What are your Top 5 favorite luthier-built guitars?

[bho]

For me:

1. Greven
2. Brondel
3. Franklin
4. Traugott
5. Klassen

[Wade Hampton]

That I own or have had the chance to play?

Of the ones I own, my number one is the acoustic baritone guitar in koa that Roy McAlister built for me in 1999. It's an astounding instrument that upends virtually every commonplace "group wisdom" and guitar forum cliché on the subject. Whenever I see a posted comment about how "baritone guitars are only good for slow music" or "baritones can't be heard very well when other instruments are being played" I think "You haven't played this McAlister baritone, bucko, or you wouldn't be saying that!"

Probably second would be my Howard Klepper KJ in black walnut and Carpathian spruce. It's inspired by the Gibson Advanced Jumbo but is Howard's own take on the style. Again, it's a terrific guitar.

Third would be the 000-42 that Scott Baxendale built for me in 1988. It's just a wonderful guitar. I've been playing it a lot lately. It's unquestionably one of the best guitar commissioning decisions I've ever made.

As for other custom guitar builders that I've either met, played some of their guitars or both, one who doesn't get much attention on these online discussion forums yet does extraordinary work is Michael Lewis. He specializes in mandolins and archtop guitars, but also will occasionally build a flattop guitar.

Then there's Kevin Ryan, Jim Olson, Charlie Hoffman, all of whom do great work. Kim Walker is another, and so is John Walker.

The list goes on and on. Too many to list here.


Wade Hampton Miller

[billgennaro]

No disrespect to other luthiers but these are just my personal favorites as of this date.

Jeff Traugott
Kim Walker
Ervin Somogyi
Franklin (Nick Kukich)
Laurent Brondel

And I can think of a few others that could easily be on that list.

[Jimbolaya]

I honestly can't afford to have that many favorites.
#1 Brondel - consistently like his guitars
#2 Yamamoto - mine is fantastic.
#3 klepper - still haunted by one that got away
#4 John Howe
#5 lowden
I'm sure there are so many other maker that I'm not giving enough credit.
Don't have enough experience with so many others to get them on my list.

[ikravchik]

Originally Posted by billgennaro

No disrespect to other luthiers but these are just my personal favorites as of this date.

Jeff Traugott
Kim Walker
Ervin Somogyi
Franklin (Nick Kukich)
Laurent Brondel

And I can think of a few others that could easily be on that list.

Checked out Traugott guitars, they start at $26,500interesting... Does anybody on this forum actually own one?

[Prof_Turby]

Originally Posted by ikravchik

Checked out Traugott guitars, they start at $26,500interesting... Does anybody on this forum actually own one?

At $26K I wonder how many have been made or sold? I bet that the number is not too high.

[steveh]

In no particular order (and ignoring value-for-money), and steel-string only:

Kostal
Traugott
Ralph Bown
Claxton
Somogyi

Yet to play a Walker...

Cheers,
Steve

[antsdmb]

In my very limited experience, I would put Kent Hamblin and Mike Baranik up against anything else out there. Also a mention to Bashkin guitars.

[ChuckS]

I'd place the guitars I've owned on that list:

Carruth
Bresnan
Poling

Others I've tried and were great:
Merrill
Brentrup

[billgennaro]

Originally Posted by ikravchik

Checked out Traugott guitars, they start at $26,500interesting... Does anybody on this forum actually own one?

Yes, I do. A few others on this forum also own Traugotts but mainly participate in the Custom section only.

Originally Posted by Prof_Turby

At $26K I wonder how many have been made or sold? I bet that the number is not too high.

He has made right around 200 guitars so far. At 57 years old I suspect there are another 100 builds to come in the future.

Bill

[fregly]

Very few people have played enough high end guitars to make this interesting. I guess guys lucky enough to work in a big boutique shop, or live near one, and also are advanced players. Pretty small sample.

[Michael Watts]

Tough choice but if I had to narrow it down to five sole-luthier guitars it would be (in no particular order):

Kostal



Greenfield



Olson



Traugott



Somogyi

[psychojohn]

1. Halcyon: No surprise here as I own one and have been raving. Excellent tone at an even better price.
2. McIlroy: Got a A30c. Beautiful Celtic tone
3. Olson: Love the tone and aspire to own one ... someday.
4. Kostal: Aesthetic Beauties with great tone and price.
5. Wren: innovative Aesthetic and tonal beauties I am choosing over Somogyi and Traugott as I'll never afford either of the latter but may the former.

There are truly so many talented builders out there, it's hard to limit it to five.

[jaymarsch]

So many good builders and so many aspects are subjective, but you did say favorite, so here are mine:

My Wingert Model E is my favorite hand built guitar
My Wingert Concert Muse (OO) is a close second
I played an Olson at Healdsburg in 2003 and it was stellar - (too expensive for my budget)
I played a beautiful Klepper OO that was incredible at Schoenberg's maybe 6 or 7 years ago - Stevie Coyle, I believe, bought that guitar. There was also another Klepper I played that was maybe a Jumbo size - Italian Spruce and African Blackwood - I kept showing up at Schoenberg's just to play it.
I have also played guitars by Michael Bashkin, Gerald Sheppard, Randall Kramer, Laurent Brondel, and Lance McCollom (RIP) that were memorable.
Almost forgot to mention a redwood topped harp guitar I played by Mike Doolin - really special!

Best,
Jayne

[Earwitness]

I have not played 75% of the ones listed. My Allison is superb, and I have now compared it to many other famous guitars with no regrets. Two others I have played and liked a lot were McAlister and Langejans.