Best RW Boutique Dreadnought

[soups]

Originally Posted by bobster7

Atkin would be my choice (D37 pre-war), dry vintage tone. The H&D TDR is terrific but quite lush sounding to my ears.

Considering they’ve only made about 2800 acoustics, this would definitely “fly under the radar “requirement.

One of my three dreads is an Atkin. They make excellent instruments

Not a whole lot of Adirondack dreads out there by Atkin but this one is reasonable.

https://reverb.com/item/40487701-atk...ntent=40487701

Would need to add around 7% duty payment to the shipping company when all said and done. May be worth calling the shop and seeing if their can do a better price if you pay wire or bank transfer. I’ve bought three Atkins from overseas and they’re always willing to work with you - at least at Coda music in the UK or Kauffman’s in the Netherlands.

[sevenpalms]

+1 for Atkin. I played a Atkin White-Rice about 2 months ago that blew me out of the water. Absolute cannon! Whatever those guys are doing, they are doing it right!

[soups]

The main issue with Atkin is that they typically have 1 11/16 nuts. The pre wars have 1-3/4 and have Adirondack tops. They are a little hard to come by. I was so impressed by my OM37 (1-11/16) that I custom ordered one with Madagascar back and 1-3/4 nut

[sinistral]

Originally Posted by mcduffnw

I have no affiliation with either the seller or the guitar in question...but...

Right now, out on our classified section, forum member matts67 has a Merrill C-18 for sale...which is his version of the Pre-War style Martin D-18...for a price well under your upper range.

Merrill guitars are IMO, as good as it gets in the vintage pre-war Martin repro world. That guitar would definitely give you the vintage look, feel, and tone you are after, and in spades. And under budget for you!

Jim Merrill builds a fabulous pre-war Martin repro guitar. You should seriously give this one a looksee and talk with the seller.

I believe fellow forum member "brencat" would/will back me all the way up on this if he see's this thread. He is a huge Merrill fan and owner/player.

Give it some thought.


duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

I had mentioned Matt Arcara and Rufus Thames previously, thinking Merrills would be out of the OP’s price range. Here’s a Merrill in Brazilian rosewood with a gorgeous shadetop for a little over $1k over the OP’s budget:

2008 Merrill C-28, Brazilian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce

[iCGM]

Great discussion, I could chime in that Boucher is a builder that you should really consider in your search, whether the Bluegrass Goose (BG-52 / BG-152 / BG 252) or Studio Goose model (SG-52 / SG-152 / SG-252) for a dread would be the question. Both meet the criteria but the Bluegrass Goose is braced and voiced in a way to tear your face off, whereas the Studio Goose Dread is probably more in line with what you're looking for. Totally different sounds.

I have a late 2022 build of the SG-52 with Master Grade Top (non-torrified) and it is a fabulous instrument.

It's a bit tough to find stock as they sell out quick, but if you reach out to Boucher they could help you out and tell you potentially which dealers are getting what you're looking for.

Just saying, don't overlook them. For the price, they are very hard to beat. Their Adirondack tops are the best in the world.

PS. 52 = East Indian Rosewood Dread
152 - Madagascar Dread
252 - Brazilian Dread

[mcduffnw]

Originally Posted by sinistral

I had mentioned Matt Arcara and Rufus Thames previously, thinking Merrills would be out of the OP’s price range. Here’s a Merrill in Brazilian rosewood with a gorgeous shadetop for a little over $1k over the OP’s budget:

2008 Merrill C-28, Brazilian Rosewood/Adirondack Spruce

Yeppers...

If Scoobtay can push his budget up to this guitar, he would do well to grab this one. The guys at Dream Guitars genuinely seem to really love it, and a Braz/Adi Merrill for $7K is a good deal.


duff
Be A Player...Not A Polisher

[s2y]

I saw Pre War guitars and torrified woods, which is how I discovered Bob Thompson and ordered several guitars from him.

I was able to get Brazilian and 41 style purfling for around the $6k mark a few years back. With Indian rosewood, you should be comfortably under $6k.

[J Patrick]

As usual a list of personal favorites is presenting itself. I’m a Santa Cruz fan but I’ve owned Rosewood Dreadnoughts by Martin and Huss&Dalton that were swell. Neck carve is a big deal to me which is why I love SC’s so much. That and their light build. I’d identify which guitars suit you with regards to playing comfort and go from there. If you don’t love the feel of playing it you’ll never truly love the guitar.

[joereadel]

I haven't seen any mention of Suda guitars here yet (unless I missed it). I have a 28-style (Honduran rosewood) Suda dreadnought that ticks a lot of your boxes: adi top, pre war bracing, no popsicle brace, hot hide glue construction, T bar, super thin finish, made by a single master luthier in Osaka, Japan. Chris Eldridge, Kenny Smith, Josh Williams, and Grant Gordy all play/played them. They're hard to find, but man. Very loud and beautiful. Mine was $6k. There's a great thread about them on the UMGF.

[Scoobtay]

Really incredible discussion thus far, everyone! Continuing to appreciate everyone's insight here. I'm seeing some pretty healthy representation of brands I did NOT have on my radar, so I selfishly deem this post as a very successful presentation of thoughtful responses.

I've now got Boucher and Atkin at the top of my list, where they weren't anywhere on it two days ago. I hope I did not offend anyone in my chase for finding companies that "fly under the radar," but still present some semblance of a headstock emblem, heritage, quality, and craftsmanship.

Is it standard practice for folks to fly out to other states to try guitars? Finding US Boucher and Atkin dealers is tough, though I'm only a state away from CA.

[AcousticDreams]

Originally Posted by Scoobtay

Really incredible discussion thus far, everyone! Continuing to appreciate everyone's insight here. I'm seeing some pretty healthy representation of brands I did NOT have on my radar, so I selfishly deem this post as a very successful presentation of thoughtful responses.

I've now got Boucher and Atkin at the top of my list, where they weren't anywhere on it two days ago. I hope I did not offend anyone in my chase for finding companies that "fly under the radar," but still present some semblance of a headstock emblem, heritage, quality, and craftsmanship.

Is it standard practice for folks to fly out to other states to try guitars? Finding US Boucher and Atkin dealers is tough, though I'm only a state away from CA.

I too would love to try out a Boucher. I think it is important to note that if you try out or purchase a Boucher, you should look at guitars he built after 2016...Preferably a new Boucher.

The reason being he dramatically changed the way he built his guitars after a couple of trips to the u.s = studying prewar guitars.

[Jwills57]

Another name for you to check out. MacMillan Guitars out of Tennessee. Look to be the real deal. I haven't played one but I will soon. Lots of great videos clips up on his website. He's a got an adi-cocobolo dreadnought for sale right now for, I think, $5,300.

[llew]

Robin Boucher and his team are very passionate about the guitars they build and it shows in the two I own and the few others I've played. Still kicking myself for not picking up a BG-52 when the opportunity presented itself. Beyond dumb!

[soups]

Originally Posted by Scoobtay

Really incredible discussion thus far, everyone! Continuing to appreciate everyone's insight here. I'm seeing some pretty healthy representation of brands I did NOT have on my radar, so I selfishly deem this post as a very successful presentation of thoughtful responses.

I've now got Boucher and Atkin at the top of my list, where they weren't anywhere on it two days ago. I hope I did not offend anyone in my chase for finding companies that "fly under the radar," but still present some semblance of a headstock emblem, heritage, quality, and craftsmanship.

Is it standard practice for folks to fly out to other states to try guitars? Finding US Boucher and Atkin dealers is tough, though I'm only a state away from CA.

You could easily fly somewhere is long as you’re willing to recognize that the expenses part of your investment.

If you get an Atkin from Chicago Music exchange or Eddie’s they will have an approval period where you can send it back in a pre determined amount of time.

[warfrat73]

Flights to Nashville are frequently pretty cheap from about anywhere.