My Guitars & Mandolins
This is MY STYLE, interpretations of 1930's & 1940's vintage steel strings, with simple appointments, lightness, woody tone, and charm. All the things that "vintage, pre-war" means to a knowledgeable player, but with the strength that is found in a new instrument.
I do not have a pre-set price list, every instrument is different.
My base price is currently hovering at $2,400 for a nicely appointed guitar.
Contact me (I like email) with your inquiry, and we can discuss the range of pricing and options.
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Size 2 Guitar, in Carpathian Spruce and Honduras Mahogany, 24.9" scale.
Built as shown, $1,250. with case.
Little guitars are not for everyone, you bluegrassers can look away.
No need for the masses to find out, the secret is between you and me, little guitars are a thing of joy.
If I built it any lighter, it would fly to flinders.
If it were any plainer, would you take it to the dance?
But if you let it sing, it will tell you a story!
This one is off to Peru, but I will make another.
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A "Nick Lucas Special" style guitar.
L-00 shaped guitars are great, and can be built many ways, depending on the player's style.
This one was 25.4" scale & 13 frets to the body, Red Spruce and Mahogany, MadRose fret board & bridge.
The deep body gives a unique tone.
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The "Blues Town" Guitar!
My favorite guitar of all time was a very special 1930's Gibson L-00. I have had the sound of that guitar in my head for 30 years.
The Blues Town guitar is my reproduction of the style L-0, just as Gibson did back then. All mahogany, 14 frets to the body.
A guitar for every man.
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I like to play Bluegrass.
This powerful Red Spruce topped, Honduras Mahogany dreadnaught guitar was built for Andy, who shared with me his "flat-pickers dream".
Andy wrote me about his dreadnaught: "Just wanted to let you know that I had a wonderful weekend with my guitar. Went to two jams and got to play and hear the guitar played by others. It cut through even the rudest of banjo players and garnered many many compliments. Just thought you would like to know that you have one very happy customer."
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This is my Grand Concert guitar, 15" wide at the lower bout. 24.9"scale. This is "my shape" developed from vintage references, of course.
This is my personal guitar. I fingerpick and flatpick with it. I have installed a K&K pickupfor my regular Sunday gig.
This guitar is built light, like a 30's guitar would be, and is hardly ever seen now on new guitars.
Perfect for "the blues" fingerpicking, and will really stand out when flat-picked.
You may like to give me detailed directions on the shape of the neck. I can work from your templates.
A custom-built guitar may have several personal features.
The Grand Concert can be built with a choice of materials, of course, can be had short or long scale, 12 or 14 frets to the body, and your preference in nut width and string spacing. It is a very versatile design, and is a great "blues-box", and if you like to flat-pick, is loud and balanced.
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The "Sabine"is my reproduction of the old "long body" 00-sized guitars of the 1920's and '30's.
These can be built with Spruce & Mahogany, or all mahogany.
Light as a feather, 12 frets to the body,1-3/4" nut, 2-1/4" string spacing, solid carbon fiber rod in the neck, 24.9" scale, make this the most comfortable guitar to sit and play for hours. Plain and simple.
Here is a Sabine in a fancier style, Red Spruce top, rope purfling and rosette. Brazilian Rosewood fretboard, bridge & trim.
Bracing on the Sabine top is 1/4" and scalloped.
This "Sabine" style-18 is Honduras Mahogany with Red Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood fretboard, bridge, head plate & binding
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Tom C. of Wisconsin bought this Knutsen-style Harp Mandolin as a gift for his wife. Built of Black Walnut, with a Redwood top, Ebony fretboard and bridges, and a carbon-fiber reinforced neck. Plays and sounds wonderful. Wife is "thrilled!" Thank you, Tom.
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My faithful reproduction of the "Army-Navy" style mandolin, produced as early as 1917 in Kalamazoo. Dubbed the "New Navy." These have carbon fiber neck reinforcements, flame maple bindings, nice Spruce or Redwoodtops and Black Walnut back and sides. "Top line" Grover tuners. French polish shellac finish. Built with a slight arch to the top and back, they play easy, are loud, with a fat tone and sustain.
As I finish a few mandolins, my friends at the Mandolin Cafe' will hear about them first.
Of course they will be listed here, as well.
Below is the New Navy as a Mandola, 17" scale.
Jonathan in Vermont had this to report.
"I had a chance to put the mandola through its paces at last night's jam.
When I'm playing by myself at home I don't play very loud or aggressively, but in the jam when I pushed the mandola it responded with a full clear loud and rich tone that got everyone's attention."
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The "Hard Times" banjo. A simple, tack-head banjo.
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The Slot-head is an option on most guitars.
You can see and hear a recent recording of two of my instruments, and a short story of me and my shop, at my youtube channel:
David Newton