Batson Guitars

[Mr_LV19E]

Anyone here have the opportunity to play one of these Batson Guitars.

The May 2010 A/G magazine has an article about them, they seem kind of unique. Their website has some sound samples, and don't forget to check out the picture gallery.

Batson Guitar profile at  A/G .com

[Mikeymac]

Very interesting guitars, with a unique bracing system, bridge, etc. 

There's always something new in guitars right around the corner...wish I had $6-7K lying around to order one!

[ncognito]

Yes, I did get to try a Batson last winter in Troy, NY at Cathedral Music.  Cathedral is a Larrivee dealer, the ride was under two hours so I took off to try some.  I sampled quite a few.  There were some with even heaftier price tags than the Batson, but I asked Klem, the owner, which instrument he was most impressed with.  He said the Batson so of course I had to check it out.

I was immediately perplexed when I noticed that it had no soundhole in the top, only a port in the upper bout.  It does not have a typical bridge/saddle, but it does have something with next to no mass to guide the strings to the tailpiece.  Klem said that I should look through the port to check out the bracing.  The bracing was like nothing I'd ever seen before.  It was double trussed, extremely light bridge reinforcement.  If I recall correctly, the neck is canteleavered.  It seems that all of its unusual design features are employed so as to free up the top to vibrate without impediment.  The sound was superb, and very responsive to the lightest touch.  In retrospect, I wish I'd thought to have someone else play it so that I could listen to how it projected with its unorthodox side hole. 

Money, or rather lack thereof, can be such an inconvenience.

           DAVE     (Oh, and by the way, Larry-- Batsons are built in Nashville so we'd all love one of your first hand reports)

[lw216316]

DAVE     (Oh, and by the way, Larry-- Batsons are built in Nashville so we'd all love one of your first hand reports)  

The only dealer I know of in Tennessee is at the " Guitar Gallery " in White House Tn,  25 miles north of Nashville
http://www.guitargal.com/

There is a very interesting youtube evaluation of Batson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44CqVyXRBPg

Their ' Demo Program ' allows you to have one shipped to you for evaluation for a fee that can be applied if purchased.

I've never been to the Guitar Gallery and never seen a used Batson in any of the many Nashville guitar shops.
I may drive up to the Guitar Gallery in the near future. I'm currently looking into cedar top steel strings.
They have a lot of unusual guitars and many high end models too.
If I do, I'll check out the Batson and post my impressions.

The online inventory list at the Guitar Gallery website is unbelieveable -
The Batson is over $5k but right at home with the other guitars they carry.

I did try a guitar (different maker - I forget who) at another local shop that had a side port -  
I liked it.
I play 99 % solo at home and the extra sound that projects up to the player's ear was very enjoyable.

- Larry

[ncognito]

The only dealer I know of in Tennessee is at the " Guitar Gallery " in White House Tn,  25 miles north of Nashville
http://www.guitargal.com/

There is a very interesting youtube evaluation of Batson
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44CqVyXRBPg

Their ' Demo Program ' allows you to have one shipped to you for evaluation for a fee that can be applied if purchased.

I've never been to the Guitar Gallery and never seen a used Batson in any of the many Nashville guitar shops.
I may drive up to the Guitar Gallery in the near future. I'm currently looking into cedar top steel strings.
They have a lot of unusual guitars and many high end models too.
If I do, I'll check out the Batson and post my impressions.

The online inventory list at the Guitar Gallery website is unbelieveable -
The Batson is over $5k but right at home with the other guitars they carry.

I did try a guitar (different maker - I forget who) at another local shop that had a side port -  
I liked it.
I play 99 % solo at home and the extra sound that projects up to the player's ear was very enjoyable.

- Larry

Larry--

I wouldn't be at all surprised if they gave you a factory tour.  Some builders are very receptive given the chance to show their stuff, but they'd likely appreciate some advance notice.  Since you're somewhat close (I assume?) it would be a nice opportunity for you.  If I were in your shoes I'd check it out, and I'm in no financial position to buy right now.  If that's your situation too (ain't got that kinda dough) it shouldn't faze the Batson brothers given that your revue will be posted for the world to see.

          DAVE

[lw216316]

it shouldn't faze the Batson brothers given that your revue will be posted for the world to see.

WHAT ?     ...you mean people outside the forum can read our intimate Larrivee posts ?
I may have to go back and delete some stuff  

If you search on youtube ' batson guitar '   there are some ' in the shop ' interviews with them.....interesting stuff.

Actually, I'm scared to visit - they might cast a spell on me and I might place a custom order.

That actually happened to me once.
I was invited to visit a luthier -
I said up front I could not afford a guitar - but came because of curiosity of how a guitar was built and how a hand made guitar
sounded compared to the factory guitars I was familiar with.

This was 2 years ago when I did not know the difference between a bridge and a saddle and had never played a hand made guitar.

He entertained me in his home - met the wife , met the dog,  he placed a guitar in my hand to play,
took me to the shop - I learned a lot -
took me to lunch -
must have slipped something in my drink - all I remember is saying - ok , I'll do it , ( buy a $3000 hand made guitar)
( I would have had to borrow the money ).

- and I would have gone through with it but when we got into details - there was one option I wanted that he was not prepared to provide
so we cancelled. Later I was glad it did not work out.

[lw216316]

here is a link showing some of the unusual design
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZ1k5u552IM

notice the spacing under the fretboard - not touching the top
and the spacing under the anchor for the strings at the lower bout
- no soundhole in the top
- no pickguard

anything that would take away from the vibration of the top -

I like their design.

[ncognito]

WHAT ?     ...you mean people outside the forum can read our intimate Larrivee posts ?
I may have to go back and delete some stuff  

If you search on youtube ' batson guitar '   there are some ' in the shop ' interviews with them.....interesting stuff.

Actually, I'm scared to visit - they might cast a spell on me and I might place a custom order.

That actually happened to me once.
I was invited to visit a luthier -
I said up front I could not afford a guitar - but came because of curiosity of how a guitar was built and how a hand made guitar
sounded compared to the factory guitars I was familiar with.

This was 2 years ago when I did not know the difference between a bridge and a saddle and had never played a hand made guitar.

He entertained me in his home - met the wife , met the dog,  he placed a guitar in my hand to play,
took me to the shop - I learned a lot -
took me to lunch -
must have slipped something in my drink - all I remember is saying - ok , I'll do it , ( buy a $3000 hand made guitar)
( I would have had to borrow the money ).

- and I would have gone through with it but when we got into details - there was one option I wanted that he was not prepared to provide
so we cancelled. Later I was glad it did not work out.

Larry--

I almost fell out of my chair reading your story.  Thanks for sharing that.

Just tell those Batson boys to give you one of their cedar over rosewood beauties and in return you'll post a glowing video on youtube.  It could work so long as you take them to lunch and slip them whatever that other builder put in your drink.   

          DAVE

[lw216316]

cedar over rosewood beauties 

yes, the more I listen to high end cedar / rosewood guitars on youtube the more I like them.

I just have not found one locally I care for - (except for that $12,000 used Olson that got me started on looking at cedar)
but they are more a specialty guitar and not as common -

The Taylor road show is here in Nashville tomorrow - so I'll check out the Taylor cedars -
    they have 14 frets -  I prefer 12.

[drcmusic7]

I own a Batson guitar and love it! Mine is a parlor model with a Port Orford Cedar top with Cocobolo back and sides. It also has a bevel that is extremely comfortable.  I'd highly recommend visiting their shop if you can. Grant and Cory are really welcoming and inventive.  Their craftsmanship is flawless and the sound is something to hear, very original. They are very dynamic instruments.

There are some pictures on my website. Here's a link http://www.dannycombs.com/gear.html

Kindly,
Danny

[lw216316]

Mine is a parlor model with a Port Orford Cedar top with Cocobolo back and sides. It also has a bevel that is extremely comfortable.  I'd highly recommend visiting their shop if you can. Grant and Cory are really welcoming and inventive.  Their craftsmanship is flawless and the sound is something to hear, very original. They are very dynamic instruments.

At the Taylor Road Show at World Music last night they played a custom Taylor with cocobolo -
it had a really nice tone - my first time to hear one.

Yes, that bevel seems like a wonderful idea.

[Stephen Basil]

I own a Batson guitar and love it! Mine is a parlor model with a Port Orford Cedar top with Cocobolo back and sides. It also has a bevel that is extremely comfortable.  I'd highly recommend visiting their shop if you can. Grant and Cory are really welcoming and inventive.  Their craftsmanship is flawless and the sound is something to hear, very original. They are very dynamic instruments.

There are some pictures on my website. Here's a link http://www.dannycombs.com/gear.html

Kindly,
Danny

Danny, you have a great touch!  That's a mindblowing Batson but you sure know how to handle the guitar.

[drcmusic7]

Danny, you have a great touch!  That's a mindblowing Batson but you sure know how to handle the guitar.

Thanks, Stephen!! I really appreciate the kind words.

Kindly,
Danny

[Strings4Him]

I own a Batson guitar and love it! Mine is a parlor model with a Port Orford Cedar top with Cocobolo back and sides. It also has a bevel that is extremely comfortable.  I'd highly recommend visiting their shop if you can. Grant and Cory are really welcoming and inventive.  Their craftsmanship is flawless and the sound is something to hear, very original. They are very dynamic instruments.

There are some pictures on my website. Here's a link http://www.dannycombs.com/gear.html

Kindly,
Danny

Danny the back of this guitar is stunning and mesmerising!!

[drcmusic7]

Danny the back of this guitar is stunning and mesmerising!!

Thanks! They have a great stash of tone woods and it was a blast to look through it to pick out the set I wanted.

Kindly,
Danny

[doingok]

I played a Batson at a guitar store in Monterey California. (Strings)     Absolutely fabulous - it stands out among the very best,    I have owned Larrivee, Taylor ( I love them both too!) and have to say Batson is in a class of its own!  I have been dreaming of buying one since I played it!   The sound is rich, pure and booming - it almost creates its own rhythm.    I play finger style and the guitar was easy for me to play - it was inspiring.  You have to try one to understand the beauty of this very unique instrument.

[RiloKiley]

Grant Batson has said that Batson will be introducing a budget model, I believe it's called the Batson #5. Note that the word budget is relative- I think it's in the realm of $3000, but this is a very good price for an extremely well made guitar, and there is probably no one else that makes guitars like the Batson's....