Best RW Boutique Dreadnought

[Scoobtay]

Hello all,

As the title suggests, I am looking to track down a long-term, heirloom-quality dread. I would love to find my way into a vintage Brazilian RW Martin D-28, but this is a task that my wallet and time won't likely allow. With this said, I'm looking for a Pre-War-style Dreadnought with roughly these parameters:

- Adi or Sitka Top
- RW B&S
- 1 3/4 Nut
- Herringbone Binding
- Bone Nut and Saddle

I'm currently leaning pretty heavily towards a Collings D2H, BUT I'm only a few hours away from Preston Thompson...

Ideally I would love to stay under 6k USD but would stretch a little for the best of the best. I know that ultimately I would need to play and compare everything suggested, but don't want to leave any considerations out. I'm not interested in modern Martin stuff at the moment.

Thanks everyone,

[SpruceTop]

I enjoy my Huss & Dalton TD-R.

[mas30066]

The short answer is that there isn’t an answer. The slightly longer answer is that you have four production houses - Collings, Santa Cruz, Bourgeois, Huss and Dalton - all building traditional dreads in your general range. If those, I was the most moved by H and D. Jayson Bowerman’s also in Oregon. If I’m going solo in that range, I’d at least want to pay him an extended visit. But enjoy, take it all in, and don’t be too anxious. Lots of right choices in this range and you’ll only really miss out through choice paralysis.

[Glennwillow]

I don't think you will find any Collings dreadnoughts with BRW for $6k; used versions of those go for $10-14K these days. But you can find versions of the Collings D2H with EIR and those are very nice guitars.

You can find some older (but not pre-war) Martin D-28 models for around $7.5k on Reverb.

You might call around to some shops like Gruhn's or Gryphon Stringed Instruments or The Music Emporium to see what they might have available.

I think the most wonderful dreadnought I have ever played was a mid-1990s Collings D3 with BRW back and sides and Adi top. It had the most terrific sound.

Best of luck in your search.

- Glenn

[SuperB23]

If I were looking to spend less than $6k and get the best Rosewood D-28 style guitar I'd probably target either a Goodall TRD or maybe a used Martin D-28 Authentic of some sort. If you take the financial cap off a Santa Cruz Tony Rice Pro model or 1934 D would be one of the best you could get for a newer D-28 style guitar. The Pre-War HD models are also pretty nice sounding guitars.

I'd personally not buy a Collings.

[llew]

Pre War Guitar Company builds an Old Growth East Indian Rosewood model dread with torrified Adirondack herringbone top for $5995 new. Built time waits exceed two years however? Their dealer network occasionally will have one in stock though. Meets all your criteria and comes in just under budget.
The D2H Traditional from Collings and TD-R from Huss & Dalton are also very nice.

[Glennwillow]

Originally Posted by SuperB23

If I were looking to spend less than $6k and get the best Rosewood D-28 style guitar I'd probably target either a Goodall TRD or maybe a used Martin D-28 Authentic of some sort. If you take the financial cap off a Santa Cruz Tony Rice Pro model or 1934 D would be one of the best you could get for a newer D-28 style guitar. The Pre-War HD models are also pretty nice sounding guitars.

I'd personally not buy a Collings.

Here is a Goodall TRD for sale on Reverb, these are very nice guitars.

- Glenn

[Dogma]

Originally Posted by Scoobtay

Hello all,

As the title suggests, I am looking to track down a long-term, heirloom-quality dread. I would love to find my way into a vintage Brazilian RW Martin D-28, but this is a task that my wallet and time won't likely allow. With this said, I'm looking for a Pre-War-style Dreadnought with roughly these parameters:

- Adi or Sitka Top
- RW B&S
- 1 3/4 Nut
- Herringbone Binding
- Bone Nut and Saddle

I'm currently leaning pretty heavily towards a Collings D2H, BUT I'm only a few hours away from Preston Thompson...

Ideally I would love to stay under 6k USD but would stretch a little for the best of the best. I know that ultimately I would need to play and compare everything suggested, but don't want to leave any considerations out. I'm not interested in modern Martin stuff at the moment.

Thanks everyone,

You say "Pre-War-style." Do you actually mean Pre War style - meaning in the style of Martins made before WWII, or do you mean an instrument like one made by Pre-War Guitar Company?
In either case, what about Pre-War Guitar Company? I think they make what you are looking for and I think likely to be closer to your budget in EIR, new, than the others listed here. Even their BRW models are a pretty good deal all things considered. And, as always, keep your eyes peeled for used.

[67goat]

How are you defining heirloom quality? Something that will last a long time? Plenty of cheap guitars will do this, but I doubt that's what you mean. Something that will increase in value? If that's part of the equation, boutique is probably not the answer. You'll get a better guitar for the money going boutique, but they don't seem to hold value as well. Unless you buy used, then potential losses would be minimal.

I do realize that for something meant to be passed down, value retention should not be a major concern. However, if you end up not liking it, not being able to pass it down, or find yourself in a position you need to sell, value retention will become important.

I do not claim to know every builder (by far), but $6K seems like the entry point for those specs by boutique builders. At least for new.

Pre War Guitars' herringbone, Indian RW dread is $5995. Waitlist is fairly long. That's also the neighborhood of a Boucher Bluegrass Goose. Bourgeois Vintage Professional or Heirloom should have herringbone right around that price. Used Santa Cruz Model D....

[nostatic]

6K will get you a new Collings D2H - the 1-3/4" is technically an option but most I see out there have it.

How sensitive are you to neck shape? And do you like the Collings sound or are you looking for more Martin? The standard Collings is fairly removed from Martin, the Traditional build is a bit closer but still sounds different to my ear.

If you like the modified low oval neck shape, hard to argue against a Martin D-28 as they are the gold standard and about half your budget price. If you don't like that neck, then you need to go Authentic and you're in the 6K range depending on the details.

Might also look at Boucher BG-52. I'm somewhat considering a dread, and my top candidate is a D2H (with 1-11/16" nut) but the Boucher looks like an interesting option.

[guitarman68]

If you are looking for a boutique built Pre War - style D28, here are my suggestions (from what I played and / or owned):
Jim Merrill C28
Bob Altman D28
Pre-War Guitars Co. D28
Martin Authentic D28

Sure there are more fine builders out there, like Boucher, Preston Thompson ... but I only can tell from what I tried out or owned.

[warfrat73]

There is no best, only preferences.

Bourgeois, Collings, Huss and Dalton, Santa Cruz, Preston Thompson, Pre*War Guitar Company, Martin are all worthy. You might even be able to get a custom build from a few builders.

You gotta get out there and play some things.

[Scoobtay]

Originally Posted by Dogma

You say "Pre-War-style." Do you actually mean Pre War style - meaning in the style of Martins made before WWII, or do you mean an instrument like one made by Pre-War Guitar Company?
In either case, what about Pre-War Guitar Company? I think they make what you are looking for and I think likely to be closer to your budget in EIR, new, than the others listed here. Even their BRW models are a pretty good deal all things considered. And, as always, keep your eyes peeled for used.

I’m blown away by the number of responses thus far. Thanks everyone for your words of advise already.

In regards to your first question, I just mean guitars that are “built like” Martin pre-ww2 guitars. Similar bracing, vintage square headstocks, that sort of deal.

As for the actual “Pre-War” brand guitars, something about them throws me off. I’ve neither seen nor played one, but I just can’t chase a blank headstock for some reason. They are missing “something” to me. And I’m cool to really use any Back and Side tone wood, but something similar to any Rosewood that has good sustain and note separation.

[Scoobtay]

Originally Posted by Glennwillow

Here is a Goodall TRD for sale on Reverb, these are very nice guitars.

- Glenn

Thank you, Glenn and SuperB. This is a builder I have missed completely in my search, and that linked guitar is gorgeous! Certainly will add this to the list of things to try to play soon.

[Br1ck]

I'm a bird in the hand kind of guy and would not wait two years for a guitar to be built. Guitars of this quality are exceedingly well cared for. It is rare to see one not in pretty fine condition. I would want to play this kind of guitar before buying it, but I live in a guitar wonderland of sorts.

I get the Gryphon twice weekly e mail report. I actually first saw my Santa Cruz D P/W that way featured in the new arrivals page. Interesting, I thought. It was only three or four weeks later that I was in Gryphon consigning an instrument that I was playing a few guitars I found interesting that I picked it up and the alarms went off. I would never have considered it otherwise. The used price and the aesthetics, bear claw and herringbone on a mahogany guitar, and the perfect neck, well, holding the guitar sealed the deal.

I realize most people don't have ready access though. I have a friend who has bought several top dollar guitars on line, and when he asks me for an opinion, I say, any of them will be great when the box shows up at your door. But I had just played a D 18 Authentic when I picked up the Cruz and for me it was a world better. The next guy might have the different opinion. If I'd ordered an Authentic out of the blue, I'd probably be very happy with it. Such is the quality at this price point.

Last I looked, a new D P/W is around $6800. That's the entry Santa Cruz. Some have 1 3/4 necks. Rosewood or mahogany are the same price. Used they are $5,000 more or less. I don't know what their wait time is for an order. They are all special order customs, and what you can get for no upcharge is astounding. What you can pay if you check a few boxes is too.

I imagine all these builders are similar.