Who's Your Second Favorite Builder?

[jwieties]

Well if we are talking that I could realistically get it would be Lakewood.

If I were dreaming in would be Nick Greven, Kim Walker or Froggy Bottom.

-josh

[el guitana]

I guess I don't really have enough experience with other brands. I like some Martins and Taylors. I've played a Fox and a Burgoius...maybe a Breedlove once.  From what I see - Santa Cruz or Collings...

[dberch]

Definitely ... Collings!  

[philster]

suprised nobody has dropped the JAMES OLSON bomb yet.

Olson doesn't build guitars... He builds egos  :P  

[Johnny M]

A lot of good recommendations and a lot of good guitar builders mentioned.  

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Lowden yet ~ exceptional guitars for fingerstyle playing!

A couple of other builders that I am interested in are:

Marc Beneteau - http://www.beneteauguitars.com/  I would love to order a 00 or 000 12 fretter in IRW and cedar from him ~ downside 1.5 to 2 year waiting list

Northwood Guitars - http://www.northwoodguitars.com/  again, I'd like to look into their 00 or 000 12 fretter

Doolin Guitars - http://www.doolinguitars.com/  Now if I were to drop some serious jing on a 12 string, this is where I would look.

Keep 'em coming

John in Japan

[Fergy07]

Hands down it would have to be David Webber. He makes some of the finest guitars, at reasonable prices. I'd put his guitars up their with Santa Cruz or Goodall, without the number of types of guitars SCGC or all of the Koa of Goodall. He has to have some of the finest splated maple stock piles. You should really check out his work if you happen to see one.

Dave, you should be carrying him not Guild!

http://www.webberguitars.com

Andy

[mdrulez]

I like Tacoma.  I haven't tried too many but I recently tried a jumbo Koa, I forget the model, and it was sweeet.  And for the money, you can't beat them.

[bigmo]

Since I can't say Tacoma  :(  I'll say Guild! A fella on the Guild forum got to play a new Tacoma made Guild D55 and he was floored! He compared it to a Corona Guild and he was amazed at the difference in not only sound, but fit, finish and overall quality. That's good news for both tacoma and Guild owners as the brands may have a very bright future!  Oops, sorry didn't mean to hijack thread.

[Randy_R]

Since I can't say Tacoma  :(  I'll say Guild! A fella on the Guild forum got to play a new Tacoma made Guild D55 and he was floored! He compared it to a Corona Guild and he was amazed at the difference in not only sound, but fit, finish and overall quality. That's good news for both tacoma and Guild owners as the brands may have a very bright future!  Oops, sorry didn't mean to hijack thread.

Mo,

That's OK, its that kind of thread. I also answered Guild. Not a custom guitar, for sure, but some of the Guilds have been great playing guitars at a reasonable price (the same as Larrivee and Tacoma).

[guitaradoptions]

So then you think looks pretty good?

[scrank]

I have to agree with Johnny M - would definitely like to make a Lowden O-model my next acquisition. What a wonderful fingerstyle tool.

[fcspaniel]

Come on.  Get a Gallagher.  

[Denis]

A lot of good recommendations and a lot of good guitar builders mentioned.  

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Lowden yet ~ exceptional guitars for fingerstyle playing!

A couple of other builders that I am interested in are:

Marc Beneteau - http://www.beneteauguitars.com/  I would love to order a 00 or 000 12 fretter in IRW and cedar from him ~ downside 1.5 to 2 year waiting list

Northwood Guitars - http://www.northwoodguitars.com/  again, I'd like to look into their 00 or 000 12 fretter

Doolin Guitars - http://www.doolinguitars.com/  Now if I were to drop some serious jing on a 12 string, this is where I would look.

Keep 'em coming

John in Japan

John,

Is Lowden still making guitars?  I thought they became Avalon and that George Lowden was going to stop altogether or make very few instruments or something to that effect.  

I used to have a Beneteau and stupidly traded it.  But if memory serves, it was for a handmade guitar I played for about 12 years that I don't have anymore.  It had a picture of the Earth from space on the inside.  I have no idea who made it.  It was a mini jumbo with mahogany b/s, spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony bridge and fretboard.  The neck was V shaped and had no truss rod and a wide fretboard.  It had a compensated ebony saddle when I first got it.  I got a Fishman UST put in but to do it, my repair guy took the saddle and shaved it in to dust.  Mixed it with glue or something and filled the hole.  Then he routered out a new slot for a corian (at least I think it was corian) saddle.  I have pictures somewhere but I'd have to find them and scan them.  I traded that guitar and a cheap mandolin for a Seagull 12 string which is also gone.  

[Johnny M]

A lot of good recommendations and a lot of good guitar builders mentioned. 

I'm surprised that nobody mentioned Lowden yet ~ exceptional guitars for fingerstyle playing!

A couple of other builders that I am interested in are:

Marc Beneteau - http://www.beneteauguitars.com/  I would love to order a 00 or 000 12 fretter in IRW and cedar from him ~ downside 1.5 to 2 year waiting list

Northwood Guitars - http://www.northwoodguitars.com/  again, I'd like to look into their 00 or 000 12 fretter

Doolin Guitars - http://www.doolinguitars.com/  Now if I were to drop some serious jing on a 12 string, this is where I would look.

Keep 'em coming

John in Japan

John,

Is Lowden still making guitars?  I thought they became Avalon and that George Lowden was going to stop altogether or make very few instruments or something to that effect.  

I used to have a Beneteau and stupidly traded it.  But if memory serves, it was for a handmade guitar I played for about 12 years that I don't have anymore.  It had a picture of the Earth from space on the inside.  I have no idea who made it.  It was a mini jumbo with mahogany b/s, spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony bridge and fretboard.  The neck was V shaped and had no truss rod and a wide fretboard.  It had a compensated ebony saddle when I first got it.  I got a Fishman UST put in but to do it, my repair guy took the saddle and shaved it in to dust.  Mixed it with glue or something and filled the hole.  Then he routered out a new slot for a corian (at least I think it was corian) saddle.  I have pictures somewhere but I'd have to find them and scan them.  I traded that guitar and a cheap mandolin for a Seagull 12 string which is also gone.

Yep, Lowden and George are still making guitars.  He opened his new shop last year and has been making "Lowden" guitars since he owns the name "Lowden".  He is also personally making handcrafted guitars under the title of "George Lowden Guitars".  I haven't played any of his new Lowdens or his handcrafted guitars, but I have heard that they are beautiful to listen to ... although pricy.  I would go for one of the "older" Lowdens as they are cheaper and are amazing instruments.  You can see some of his new guitars over at www.dreamguitars.com

I'd love to see a picture of your old Beneteau ~ if you get a chance, scan it and post it on the forum.  I'm sure I'm not the only one who would enjoy having a peak at it.

John in Japan

[C-10thunder]

Petros.
Played one about 8 years ago and have never forgotten it or the price tag!
Ron

[LookingForLarri]

No imports huh... Well I would have to say the builder that is hands and shoulders above the rest is


Esteban



Or is that Dave ?









I love April 1  :D  

[Randy_R]

So then you think looks pretty good?

I'm not much into sunbursts.

But I do have a fond memory of hauling my Guild around for many years. Not that I had one of the better models.

[WVUBAMA]

How 'bout West Virginia's up and coming luthier... Andrew White

http://www.whiteguitars.net/

[fitness1]

I REALLY like my Legend Mini Jumbo, but I hear they are actually "out of business" for all practical purposes so I would have to say Brace and Sigurdson ;)  

[HangFire]

Guild

ditto! :)