"If music is important in your life, choosing the right instrument is a top priority. An extra guitar with different playing characteristics can take you down a new musical road. Enjoy the ride!"     --Richard

Clicking on the small photos to the right of the descriptions will show you detailed views. Of course, internet pictures cannot do these guitars justice.  All guitars in Fine Guitar Consultants' inventory must pass our standards for condition, originality, and a very high excitement factor. These instruments are all remarkable examples of the luthier's art. If they weren't, they wouldn't be here. You are now seeing the cream of the cream. This is who we are and what we do.

We accept US Money Orders, personal checks and wire transfers. Ask us about trade-ins and financing.

exclusively from Fine Guitar Consultants
2008 David Myka "Dragonfly Special" Semi-Hollow Electric Guitar s.n. #058

This is a one-off guitar that shows some of the best work yet from this talented maker. Clicking here will take you to Myka's photo gallery for this guitar. The diagram of the switching layout is at the bottom of Myka's photo gallery page. The body is capped with a gorgeous deep golden 3-D flamed koa top. The koa has spectacular highlights that are revealed in the light. Black/white/black purfling makes for a crisp demarkation transitioning to the Indian rosewood binding. Both the headstock and taipliece veneer are Amboyna burl. The tuning Keys are gold Waverlys with ebony buttons. The guitar is finished in Nitrocellulose Lacquer. The back of this guitar is every bit as beautiful as the front in materials, design, and function. The back is Lacewood (from the mahogany family) and keeps the weight of the guitar nice and light. This guitar weighs in at a hair under five pounds! The smooth, organic transition from the curly Honduran mahogany neck to the body is a unique and comfortable feature. The fingerboard is Brazilian rosewood. The fretboard radius is 12" for playing comfort. There are 22 frets. The scale Length of the guitar is 24.625", and the nut width is 1-23/32" at FGC's request. This measurement splits the difference between 1 11/16 and 1 3/4. With this guitar you can flat pick or fingerpick--or both in the same song! This guitar easily passes our 'Fun to Play' test. A pair of gold-plated Bartolini pickups were carefully selected for this instrument by David. A Bartolini ZBS 70 is in the neck position and a ZBS 80 at the bridge. Switching is 3-way--1 Volume, 1 Tone, and 2 Series/Parallel knobs make the electric tone possibilities full range. Jazz Rock, Rockabilly, Blues--it can all be done well on this versatile instrument. Prices are on the rise for fine instruments from makers like David Myka. The perceived value of this guitar is greater than its cost. Get with us for a variety of great instruments from David Myka while they are so affordable...

$5,890

exclusively from Fine Guitar Consultants
2007 David Myka "Dragonfly Supreme" Semi-Hollow Electric/Acoustic Guitar #048

This is one of the first two Dragonfly Supremes, made side by side, by David Myka. The first is with a client of ours. We saved this second one in our FGC vault to only show to visiting clients. The guitar is new, with warranty, and is now released for sale. The Supreme is made with David's top tonewoods and especially elegant accent details. The diagram of the switching layout is at the bottom of Myka's photo gallery page, linked here. Here, in the maker's own words, is a description of what he has created. After reviewing the guitar and puting it through its paces, I agree completely with David's description and am pleased that the results matched our expectations. "With the full range of tone that this guitar has to offer, it is suited for a variety of musical styles. The traditional archtop voice is very present, and as usable as the voice from a larger jazz box. The clean tones are lush and beautiful and compliment the sustained chord work found in many pop and rock styles. The bridge pickup adds a certain crystalline edge to the sound is perfect for quick chord chops and fast lead runs. Played through a clean amplifier, the guitar functions as a versatile rhythm instrument or stands on its own as a lead guitar. Play through a high gain overdrive unit and you have the makings of a fusion machine. Once the sweet spot is found, the volume control can act as a feedback valve. A sustained chord or note can easily be coaxed into a very musical feedback blossom. This instrument delivers a clear voice whether clean or overdriven--accompanied or solo. The Dragonfly design evolved from my standard electric guitar design that was extended to have more of an acoustic tone. There is a significant neck block for the set neck to glue into which also surrounds the neck pickup. The rest of the body is hollow. The top on the Dragonfly is carved to a rather high arch for its smaller body size. It is graduated slightly thicker than a standard acoustic archtop to add strength and minimize feedback. The necks are constructed using a two-way adjustable truss with 1/4" graphite tubes flanking the truss rod on either side. I find that the graphite adds stability and stiffness to the neck while minimizing dead spots on the fingerboard. The graphite accomplishes this due to its high velocity of sound as compared to wood, allowing for string vibrations to travel quickly and evenly through the neck. I apply the same acoustic principles to all of my instruments and employ a tap tuning approach to determine the final thickness of the top and back. I also do this to find the perfect match for the fingerboard and neck woods. The carved neck is comparable to a standard round profile archtop neck, making for a comfortable guitar neck that fills your hand and facilitates playing more complex chord shapes. A bone saddle was inlaid into the bridge to give the guitar the brilliance of an electric guitar coupled with the smoothness of the archtop voice. The bridge design is pivotal to the guitar's function and provides an amazing array of tones not possible with a wooden bridge. With this bridge feature the archtop concept can be realized within the framework of a traditional electric guitar. To compensate for the brighter, punchier bridge tone, the tone control has a lower value capacitor, providing a greater treble cut. With the tone rolled back about 1/3 of the way you are in archtop territory. Now you can push the tone further into the darker, smoky regions. The electronics for the Dragonfly Supreme consist of a master volume, a master tone, a series parallel blend pot for each pickup, and a pickup selector switch. I chose the Bartolini PBF series pickups for their incredible clarity and high fidelity. These pickups are potted in epoxy which reduces the distortion introduced by minute coil movements and produce a very clean and accurate representation of the guitar's acoustic voice with all of the subtleties and nuances present. The K&K Pure Western system provides a rich acoustic output that works well with or without a preamp. The materials used for this guitar include Australian Lacewood for the back and sides, Claro Walnut for the top and neck, Brazilian rosewood for the fingerboard, and ebony for the knobs, pickup rings, bridge, and tailpiece. The head plate and tailpiece veneer are Amboyna burl. Bone is used for the saddle and nut. The side dot markers on the top edge of the fingerboard are Pearl shell. The logo is mother of pearl. The tuning keys are the top model Waverly open backed tuners with ebony buttons and veneered with Amboyna burl. The frets are small jumbo size facilitating effortless string bending and easy chord work. The finish is nitrocellulose lacquer and it is applied very thin and without grain filler for the least effect on the tone of the guitar. Revealed in the light, black/white/black purfling makes for a crisp demarkation transitioning to the Indian rosewood binding." Note: Dual jacks facilitate connecting the guitar to both an electric guitar amp and an acoustic amp--or two channels of the PA with different effects assigned for tonally textural drama.

$6,300

exclusively in the USA at Fine Guitar Consultants (FGC)
featured in the April '08 issue of 20th Century Guitar Magazine
Click to watch and hear a demonstration of this guitar by Takeshi Nishimoto
2007 Rolf Spuler 'Paradis' Electro-Acoustic Guitar

"We (you and us) are happy to welcome a new kind of guitar to America! This instrument is not what it seems, at all. It may look like a sexy electric guitar--but its purpose is to perform the duties of a natural sounding acoustic guitar! It succeeds. Here is an instrument that a guitarist can easily carry in the back of a car or on a plane. Plugging into a PA system delivers the most beautiful full range natural acoustic sound you or an audience could hope for. It is all done with pickups and electronics developed in 1984 in Switzerland, thanks to Master Luthier Rolf Spuler and electronics wizard Mathias Grob. Believers in Spuler's work include 'Paradis' owners Bela Fleck, Al DiMiola, Andreas Vollenweider, and many more world class musicians who demand so much from their instruments. The steel string guitar shown here is complemented by a nylon string version that appeals strongly to Jazz and crossed-over classical players of all persuasions. This steel string guitar is made from a rare and vibrant block of flamed willow. The immediacy of response is snappier than from maple. The base price of this guitar, $11,300, is figured on a body wood of Sapele mahogany. The basic electronics included in the basic guitar (same as on this willow instrument) will please and surprise most players. The 2 slider controls, beautifully integrated into the wooden bridge, are Master Volume and Poly-Bass. Here is one of the surprises, and one of the main reasons you want to plug into a PA system: You can bring in as much accompaniment as you like from sub-bass frequencies that track the lowest string that you play among the 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th strings of the guitar. If you do alternating bass patterns or walking bass lines, or just want to fatten up your rhythm work, the Poly-Bass sub bass frequencies are pleasantly addictive! This is an analog circuit that elegantly splits the guitar string's voice into two simultaneous voices. No digital signal here--so no tracking issues to worry about. The steel string 'Paradis,' developed over the last 20+ years, has a wonderful feel. More than a beautiful work of art that is a thrill to own--it is a pleasure to hold in next to your body. The shape is player-friendly. The nut width is about 1 3/4", and the neck on this one is a slim C-shape. We are asking Rolf Spuler to add a little beef to the back of the neck on our next one, to bring it to a medium C-shape. When you order one from FGC, you can choose your neck geometry, woods and features to your taste. There is another surprise lurking on this instrument: Look closely at the photos at the nut area. You will notice two things. The 6th string has a 2-fret extension behind the nut! The small brass lever on the neck, adjacent to the 6th string, releases the 6th string into 'True Dropped D' tuning. You can switch into drop D with a flick of the thumb. Press the button behind the release mechanism and you are back in standard tuning--even in the middle of a song, if you choose. Options available, though not present on this willow sunburst available for purchase, includes a MIDI option and a body mic. The body mic, controlled by another slider, gives a player percussive performance options for tapping the guitar body. I invite you to read more in depth about Rolf Spuler and his philosophy, along with more details about this instrument that is for sale. You can find this further information on the Spuler page in 'Guitars From Another Realm.'
--Richard
(P.S. -- The PA Systems I have heard and enjoyed the Spuler Paradis through are SR Technology's Reso-Acoustic 400 Sound System available from The Blue Guitar and the FGC All-tube Class 'A' Acoustic Guitar PA available directly from us (See the bottom of this linked page.)

$12,797 (with metal, foam-lined flight case)

a fabled underground Master of guitar making surfaces at FGC...

2007 Joseph Jesselli 'Sound Lens' (no-hole version--a resale Jesselli with sound holes now in.)

"We are honored to be Joseph Jesselli's exclusive representative. His credibility has been long established as a Master carver and Master Luthier. Name dropping only serves to show you that known musicians respect Joseph's work. Celebrity name association with a maker is irrelevant, we feel, as a reason to select a guitar for your music. O.K.--off my 'soap box' and down to the beautiful business of describing elements of this exquisite musical instrument. Though you will first notice the architectural design of this fully carved and enclosed electric/acoustic, the musicality and the great feel and balance were designed and created first. The top, carved and voiced inside and out, is multi-colored, feathered, plumed crotch English Walnut. The look of the grain presents itself like a waterfall pattern. This soundboard was dried and sealed in May of 1975, according to the note made on its 'sister top' awaiting Joseph Jesselli's chisels and planes in his New York workshop. The flitch cut one-piece English Walnut back, also purchased in 1975, was from 4-feet wide stock. The tree was at least 100 years old. The outside rim of the body is perfectly integrated, hand carved ebony. This contrasting detail joins the top and sides. One of Jesselli's great pleasures is seeking out wood that is over the top in tonal properties, rarity, and beauty. Himself a survivor, Joseph Jesselli admires the trees that can survive the toughest weather conditions at high altitudes for great numbers of years. They are truly the warriors of the forest. They also offer up the most stable instrument necks--like the highly figured, slow growth, quarter sawn Hard Rock Maple from the higher elevations of New England found on this Jesselli guitar. The neck is a medium 'C-shape' and features a low profile Art Deco style volute, carved perfectly into this Hard Rock maple, purchased by Joseph in the 1970s. The fingerboard, one-piece bridge, Jesselli-made knobs and surrounds are sculpted in ebony. The fingerboard is inlaid with Art Deco styled ivory marker designs and inlaid brass shadow lines, carefully protected from oxidation. This tiny detail is one of many surprises at every turn. Sperzel locking tuners are functional and offer a complementary design accessory, but Jesselli had to take it further. Since metalurgy is one of his interests, Joseph heavily rose gold-plated the tuner posts and nuts, the special metal of the offset screws on the hand carved ebony truss rod cover, the grain-matched rear access panel, and the base of the pickup selector. The rose gold nicely compliments his choice of Beryllium copper fret material, which forms a beautiful patina over time. The selector switch is a swirled Jesselli-carved piece of pre-embargo ivory, threaded for the task. The pickups themselves are special mini-humbuckers, rarely available, and made in limited runs. A passive tone control has 5 detents. It ranges from true bypass to positions that roll off various amounts of treble at selectively notched frequencies, leaving certain frequencies intact. The result: highly musical tonality in all positions. A K&K Mini-Western pickup system is onboard. Accessible with the special hand made 'Stream Theory' stereo cable, the guitar can be plugged into a rock or jazz amp while it is also plugged into an acoustic amp. The possible tonal textures are endless! The width of the mastadon ivory nut is 1 3/4". The binding is mastadon ivory, as is the classic sunburst carved heel cap. The guitar is designed with a 'zero fret,' so open strings have the same ringing characteristics of barred chords. " --Richard

$24,000 SOLD (with hand made matching strap, tools, and humidity-controlled case) (Another new one coming in 2 months.)

a new guitar wood (that has been around since dinosaurs roamed the earth)!

2007 Jeffrey Yong Jumbo

"'Samanea saman' is a species of wood native to Malaysia. Though other forms of it have been referred to as 'Monkey Pod' or 'Rain tree,' in this format it is different from its other typical usage in cabinets, furniture, etc. This specially selected tonewood is from a tree that is over 100 years old. It has been carefully selected by the man who is at the source, Jeffrey Yong. Jeffrey provides guitar tonewood to wood sellers that luthiers purchase from. A luthier himself, Yong has the unique advantage of selecting and cutting the huge, old, fallen trees personally. FGC may be the very first to offer a guitar in this material, used for top, back and sides. The 7-piece neck, laminated for more strength, is Nyatoh and Malaysian blackwood (a cousin to ebony) with maple. Gold alloy frets and hand finished Brass pins finish off a thoughtful assemblage of first rate materials. The sound of this guitar is unique and remarkable! So here are my remarks: This instrument has a smoky, clear reverberant tone. Its sound is hauntingly beautiful. Wait--I'll play something for you on this guitar so you can get an idea. Click here and I will play you a tune on this guitar. Now for specs: The width of this hand scalloped bone nut is 1 22/32". (This measurement is 1/16" less than 1 3/4".) This kind of detail will be appreciated by fingerstylers who also occasionally pull out a flat pick. The scale length is 25.5". The lower bout measures 16" and the depth of the guitar is 4" at the bottom. The heft of the guitar is a medium weight and is very comfortably balanced in all respects. The neck is a medium 'C-shape.' The aesthetic of this guitar, in my opinion, is fresh and bold while remaining in very good taste. Certainly, the wood's high figuring makes a proud statement! It says, here I am! When you see it 'in the flesh,' you will see that when the light catches the grain, the top appears to go very 3-dimensional in places. It is pretty breathtaking. Sorry that my Leica could not capture that in a photo! The tuners are gold plated Gotoh 510s with ebony buttons; they frame an asymetrical headstock that organically flows into cascading ribbons of abalone, artfully inlaid along the Malaysian blackwood fretboard and bridge. The headstock face plate and binding, from top to bottom, are made from Malaysian blackwood as well. This is a stunning example of why those of us who appreciate fine hand made instruments appreciate excellence wherever it rears its pretty head. As with all of our special guitars, this one sounds great in the dark, too. A Yong guitar with similar woods recently won the blindfold testing at the Guild of American Luthiers Convention this past summer. Go Jeffrey!" --Richard

SOLD (funds pending) Another coming soon!

exclusively in the USA at Fine Guitar Consultants

2005 Diego Huerga 'Belleza Magica' 'Lucky 12' FGC Special

Meet 'Belleza Magica.' The name means 'magically beautiful,' and is well named on all levels. Here is one of another pair of new hand made instruments by Buenos Aires luthier/artist Diego Huerga. (The other is sold, and two more are now in the works.) This is a superb jumbo that is surprisingly light in weight with a powerful voice that satisfies in richness while maintaining a singing clarity. Diego uses no power tools in the making of his instruments. His guitars are made one or two at a time, reflecting strong inspiration from two main sources: Master classical luthier Rodolfo Cucculelli who trained him, and the work and writings of Antonio Stadavari. This is a fiery, passionate guitar maker. I have spent time with him and admire his dedication to making the best flattops and archtops possible. This tasteful, light brown sunburst has a 16 3/4" lower bout. It is a jumbo with a comfortable profile. The Sitka spruce top with full curl and bear claw is one of our 'Lucky 12 soundboards,' available exclusively here at 'FGC.' (Read more about the 'Lucky 12 soundboards,' at this link by clicking here.) The back and sides are of old growth Brazilian rosewood with the beautiful sapwood revealed at the center of the back. The nut width is a hair under 1 3/4" and the neck is fully C-shaped. "The mass fills my hand, allowing me to play in a more relaxed fashion. The slightly narrower nut compensates for the neck shape, and after 5 minutes of playing, my left hand feels at home. Fingerstyle and flatpicking both work well here. Fuller necks are becoming more common as people discover the reduced hand fatigue when playing for long periods of time. The scale length of this guitar is 25.3" and the instrument responds extremely well to light gage strings. Mediums may be used for the 'power hungry,' but the lights will have enough power to drop your jaw. This guitar is in the 'big leagues.' An aggressive pick attack will find virtually unlimited headroom. It is loud and rich with a huge dynamic range. The good news is that when more fully played in by its next rightful owner, it will likely bloom with hurricaine force. The guitar is reverberant without muddiness. The clear sustain is long and filled with a background of singing harmonics. On the flip side of things, this is also a very responsive instrument that can be played softly with a light touch effectively. This guitar is one of the very special ones. Goodies: Bone nut, saddle, bridge pins and nice end graft at the bottom of the guitar. The rosette design incorporates inlays of 18kt gold. The fingerboard and headplate are Brazilian rosewood, subtly framed with thin light strips of wood. The low profile Brazilian rosewood bridge is sculpted elegantly." --Richard

$14,935 with hand made, stippled light brown leather hard case.
This instrument is the 'FGC Guitar of the Month' -- available to be seen and purchased at The Blue Guitar store in San Diego, California -- as well as FGC!

2008 Stephen Marchione 'FGC Special' SolidBodyNeckTM

Our clients have enjoyed special hand made electrics we've offered over the years. Here is one that is not flashy, but like an understated race car--built for optimum performance. Imagine how it is for a batter stepping up to home plate. Connecting on the swing with that hardball generates a shock wave that reverberates down the length of the bat. The musical equivalent is, thankfully, more sensual and just as satisfying. It is this Marchione SolidBodyNeckTM guitar that is carved from one single block of old growth mahogany! What could be better than a perfectly fitted neck joint to transfer the energy from the body vibration to the neck? No neck joint. You get pure, total energy reaction, vibration, and singing sustain every time your pick fires off a note! The high level of art and science necessary to execute a guitar like this is not found every day. Kudos to Stephen Marchione for consistently being able to sculpt fine old tonewood into living, breathing guitars. We have several very happy players who use their SolidBodyNeckTM guitars for Blues, Jazz, Pop, and Rock. Georg Wadenius of Steely Dan, Faton Macula of both Mark Anthony and Luis Miguel's bands, and Mark Whitfield, who recently toured worldwide with Sting, all play Marchione electrics. The photos of this SolidBodyNeckTM only hint at the beauty of the wood grain turned by nature and Stephen Marchione's hands. You can take in the dramatic pattern in the broader expanse of this one-piece design. With the exception of his locking Sperzel tuners, Marchione has his hardware and pickups made to proprietary specs. Not only is the sound from his humbuckers vintage creamy smooth, but his impeccable neck angle, fret job, and setup make his guitars studio perfect. The nut width is right at about 1.72" and the SolidBodyNeckTM guitar weighs in just over 6lbs. (about 3 Kilos for you clients outside the USA). 3 guitars of this model, created for Fine Guitar Consultants, are available now. Give Richard a call to put your name on this one.

$7,200 with newly designed 'Marchione Red' custom hard shell case.. 
 

an exquisite limited edition guitar with rare woods

2006 Petros 'African Rose Bushongo Grand Concert Cutaway' #1

The sound of this world-class guitar is a joy to feel as well as hear. This is #1 of three in total, in this highly limited edition. Let's see if the physical fit of this guitar is a good match for you to begin with; it has to feel right against your body to make it right for you! The dimensions of this instrument are similar to the next Petros guitar below. Body dimensions: 19 1/2" long, lower bout is 15 1/2", 9 5/8" at the waist, with an upper bout of 11 3/8". The guitar is 4 1/2" deep. The scale length is 25 1/2". Playability? I agree with the Petros claim that this model does flatpicking and fingerpicking well. I see no compromise in either. This 100+-year-old submerged Curly redwood top is a soundboard that is among the finest wood for tonal warmth and clarity. The back and sides are African rosewood (a/k/a bubinga) of an intensely, thoroughly figured tiger stripe. (Talk about an African theme!) The African design in the beautiful wood marquetry rosette ties in the beautiful appointments. To read the back story on how this tonewood was discovered, click on this link. The Sound: Clear, richly reverberant and powerful! A sweetness in the character of the notes and the warmth you would expect from redwood, is fortified with the stregth of this crystaline material that was seasoned under water and pressure for so many years. The bonus hat trick is the perfect string to string balance achieved here in spite of the power and full, rich basses. The instrument is reponsive to a light touch as well--adding up to a full dynamic range. The fit and finish are as expected in a guitar of this level. The pride of ownership with this guitar will be obvious. Its ability to to express the music in you? Priceless. (Sorry about that...couldn't resist!) An editorial note from Richard: "A true collectible cannot be created. The market creates that. Rarity and demand are involved. My advice is to ignore the strong potential for financial gain on this guitar (and others). If you are drawn in for the right musical reasons, you will gain the lifetime pleasure that guitars like these have to offer--in spades."

$22,500 with a one-off full color hard cover book featuring this limited edition and in-process photos.

A Historic Rock fantasy inspires art on three levels!

2006 Petros/Macdonald collaboration --'Bluebird' Grand Concert

Magnificence on all levels. First, let's lay out the nuts and bolts of this instrument. Body dimensions: 19 1/2" long, lower bout is 15 1/2", 9 5/8" at the waist, with an upper bout of 11 3/8". The guitar is 4 1/2" deep. The scale length is 25 1/2". A 15-year-old Englemann spruce top exhibits light, creamy color with gorgeous silking. A grafted Claro walnut tree from Oregon provided the sides and the back. A mahogany neck, ebony fretboard, bridge, boxwood binding and bridge pins, Thuya burl buttons and truss rod cover complete the woods list. A precision hand carved bone nut and intonated saddle complete the set up, complementing a perfect neck angle and exquisite fret work. 'Bluebird' is the first collaborative masterpiece in a very limited series of one-of-a-kind 'song inspired' instruments by Bruce and Matt Petros of Petros Guitars. We have been happily representing Petros guitars for a number of years. For this series, Petros joins up with one of the very top marquetry artists in the US, James Macdonald, pictured in the collage linked here with his live model. 'Bluebird' was inspired by the song Bluebird, by Stephen Stills when in the band Buffalo Springfield. Rarely does an instrument have heart-rending vibrant and shimmering sound, fine art elements, and a creative fantasy theme, as well. Marquetry is the art of inlaying tiny pieces of wood to make patterns or designs. Marquetry patterns are a traditional part of guitar making. The intricate marquetry portrait on the back of 'Bluebird' is spectacular in its detail and scope. Macdonald's work takes his chosen art to a higher level. With the presentation of 'Bluebird,' FGC is proud to announce exclusive representation of James Macdonald for future marquetry work on guitar projects. Call Richard with your ideas. And now, the beautiful (and factual) concept, the poetic fantasy, and the thoughtful 'extras' that encompass 'Bluebird.' Each click on the previous underscored words will take you to expanded details. And, congratulations to Petros Guitars for being one of the award winners of the Acoustic Guitar 2006 Player's Choice Award.

Released for sale: $20,000

A highly affordable 'Lucky 12' Soundboard FGC Special...

Celtic player? Read the buyer's comments here

2007 Bob Laughlin 'Lucky 12' 'RL' model, Serial No. 55

Bob Laughlin made the trip to San Diego from his native Vancouver, Brittish Colombia to visit Fine Guitar Consultants. He was carrying 2 guitars when he walked through the door. I was happy to meet Bob, as we are always looking to support experienced makers who deserve to be introduced to the 'mainstream' world of hand made guitars (a relative term, to be sure!). When I played Bob's instruments, I recognized that he was doing the level of work that our clientele could benefit from at a price level that helps make FGC's guitars more affordable and accessible. Since our 'Lucky 12' Soundboard project is well under way, and Bob's prices were so reasonable for this level of guitar, I invited him to make an instrument for us with one of our old 'Lucky 12' partially submerged Sitka spruce soundboards. This is the second one he has made for us. And, it is available for sale. I am very pleased with its 'old soul' at such a young age. It is, of course, a new guitar. Often, new guitars can be stiff and tight until they are played in for a little while. This one has a relaxed feel, an airy, open, woody tone--and is fun to play. It is very similar to our first one from Bob. Perfect clarity and separation; very balanced tone. Explains maker Bob Laughlin, "The top is domed in all directions - like the surface of a sphere. This creates a strong structure that resists string-tension deformation and reduces low humidity problems." (for an inside view of one of his last Lucky 12 instrument, click here.)The back and sides are old growth Santos Imperial Brazilian rosewood, supplied by Fine Guitar Consultants. The wood is straight grain and nicely quarter sawn. It is at least 50 year-old air dried stock. This Laughlin 'Large' has a 15 3/4" lower bout--only 3/4 inch wider at the lower bout than the Laughlin on our web site that was sold, this instrument, for strumming or fingerpicking, has more OOMPH, according to the Maker (I agree!) The wide oval sound hole sets off this pleasing and different design. The side sound port is a gift from the Maker to you (no extra charge). It gives the player a more personal sound experience. The Waverly tuners are also a classy addition. The nut width is 1 3/4". The scale length is 25.5". The body of the instrument is finished with a high-gloss, acoustically thin, water-based lacquer, while the neck has a polymerized oil finish, providing a very natural feel. A crack developed in the back that did not show until the finish was completed. You have to know Bob's sense of humor to realize that the 'bar code' fix that you see on the back was structurally a great fix (that crack is a non-issue now) and the bar code is a story you will have to tell friends for years to come. The wood was too precious to waste, so for the sake of tone, a new aesthetic was applied to the instrument to save the day!

$5,935

Our one and only LEFTY electric for sale
(we also have a traditional Klepper Lefty acoustic flattop--Call)

1996 Timtone 'MK' Left-Handed

"Just so lefties don't have to search the whole website, I thought I'd list this guitar near the top of this list. It isn't often that a left handed electric player gets a chance to acquire a custom Timtone (or any custom guitar) without ordering it special. We have offered re-sale Timtones from time to time and have appreciated Tim Diebert's work. In fact, Tim Diebert has announced that he is no longer taking orders at this point in his guitar making. This smaller body Timtone was hand made in Brittish Colombia. It weighs in just shy of 9 lbs., and is well-balanced. The 6-bolt neck is just an outward clue of the stability of Tim's designs. The structure is solid and the sustain and gain are plain to hear! The first-rate 2TEK bridge block makes a good contribution to that. This is a rocker, for sure. The quilted maple top is fitted over carved lacewood. It is beautiful to see the wood grains change orientation as the carving takes a turn transitioning from side to back. The guitar's one-piece flamed maple neck has a smooth feel. The tuners are designed by Ned Steinberger. Claimed to be "the BEST and most precise tuners ever made," the Steinberger Gearless Tuners are indeed very accurate and smooth. The patented units a feature 40:1 tuning ratio (the better ones are usually 16:1) and a straight-pull design that pulls the string in so there's no extra winding or slippage. A separate clamping knob locks the string end in place and facilitates quick string changes. The nut width is 1 11/16" and the neck is a comfortable medium C-shape. The scale length is 25". A mid-position single coil pickup is surrounded by 2 humbuckers. The forward switch takes you from rhythm into lead. The three 3-position mini-toggles activate a bass or treble attitude for each pickup with the center position turning off that pickup. Very cool wiring scheme with overall master volume and tone. End strap fittings in 2 locations. Hey, someone tell Paul McCartney about this one! (I seem to have misplaced his phone number...)" --Richard

$3,600 with form-fitted Calton case.

2003 Vines Artisan Grand Concert cutaway

Many desirable characteristics are present in this guitar. Tony Vines worked by himself for a number of years, creating this guitar model, figuring out precisely how to make it the best guitar he could possibly make. Tony is a gifted player, which is a bonus in seeing things from both sides, I believe. I have much respect for this capable luthier (I don't use that term lightly.). The materials on this instrument (which is available for sale--we also have a permanent sample) include back and sides of Beeswing Mahogany. The figuring is both unusual and beautiful; difficult to accurately capture in a photograph. The top is a new discovery that Tony brings to us: Alaskan Yellow Cedar. Imagine the quick snappy attack of Adirondack Spruce crossed with the warmth and richness of Cedar! Add an easy feel--even with the 25.7 scale length, and you have a guitar that is fun to play, complex in dynamics, and posessing a power and clarity to cross over from one style of music to another. Macassar ebony Bridge, a Gaboon ebony fingerboard, Mother of Pearl "V" headstock logo, and bone nut (1.75") and saddle. 5-piece laminated neck, green Abalone soundhole purfling, a 2-way adjustable truss rod along with Gold Schallers and Ebony buttons complete the guitar nicely. Drop to alternate tunings if you wish. These guitars hold up to the task!

SOLD (We have 2 others in stock. Call Richard. Base price is $4,500, 5-piece laminated neck is standard)