28.35" scale length with OP-X Preamp
Mandolin, Solid Sitka Spruce top, OP-24 Plus Preamp, Quintad Bracing
Elite Bass, Solid Sitka Spruce top, OP-X Preamp, 4 or 5 string.
Company address:
Kaman Music Corporation
P.O. Box 507
20 Old Windsor Road
Bloomfield, Connecticut
06002-0507
U.S.A.
Ovation Customer Service at:
1-800-552-4681
Internet resources:
http://www.kamanmusic.com/ovation/
Internet resources:
La Si Do -
Company profile:
This manufacturer is the largest volume producer of guitars in
North America. These instruments are far more popular in Europe
than in North America, which explains why they are so scarce in the
USA. There are several lines of guitars made including a low cost
"hand-made" model by Simon & Patrick (Sons of owner Godin). Prices
range from $250 for the A&L's (low end-mass production) to $1,200
or so for the latest glossy Seagulls, more for some Simon &
Patricks. They also make semi-hollow body acoustic-electrics, and
classical guitars.
Guitar characteristics:
Most of their guitars use an alcohol laquer finish. According to
their literature this is because the thinner finish allows the wood
to vibrate easier. This matte finish can be a bit less protective.
Historically, there have been small differences between their many
brand names of guitars. However, this is now changing. Their
midrange Seagull guitars are now being built with glossy finishes,
bound headstocks, top quality tuning machines, among other details.
These guitars are also now about 2 or 3 times more expensive than
they have been priced in the past. They range from $450 for non
cutaway models without a pickup, to $1,200 for models with a
cutaway with pickup. The original alcohol laquer finished Seagulls
should still be available.
Brand names for acoustic steel strings:
A & L (Arts & Lutherie)
Norman
Seagull
Simon & Patrick
Company address:
Canada:
42 Principale Sud
La Patrie, P.Q. J0B 1Y0 Canada
USA:
1 Emery Drive
Norton, VT 05907
Internet resources:
Takamine -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
This is probably one of the best Japanese guitars on the market.
They are fairly light-weight guitars, but tend to be well-built.
Some models come with pickup and pre-amp already installed and
the electronics are very good quality. Higher end models have
either solid spruce or cedar tops. Prices range from $500 -
$1,200 (USD).
Company address:
(Representative)
Kaman Music Corporation
P.O. Box 507
Bloomfield, Connecticut 06002
Internet resources:
Taylor -
Company profile:
Started 20 years ago by partners, then high school friends, Bob
Taylor and KurtListug. Their simple philosophy... "that guitars
should sound good and be easy to play". Taylor guitars are
considered to be right up there in terms of craftsmanship, quality,
tone, balance, materials used, playability.
Taylor was one of the first makers to use high-tech computer driven
machinery to insure consistent shape of their necks from guitar to
guitar. They also build their own top-quality cases to the same
standards.
Guitar characteristics:
They have four body sizes. Dreadnoughts end in "0"; grand concerts
in "2"; grand auditoriums in "4"; and jumbos in "5". An 810 would
be a deluxe rosewood dreadnought 6-string. If the middle number
were a 5, like 850, then the guitar would be a 12-string. Each
also comes in a cutaway version. They vary the woods used, shapes,
and level of ornateness such as intricate inlays, fancy bindings,
and touches like gold tuners, and depending on the model, one of
five different bracing patterns.
The basic Taylors have a model mumber xyy, with an extra C if they
are cutaways (with varients for 12 strings).
x = 4,5,6,7,8 or 9
4yy lower priced line, mostly matte (as opposed to glossy) finish
5yy mahogony sides and back
6yy maple sides and back
7yy rosewood sides and back
8yy fancier rosewood sides and back, more inlays, etc...
9yy fanciest series rosewood limited production
yy = 10 Dreadnought
yy = 12 Grand Concert
yy = 15 Jumbo
yy = 55 12 String
In addition there are two signature modes, Dan Cary (a cutaway 6
string rosewood deadnought with special bracing) and the Leo Kottke
(a cutaway Jumbo mahogony 12 string braced for heavy guage
strings), and the various Aniversary models, which are somewhere
betwee 00 and 000 in size.
All Taylors are solid wood. Taylor has been in the vangaurd of
using cumputer controled equiptment in the guitar making buiness.
Company address:
1940 Gillespie Way
El Cajon, California 92020
(619) 258-1207
FAX: (619) 258-1623
Internet resources:
Washburn -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
255 Corporate Woods Parkway
Vernon Hills, Illinois 60061
(708) 913-5511
Internet resources:
1.2 Luthiers
A list of the more popular and respected names in the art and business
of producing hand-made acoustic guitars.
Anderson-
Company profile:
Steve Andersen is a builder of high-end archtop guitars &
mandolins, his best instruments are his F5 style mandolins, and his
various archtop models. He also makes flattop D and OM size
guitars. His manolins have been ordered by Gruhn's Guitars for
resale, and he has also made some Archtop guitars for Pioneer Music
in Portland, OR. Mainly he does special orders, dealing directly
with the customer.
Guitar characteristics:
These guitars are quite well made, with very good attention to
detail. The bracing is quite heavy compared to prewar Martins or
today's Shoenbergs or re-issue Martins, without compromising the
sound. Backs and sides are made with Indian Rosewood, top is
Englemann Spruce. Neck is adjustable through the soundhole. The OM
body style is shaped exactly like that of the Martin OM. Recently
Anderson has been concentrating mostly on building archtops.
Company address:
Andersen Stringed Instruments
Seattle, WA
phone 206-632-5986
Internet resources:
Dana Bourgeois -
Company profile:
Dana has his own shop now and is selling via retail dealers.
Guitar characteristics:
Models include an OM, a Jumbo OM, and a slope-shouldered dreadnought.
Company address:
Available in Acoustic Guitar :)
Internet resources:
Bozo -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
Breedlove -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
Collings -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
Franklin -
Company profile:
Franklin guitars are built by Nick Kukich of Portland, OR.
The waiting list is currently at 2 1/2 years! Kukich builds
OMs, Jumbos and a replica of the old Stella 12-string.
Nick has an excellent eye for wood color, so that his guitars
are striking in that sense. He has 2 standard sizes, an OM
style and a jumbo style. He also makes a 12 string in the
Stella style. Stephan Grossman is quite a fan of Franklin
guitars, and Nick had/has videotapes of Grossman and Renborn
singing the praises of his work. These are probably available
from Franklin.
Guitar characteristics:
Guitars are handmade, to order by Nick Kukich with inlay work
by Jean Munro. These low profile, smooth action guitars are
popular with Stefan Grossman and his buddy John Renbourn. The
OMs I have played have had a very slinky setup and been somewhat
on the quiet side. I have observed finish flaws, glue spots and
rough brace edges as well on a couple of models.
Company address:
Internet resources:
Gallagher -
Company profile:
Small company in central Tennesee. Don Gallagher (J.W.'s son) makes
about 100 instruments/year. Dreadnoughts in 12 & 14 fret models,
and Auditorium-size in 12 & 14 fret. 12-strings & cutaways
available. Rosewood or Mahogany bodies. 7-string guitars by
request. (How about a 12-fret, cutaway, 12-string for a unique
instrument?) They currently offer 14 models in 4 body sizes. The
wait can be lengthy (almost two years for my last one).
Grandpa Jones, Doc Watson, Steve KAUFMAN (not to be confused with
Steve DIKKERS) all play them.
Guitar characteristics:
Volumewise, my month-old A-70 (14-fret,Rosewood, OOO-size) is able
to hold its own with banjos. My 18-year old G-70 (14-fret,
rosewood, D-size) [projects extremely well]. The tone between
strings is very balanced. Fingerpickers should check out the
auditorium-size Ragtime special (14-fret, mahogany)
Great workmanship, and a warranty that can't be beaten: if
something goes wonkers, Don will fix it. Period.
[They have a] Great resale value. I have not seen many on the
market, but typically a used Gallagher will sell for what the
current price of a new equivalent model.
The prices are not out of line: currently about $2K for a top of
the line, hand-built instrument, give-or-take (depending upon
specifics). [Price-wise, they are] basically equivalent to
top-of-the- line, non-pearl Martins. (Yep, Don will pearlize one of
his if that is what you want.)
[Currently], I think they are available only directly from the
company. [The staff are] pleasant people to work with, too.
Company address:
J.W. Gallagher & Son
Wartrace, TN
37183
Internet resources:
Steve Kauffman
Comany profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Uses only solid woods. Brazilian Rosewood, sitka spruce most common.
Unless client wants something else. Has used California native wood,
walnut for sides & back. Custom orders. Prices start at ~3500.00.
All hand made by Steve.
Built for Steve Miller, J. Kaukonen.
Company address:
Kauffman Lutherie
Steven J. Kauffman
1089 Oak Hill Rd.
Lafayette, CA 94549
(510) 283-6520
Internet resources:
Larivee -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
Lowden -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
The sound is very open and woody. Lovely all-wood bindings,
purflings, solid top-side-backs on all models. Very light weight
construction. Prices range from $1,600 - $4,000 (USD). Sitka or
Cedar tops, Mahogany, Rosewood, etc. sides, backs. Custom orders
can be placed so you can pick out the neck width, tone woods, etc
that suit your tastes. Evidently there is no extra charge for such
custom orders, provided the selections come out of their current
stock. Some interesting features on their guitars are: No truss-
rod access via some plate on the headstock. The reasoning beind
this is the hole in the headstock weakens the neck. In order to
access the truss rod you can a) buy a special tool and adjust it
(or have a qualified repairman do the same), or b) drill a hole
in the brace just inside the sound hole. Most doctors prefer (a)!
Additionally, braces are not scalloped. Instead, they are shaved
in lateral thickness. This avoids the weakening of scalloped
bracing, while also lightening up the braces.
Company address:
Internet resources:
Maton Guitars -
Company Profile:
Founded in 1946 by Bill May who decided to make his own guitars
because he was unhappy with the quality and price of instruments
available in Australia at that time. Maton is derived from his name
and "tone". By the mid-sixties, Maton had an established
reputation throughout Australia and with many overseas artists.
Notable Australian artists who have played a Maton at some time in
their careers include Bruce Woodley and Keith Potger of The
Seekers; Richard Clapton; Beeb Birtles, Graham Goble and Steve
Housden of Little River Band; Rick Price; Iva Davies and Paul
Gildet of Icehouse; James Reyne of Australian Crawl; and Jack Jones
of Southern Sons.
Early in his career George Harrison played an MS500, the first
Maton solid body. Albert Lee owns a Maton. George Golla, Phil
Manning and Tommy Emmanuel have all had their own models
designed. Custom models have been built for Richard Marx, Hank
Marvin, Deborah Conway, Colin Hay, and Andy White of Hothouse
Flowers.
Maton now has a modern factory that blends with traditional
craftsmanship. The recently installed CNC router is currently the
only one of its kind in Australia. Face-joining and side-bending
presses have been specially built, as have the internal body clamps
and the dovetail router for the neck joints.
Maton apply the same philsophy today that Bill May set out with -
to build the finest quality hand-crafted guitars at an affordable
price.
Guitar characteristics:
Maton mainly produces premium quality acoustic and
acoustic-electric dreadnoughts and cutaways. All have solid tops,
mostly of sitka spruce with some cedar and Australian timbers such
as Tasmanian King Billy
Unique processes have been developed in the fitting of the dovetail
neck joints, contouring of the neck relief, and hand finishing of
the fingerboard and neck shaping. This, in combination with careful
selection and seasoning of tonewoods, give the instruments a unique
sound and feel. Every instrument is handcrafted.
Australian timbers feature predominantly. Maton uses Queensland
Maple and Walnut, and Tasmanian and Victorian Blackwood in the back
and sides as well as traditional timbers such as Brazilian
mahogany, rock maple and rosewood. Most of the guitars feature
solid timber in the back and sides.
Maton have an alliance with Australian piezo manufacturer
GEC-Marconi to develop Pick-Up Systems that faithfully reproduce
the guitars' acoustic sound.
The definitive instrument is the CW80 dreadnought that has solid
Queensland maple or Brazilian mahogony back and sides, and has been
in continuous production since 1967. The EM325C is an
acoustic-electric cutaway that features laminated Queensland Walnut
back and sides, and is favoured by professional musicians for live
work as its characteristic bright tone provides cut-through on
stage while being durable enough to survive life on the road.
Other designs include smaller body "Bluegrass" and larger body
"Country Jumbo", as well as 12-string acoustics, classical guitars
and electric basses. A range of solid body electrics and arch-tops
is planned for reintroduction in 1995.
Company address:
Maton Guitars
9 - 11 Kelvin Road
Bayswater North
VIC 3153
Australia
Phone +61 3 720 7259
Fax +61 3 720 7273
Internet resources:
Olson Guitars
Company profile:
All guitars are handmade by James A. Olson in Circle Pines, MN.
Jim makes about 40 guitars a year and has been making guitars since
1977. The wait for getting is currently 1 and 1/2 years. He never
has more than one assistant. Some of the best known players who
play Olson guitars are James Taylor, Phil Keaggy, David Wilcox,
Sting, Paul McCartney, Leo Kottke, Pat Alger, Russ Barenberg, and
Justin Hayward of the Moody Blues.
Guitar characteristics:
Olson makes mostly what he calls a concert "small jumbo" which are
shaped like a jumbo but smaller than a dreadnaught. The sound is
beautifully clear and balanced from top to bottom and are very easy
to play. He also makes dreadnaughts. His guitars feature east
Indian rosewood back and sides, sitka sruce or western red cedar
tops, five piece laminated neck (rosewood center, maple, mahogany
outer) with a carved volute on the back of the headstock. Tortoise
shell binding on body, herrinbone top purfling (3 ring sound hole
rosette, back center strip).
Company Address:
11840 Sunset Ave
Circle Pines, MN 55014
(612) 780-5301
Internet resources:
Santa Cruz -
Company profile:
Founded in 1976 by luthier Richard Hoover and repairpersons
Bruce Ross and William Davis. Hoover became the sole owner
of the company in 1989.
Richard Hoover and a small staff (4-6) build each guitar to
order, by hand. SCGC produces a few hundred guitars per year.
Guitar characteristics:
Dreadnoughts, OMs, archtops, 000s and a few original designs
compose the SCGC catalog. All guitars are built to Richard
Hoover's philosophy of "stress free" construction - meaning
that top braces are glued in flat, rather than arched, and
braces are split along grain lines, rather than cut. This
relaxed assemblage emulates what Hoover believes to be the
secret in vintage, "opened up" Martins: the fact that time
and usage has relaxed the stress inherent in the construction
process.
The soundboard of every guitar is individually tuned, yeilding
instruments of superb response and resonance. The SCGC sound
is unique, comparing favorably with vintage Martins.
The guitars are impeccably made. Very clean with exacting
inlay work. The SCGC aesthetic is fairly subtle.
1994 list prices range from $2150 to $8500 prior to custom
option selection.
Company address:
Santa Cruz Guitar Company
328 Ingalls
Santa Cruz, CA USA
95060
+1 408 425 0999
Internet resources:
Schoenberg -
[note: Schoenberg is currently not producing guitars. From Eric
himself: "Believe me, I'll announce it when I get these guitars
rolling again. Probably be a while yet, though." -tpm]
Company profile:
Schoenberg Guitars is a very small company that has existed by
having the bulk of the manufacuring done by the Martin Co. [They]
built the tops here in Concord, shipped them to the factory in
Nazareth to arrive at the exact moment the bodies were completed
and waiting for the tops. [They] started this process in 1987 (or
so) and have made somewhere between 200 and 300 guitars.
Guitar characteristics:
The concept has been to return to the true qualities and features
of the OM guitars of 1930, which for [them] has always been the
peak of modern guitar history. [They] have added modern features,
such as cutaway and trussrod, because our foundation is making
guitars to be played rather than collected. [Eric's] playing
experience and knowledge of guitar history and specs as they
relate to the players' needs gives [him] a unique opportunity to
design instruments that can enlighten todays players as to what's
possible in the world of great fingerstyle guitars.
Company address:
38 Shore Drive
Concord, MA 01742
[Or] more easily at:
Music Emporium
165 Massachusetts Ave.
Lexington, MA 02173
(617) 86-000-49 (voice)
(617) 86-000-51 (fax)
Internet resources:
e-mail: SchG...@aol.com
Somogyi -
Company profile:
[Evidently,] Ervin Somogyi guitars are only available directly
from Ervin himself.
Guitar characteristics:
Six-string guitars in the following styles: classic, dreadnought,
modified dreadnought. Back and sides of East Indian rosewood,
padauk, figured or birdseye maple, mahogany, or figured koa. Tops
made of Sitka spruce or cedar top, quarter sawn and aged. Mosaic
pattern rosette around soundhole, Ebony fingerboard of various
widths. Hard (18%) nickel-silver frets. All wood bindings and
purflings. Simple diamond snowflake position markers. Schaller
or Van Gent tuning machines. Quarter-sawn mahogany neck and
head. Compensated bone saddle. Scalloped bone nut. Clear
finish: .005" thick. Hardshell case. Price: $4,100.
Somogyi asks for a tracing of each customer's left hand and
information about the average seasonal humidity in the customer's
area. He also likes to know what kind of music the customer
plays, how it's played, and prefered sting gauge.
Among the interesting options listed is a photo album of the
construction process of your guitar: $400.
Company address:
Ervin Somogyi, luthier
2606 McGee Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
Internet resources:
Marc Silber -
Company profile:
(See K&S Listing under Classical and Flamenco)
Guitar characteristics:
The K&S Co. also produces "Silber" steel string guitars, designed
by Marc Silber. They are a result of 35 years of research and
development by Marc, and are based on early American instruments
used by legendary Blues artists such as "Blind Lemon Jefferson",
"Charlie Patton", and 12 string virtuoso "Leadbelly". These
guitars are assembled in Berkeley rather than Mexico, and the
Signature models are built by Stewart Poritsky in the USA. K&S
has built mandolins, mandolas, cuatros, children's guitars, and
will soon offer a Hawaiian "Lap Steel" guitar based on the
Weisenborn model.
Company address:
(See K&S Listing under Classical and Flamenco)
Internet resources:
Thompson -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
1.3 Resonators
And then there are the Resonator guitars, which vary in construction.
Some are metal bodied, while others are wood.
National -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
National Resophonic -
Company profile:
Small company in San Luis Obispo, CA. Originally started by two people,
and have grown since.
Guitar characteristics:
They make both metal-bodied and wood-bodied resonator guitars. The
tone of their guitars ranges from very raucous (single-resonator
metal-body) to very warm (three-resonator metal-body). The tone of
the wood-body single- resonator guitars is smoother than that of a
Dobro. These guitars tend to inspire fanatical devotion, partly
because there is a mystique to them and partly because they're just
fantastic guitars. These guitars are all capable of incredible
volume.
Company address:
Internet resources:
Dobro -
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
1.4 Archtops
There's more to guitars than flattop steelstrings. Here's some pointers
to makers of archtops.
1.4.1 Large(er) Makers
Heritage
Company profile:
When Gibson abandoned Kalamazoo, MI for Nashville and Montana,
several Gibson luthiers chose to stay in Michigan. They acquired
the old Gibson factory on Parsons Street and began making guitars
in the old Gibson style. At first they concentrated on solid- and
semisolid-body electrics, but before long they started making
archtops with floating pickups (i.e., no extra holes are cut into
the top for the pickup or controls - they're mounted on the
pickguard, and the jack goes out through the strap button). They
make a variety of cutaway 16", 17", and 18" archtops. They're very
nice guitars and are rather economical as archtops go.
Guitar characteristics:
Nice woods, wide, flat necks, traditionally-shaped f-holes,
cutaways. The decorations are on the florid side, but that's
typical of archtops. Most of the archtops are modified versions of
traditional Gibson archtops, specifically the Sweet 16 (16", like
the Gibson L-4), the Eagle series (17", variants on the L-5), and
the Super Eagle (18", similar to the Super 400C).
Company address:
228 (?) Parsons St., Kalamazoo, MI
Internet resources:
1.4.2 Luthiers
Here are the names of a few builders of archtops off the top of my head.
An issue of Acoustic Guitar ('95) had a pretty good list.
Andersen
Benedetto
Collings
D'Angelico II
D'Aquisto
Nickerson
Santa Cruz
1.5 Classical and Flamenco
Most of the companies that make acoustic guitars in Asia also make
classicals of similar quality. This includes Yamaha, Takamine, and
Alvarez-Yairi. Gibson used to sell some decent Korean-made classical
guitars under their Epiphone brand, but [they may have] all been
discontinued.
Dauphin
Company profile:
Guitar characteristics:
Company address:
Internet resources:
K&S - Montalvo Flamenco and Classical Guitars
(See also Marc Silber above)
Company profile:
Montalvo guitars are the result of an association between George
Katechis-Montalvo and Marc Silber that began in the 1970s. Marc is
a noted guitar historian, restorer, and designer. George is a
highly skilled craftsman with experience in all aspects of tone
production. Together they combine more than 60 years experience
restoring, repairing, and selling musical instruments.
Guitar characteristics:
Montalvo guitars are finely crafted instruments featuring solid
Engelmann Spruce or Canadian Red Cedar top, Mahogany or Spanish
Cedar necks and Rosewood or Ebony fingerboards. The necks are
reinforced with a graphite stabilizing bar. The backs and sides
are made of solid Indian Rosewood, Honduras Rosewood, or
Cypress. These woods are well seasoned, and the guitars are
guaranteed for one year against defects in materials or
workmanship.
Company address:
K&S Guitar Co.
2923 Adeline Street
Berkeley, CA 94703
(510) 843-2883 or 548-7538
Internet resources:
Steve Ganz - Handmade Classical Guitars
Company profile:
I work alone, making just a few guitars per year.
Guitar characteristics:
Wood for individual guitars individually chosen/obtained from
selection of rosewood (e.g. Indian, honduras, brazilian, bubinga),
maple, spruces, cedar. Necks of mahagony or spanish cedar.
Various woods in bindings, linings, and bracing. Fingerboards
[are made] of ebony [and to] scale length from 635 to 665.
Guitars are individually made, four guitars [were built] in the
last year.
Prices depend upon wood choices. Base price $1500.
Company address:
Bellingham, WA
Internet resources:
ga...@henson.cc.wwu.edu
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
2. Guitar Buying
The question of price and model is a constant. New guitarists, people
buying for the first time in 10 years, etc. all need to know what models
fall into what price ranges. I have attempted to build a list of
characteristics and companies that fall into a few different categories
in order to make searching for the right guitar a bit more concise.
Most of the guitar makers listed below make only steel string guitars.
Some of them make classical, and some make only classical. Following is
how to tell the difference:
(SS) Steel String Only
(S/C) Steel String and Classical
(C) Classical Only
If there are any errors, please send me a correction.
2.1 Beginner
These guitars are priced for the person unsure if guitar playing is
suited for them. They also make great beach or camping guitars.
Features:
Price: $100 - $300
Top: Laminate (few with solid wood)
Side/Back: Laminate
Here are some of the brands that I can think of. There are *loads* of
guitars off the Asian market, and they probably are comparable to any in
this list.
A&L (SS)
Fender (SS)
Charvel (SS)
Ibanez (S/C)
Yamaha (S/C)
2.2 Mid-Range
In this range, the issues involved in buying a guitar are fairly
simple: price, playability, and 'bang-for-the-buck' are usually
foremost consideratoins. There are several brands that have guitars
that suit the bill. Following is a list of features that usually
are associated with new low-end guitars:
Price: $300 - $800
Top: Split between Solid and Laminate. Solid over $500.
Side/Back: Laminates- some solid sprinkled in there.
Some of the guitars have solid tops. The sound for these
instruments is good. Finish on the guitars are usually glossy.
Any exceptions to the above comments will be noted.
Charvel
Dauphin (C)
Fender (SS)
Guild (SS)
Ovation (S/C)
Seagull (SS) (all w/ solid tops)
Simon & Patrick (SS) (all w/ solid tops)
Ibanez (S/C)
Takamine (S/C)
Washburn (S/C)
Yamaha (S/C)
2.3 High-End
For just about any player, guitars in this range should satisfy some to
all of your guitar-playing needs. Features these guitars should all
have:
Price: $800 - $1,500
Top: Mostly Solid some Laminates (the FAQ tells how to know)
Side/Back: Mostly Laminate some Solid
Depending on model, maker, or a sale, you might get a real beauty for
alot less than expected. The use of a variety of tone woods is
important in this category. Combinations of woods for a variety of
effects determine the sound and feel of a guitar. These guitars are
usually mass produced, but there are probably a few that have some
hand-detailing, and finishing.
Alvarez (S/C)
Gibson (SS)
Guild (SS)
Martin (S/C)
Ovation (S/C)
Seagull (SS)
Simon & Patrick (SS)
Takamine (S/C)
Taylor (SS)
2.4 Concert
These guitars are usually hand made from the finest tone-woods
available. Individual luthiers or apprentices work on each model,
and attention to detail is critical to the making of every guitar.
Price: $1,500 ->
Top: Must be Solid
Side/Back: Must be Solid
Expect to pay a pretty steep premium for Brazilian Rosewood, although
there is an unsupported rumor that Thompson Guitars will make one from
Brazilian for under $3,000. (anyone have better facts?) Many (all?)
of these dealers will accept custom orders to mix and match different
dimensions and woods.
Breedlove (SS)
Collings (SS)
Franklin (SS)
Gallagher (SS)
Gurian (SS)
Larivee (SS)
Lowden (S/C)
Olson (SS)
Santa Cruz (S/C)
Schoenberg (SS)
Silber (S/C)
Thompson (S/C)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
3. Guitar Building and Repairing
(..Still under construction..)
3.1 Guitar Kits
The Kit Factory
4901 Monroe Ave.
San Diego, CA 92115
(619) 583-5160
Martin Guitars
510 Sycamore St.
Nazereth, PA 18064
(800) 247-6931
3.2 Educational Centers
The Luthier's Workshop
99 Moody St.
Waltham MA 02154
(617) 894-4292
e-mail: alca...@aol.com
3.3 Organizations
Guild of American Luthiers
8222 South Park Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98408
(206) 472-7857
Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (ASIA)
PO Box 341
Paulsmiths, NY 12970
(518) 891-5379
3.4 Books
"Tradition and Technology"
William Cumpiano/Jonathan Natelson
Rosewood Press
Comment: "Cumpiano builds by hand, is very knowledgable and
explains things well."
"Steel-String Guitar Construction"
Irving Sloane
"Classic Guitar Construction"
Irving Sloane
"Understanding Wood"
Bruce Hoadley
Comment: "This is an essential text for serious builders."
3.5 Internet Resources
Newsgroup(s)
rec.music.makers.builders
FAQs
WWW
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
4. Thanks millions, RMMGA, and RMCG :)
Grant Alvis gal...@pentagon.io.com
Douglas Asherman dash...@us.oracle.com
Malcolm Barker mal...@cougar.vut.edu.au
Ross Bethel rbe...@u.washington.edu
Arabella Clauson arab...@mail.utexas.edu
David (D.C.) Cromwell crom...@bnr.ca
Lothar Dornieden l...@lothar.westfalen.de
Steve Ganz ga...@henson.cc.wwu.edu
John Gorsky jgo...@henr.mc.xerox.com
Allen Kaatz high...@eskimo.com
David Kaatz dka...@eskimo.com
George Kaschner gckas...@ucdavis.edu
Robyn Landers rbla...@watdragon.uwaterloo.ca
Garrett Lau Garre...@efi.com
Paul R. Leach ar...@freenet.hsc.colorado.edu
Paul Mitchell mitc...@panix.com
Tom Morley mor...@math.gatech.edu
Bill Nail wwn...@uci.edu
Mike Neverisky neve...@wp.prodigy.com
Dennis O'Neill de...@seismo.CSS.GOV
Kim Passarella pass...@cs.unc.edu
Chris Peckham cm...@unix.york.ac.uk
Joseph A Pescatello jo...@world.std.com
Peter Rayner p...@atmos.dar.CSIRO.AU
Alex S. sbeck...@aol.com
Stephen Sano sa...@leland.Stanford.EDU
Eric P. Salathe, Jr sal...@climate.gsfc.nasa.gov
Eric Schoenberg SchG...@aol.com
Trevor Strohman tstr...@theodolite.ae.calpoly.edu
Bruce Tiffany BTIF...@pbs.org
A low-level operator ro...@wp.prodigy.com
RubyI...@aol.com
Ste...@aol.com
--
: Tim Maggio #
: tim...@morgan.com |
: Q
: ".. the sofa has vanished." "Well that's one mystery less." (_)