Luthier Recommendations

[iim7V7IM7]

A couple questions before I respond to your request for suggestions:

Ultra responsive can be very demanding of a player’s technique. Are you certain you want this? Some guitars can go from 0 to 60 with the slightest change of attack. Are you certain that you want this or simply a guitar that is reasonably responsive to attack?

Why the ask for a lightly built guitar? I have guitars that are feather light and others that are somewhat heavier. All are great guitars. Is this an ergonomic request or a perception regarding that weight correlates to sound?

Words describing sound can often be the source of confusion. What do you mean by “a piano like deep but tight bass”? Do you want a bass that sustains and rumbles or one that is tight and articulate? This may not only influence the builder that I suggest but the size/model of guitar and wood choices.

What is a “modern” sound to you. I know what a traditional sound is. What guitars have you played that you consider to exemplify a “modern” sound.

Different builders have differing experience building guitars at different sizes, woods and features. Can you articulate a bit more about what you are looking for in terms of body size, number of frets to the body or whether you play in alternate tunings?

Sorry for all the questions.

Originally Posted by jklotz

I'm looking for an ultra responsive, light built guitar, tons of sustain, clarity and piano like deep but tight bass. Leaning more towards a modern sound than traditional/vintage.

[jklotz]

Thanks guys, I really appreciate the input. Very helpful.

[jklotz]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

A couple questions before I respond to your request for suggestions:

Ultra responsive can be very demanding of a player’s technique. Are you certain you want this? Some guitars can go from 0 to 60 with the slightest change of attack. Are you certain that you want this or simply a guitar that is reasonably responsive to attack?

Why the ask for a lightly built guitar? I have guitars that are feather light and others that are somewhat heavier. All are great guitars. Is this an ergonomic request or a perception regarding that weight correlates to sound?

Words describing sound can often be the source of confusion. What do you mean by “a piano like deep but tight bass”? Do you want a bass that sustains and rumbles or one that is tight and articulate? This may not only influence the builder that I suggest but the size/model of guitar and wood choices.

What is a “modern” sound to you. I know what a traditional sound is. What guitars have you played that you consider to exemplify a “modern” sound.

Different builders have differing experience building guitars at different sizes, woods and features. Can you articulate a bit more about what you are looking for in terms of body size, number of frets to the body or whether you play in alternate tunings?

Sorry for all the questions.

Please don't apologize, you are helping me! Thank you.

It doesn't have to be light weight, but it seems like most of the ones I played that were loud and super responsive were.

Ideally I'd like something comfortable like an OM sized body, but I can play a bigger guitar if I need to to get the tone and playability I'm after. I do some alt tunings, but prefer to stick with standard scale (25.5" or thereabouts). As for tonewoods, I was thinking redwood over rosewood although I'd want to run that by the builder and see what he suggested.

Jeez, I don't know how to answer those questions really. Sound can be difficult to describe. Maybe this will help - my Lowden o25c has a sound that I consider modern. Big, articulate bass, very responsive, lot's of overtones, built in natural reverb. Here is a thread I made recently with me playing it. I rolled off some bass (EQ) for the purpose of the video, but maybe it will help?

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=596962

[ericcsong]

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend Bigfoot guitars. I know you were concerned about international shipping and taxes and such, but I paid $400 for shipping and the guitar arrived to me in 2 DAYS! If you have any questions, pm me.
Feel free to check out my build thread on that:

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=523232

Osthoff, Baranik and Bashkin would be at the top of my list. Also Tom Doerr includes Brazilian in his Standard for $6500.

And of course, buying used will always give you a greater bang for the buck and gives you a chance to find what you are looking for. It's nice to romanticize about custom commissions, but there is always a greater risk if you haven't played an example of the builder's work!

[iim7V7IM7]

That was helpful (thanks). Lowden is a good reference. I know their sound.

Your Lowden O25c is much larger (16-1/2”), deeper (4-15/16”) guitar than a traditional OM (e.g. 15” x 4-1/8”) but so are many luthier made guitars called OMs. Deeper bodies tend to produce bass with a slower attack with varying sustain and overtones depending on top and body woods in my experience. An OM being a much smaller less deep instrument will have a more articulate bass. The amount of bloom or euphonic rumble is very body wood influenced in my experience.

So it sounds like you may want a larger model guitar with long scale as a starting point. The higher damping the body wood and shallower it is, the faster and more articulate the bass will typically be in a larger instrument. I saw that your guitar had a cutaway but the piece you played did not require one so I am uncertain whether it on your wish list. Typically, between optional woods and features such as a cutaway it is not uncommon to add another 20-30% to the base cost of a luthier made instrument so keep that in mind.

I suggest in your search you consider the following luthiers/models:

Luthier - Michael Bashkin
Model - The SJ

Luthier - Laurent Brondel
Model - A1 Essential

Luthier - Bruce Sexauer
Model - FT-16 WRX

Both Bruce and Laurent’s standard trim appointments may be above your price point (TBD) but Bruce’s WRX and Laurent’s Essential appointments have base prices for thousands of dollars less. They are every bit as good acoustically, just with humbler appointments. Alternately, check out the used pernambuco/adirondack spruce Brondel A1c for sale now in the AGF classifieds.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=591152

That might be a good choice as well.

Originally Posted by jklotz

Please don't apologize, you are helping me! Thank you.

It doesn't have to be light weight, but it seems like most of the ones I played that were loud and super responsive were.

Ideally I'd like something comfortable like an OM sized body, but I can play a bigger guitar if I need to to get the tone and playability I'm after. I do some alt tunings, but prefer to stick with standard scale (25.5" or thereabouts). As for tonewoods, I was thinking redwood over rosewood although I'd want to run that by the builder and see what he suggested.

Jeez, I don't know how to answer those questions really. Sound can be difficult to describe. Maybe this will help - my Lowden o25c has a sound that I consider modern. Big, articulate bass, very responsive, lot's of overtones, built in natural reverb. Here is a thread I made recently with me playing it. I rolled off some bass (EQ) for the purpose of the video, but maybe it will help?

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=596962

[jklotz]

Originally Posted by iim7V7IM7

That was helpful (thanks). Lowden is a good reference. I know their sound.

Your Lowden O25c is much larger (16-1/2”), deeper (4-15/16”) guitar than a traditional OM (e.g. 15” x 4-1/8”) but so are many luthier made guitars called OMs. Deeper bodies tend to produce bass with a slower attack with varying sustain and overtones depending on top and body woods in my experience. An OM being a much smaller less deep instrument will have a more articulate bass. The amount of bloom or euphonic rumble is very body wood influenced in my experience.

So it sounds like you may want a larger model guitar with long scale as a starting point. The higher damping the body wood and shallower it is, the faster and more articulate the bass will typically be in a larger instrument. I saw that your guitar had a cutaway but the piece you played did not require one so I am uncertain whether it on your wish list. Typically, between optional woods and features such as a cutaway it is not uncommon to add another 20-30% to the base cost of a luthier made instrument so keep that in mind.

I suggest in your search you consider the following luthiers/models:

Luthier - Michael Bashkin
Model - The SJ

Luthier - Laurent Brondel
Model - A1 Essential

Luthier - Bruce Sexauer
Model - FT-16 WRX

Both Bruce and Laurent’s standard trim appointments may be above your price point (TBD) but Bruce’s WRX and Laurent’s Essential appointments have base prices for thousands of dollars less. They are every bit as good acoustically, just with humbler appointments. Alternately, check out the used pernambuco/adirondack spruce Brondel A1c for sale now in the AGF classifieds.

https://www.acousticguitarforum.com/...d.php?t=591152

That might be a good choice as well.

Thanks for all that. I appreciate you taking the time. I'll check out all of those guys. I'm pretty dead set to keep it in the 4 figure range, so I might not be able to afford some of those guys, but I'll check into it regardless.

As for a cutaway, it's nice to have for when I capo up the neck, although I have 14 fret guitars that don't have a cutaway and I seem to be able to play on those just fine and I have pieces that go up to the 17th fret. To me, it's like a sunroof on a car - nice to have but if everything else is there and it doesn't have a sunroof, it's not a problem. Heck, it might make some guitars that I couldn't afford affordable to leave it out.

Sure wish it was possible to go up to Asheville or do a Nashville weekend. Darned covid.

[mikealpine]

Check out Joel Stehr. You’ve had a bunch of other great references, as well.

[Frostie]

Your list of wants is a pretty good description of my Northwood mini-jumbo, from luthier John McQuarrie in British Columbia. Here’s a demo:

https://shorelinemusic.com/blogs/gui...rthwood-r80-mj

[Max Spohn]

Hi jklotz, I've already sent you a PM

[J-F C]

Fred Tellier . He’s building Mme a third guitar(build thread to come ��)
I play fingerstyle guitar and Fred built me a maple « small jumbo », a Blackwood baritone and now a parlor is on the way.

I’ve played much more expensive guitars that ,to me, didn’t sound as good. Of course this is something quite subjective.

Fred’s base price is around 5500 $ . He will work to get what you want regarding sound and appointments etc. although he won’t get into a build if he feels he won’t be proud of the results.

He is easy going, relax and generous when it’s time to communicate with the client.

Fred is a member here so have look. FE TELLIER