What are your Top 5 favorite luthier-built guitars?

[cke]

To Larry's list I would add

David Eichelbaum
Linda Manzer
David Wren
Sergei de Jonge

SO many
(Btw shouldn't this list be limited to builder of fewer than50 per year?)

[SuperB23]

For me its
Ryan, Petros, Doerr, Mayes, Osthoff

[usb_chord]

Originally Posted by bho

You have a good memory my friend. The mahogany Traugott at Dusty Strings sounded great. Clarity of notes, strong projection, lovely tone. It lacked the color of the Brazilian rosewood Traugott I played at Luthiers Collection, and was far older and therefore may have lacked some of the benefits of the experience the luthier developed in later years (a guess) but still sounded excellent. It was also only around $10k I think, the product of being a mahogany guitar.

Very cool...

I played a new Traugott R at LC last year that was a little "cold" to my ear. It was still a very lovely instrument, but I got the sense it was still settling in and adjusting to life as a guitar...

[BBWW]

Can't do 5. Maybe I'll do a list of builders I'd like to have a build from and don't. I have at least 5 there.

[Thin Crust]

I've done a lot of buying, selling, and trading over the years. And after numerous trips to Healdsburg, I'm fairly confident I've played at least some of the finest instruments out there. Some were perhaps "better" than those I currently own, but the ones in my signature are my favorites. They are also the ones I don't plan to trade, sell, or otherwise part with.....unless unforeseen circumstances change my life situation.

[usb_chord]

Originally Posted by Thin Crust

I've done a lot of buying, selling, and trading over the years. And after numerous trips to Healdsburg, I'm fairly confident I've played at least some of the finest instruments out there. Some were perhaps "better" than those I currently own, but the ones in my signature are my favorites. They are also the ones I don't plan to trade, sell, or otherwise part with.....unless unforeseen circumstances change my life situation.

Would love to see that Claxton!

[geordie]

only 5 ?

too many variables / styles to take into account.

I'm with Larry + addendum's

make it at least 20

[Larry Pattis]

Let me mention that my incomplete-list is only a fraction of the builders whom I admire.

[sourceforce]

Of the guitars I've played, and heard with my own ears....

1. Lowden
2. TL (I own one and have never enjoyed a guitar so much)( BR back and sides, Cedar top)
3. Hoffman
4. Goodall
5. Greenfield

[sdelsolray]

I could not choose five "favorites" from the following list.

Alberico
Avalon
Baranik
Bashkin
Batson
Beneteau
Beardsell
Berkowitz
Blanchard
Borges
Bourgeois
Brook
Brondel
Carruth
Charis
Circa
Claxton
Collings
de Jonge
Doerr
Doolin
Dudenbostel
Ehlers
Eichelbaum
Fay
Fylde
Froggy Bottom
Gallagher
Galloup
Goodall
Greenfield
Greven
Hamblin
Haxton
Hoffman
How
Kinnaird
Kinscherff
Klepper
Kraut
Lakewood
Larrivee
Laskin
Leach
Lowden
Mayes
Manzer
Martin
Matsuda
McAlister
McCollum
McElroy
McPherson
McIlroy
McKnight
Merrill
Noble
Olson
Osthoff
Petros
R. Taylor
Ryan
Santa Cruz
Schenk
Schwartz
Sexauer
Sheppard
Sobell
Somogyi
Stehr
Tippin
Thompson
Threet
Traugott
Webber
Wingert
Wren

[tnvol]

Originally Posted by 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.

Yeah. I'm not one of them. Have never played a super high end acoustic from a builder. Just commercial stuff. Martin, Collings, SC etc... I've played some uber high end mandolins though...

[bitraker]

if these luthiers are so good - and I am sure they are - why don't they have broader appeal, especially with the masters (who can afford them) such as Neil Young, Jimmy Page, Sheryl Crow, Tommy Emmanuel, Paul McCartney, Tony Rice, Leo Kotke, Chris Martin, Thom York and Dan Timinski?

[Larry Pattis]

Originally Posted by bitraker

if these luthiers are so good - and I am sure they are - why don't they have broader appeal, especially with the masters (who can afford them) such as Neil Young, Jimmy Page, Sheryl Crow, Tommy Emmanuel, Paul McCartney, Tony Rice, Leo Kotke, Chris Martin, Thom York and Dan Timinski?

Your premise is flawed.

[smpetty]

Originally Posted by usb_chord

The only possible way to REALLY answer a question like this

I think Michael Chapdelaine plays a Muiderman guitar...? I've never encountered one before!

So does John Doyle....

[martind42]

Originally Posted by bitraker

if these luthiers are so good - and I am sure they are - why don't they have broader appeal, especially with the masters (who can afford them) such as Neil Young, Jimmy Page, Sheryl Crow, Tommy Emmanuel, Paul McCartney, Tony Rice, Leo Kotke, Chris Martin, Thom York and Dan Timinski?

Paul McCartney has an Olson.