Standard Features
EVO Gold Fretwire and Hollow Brass Fretmarkers
This fretwire is quickly gaining popularity due to its beauty and excellent wear properties. Even very aggressive-handed players who quickly wear out regular fretwire can expect many years of use before the first signs of wear. It is quite possible that players who grip the fretboard normally may never need a refret. The hollow brass fretmarkers yield a clean aesthetic and the polished metal provides great visibility even in low lighting. I also offer these fretmarkers in aluminum and copper.
Double Sides
I build with double sides as in the tradition of concert quality classical guitars. Not only are there significant structural advantages to double sides (resistance to cracks and neck resets) but I believe there is potential for tonal improvement as well. The theory is that stiffness and rigidity help prevent the sides from wasting valuable vibrational energy and improve both volume and projection.
Please Note: Double sides are not a cost cutting measure and should not be confused with the low-quality laminates found in entry-level guitars. On the contrary, double sides add more labor cost and material expense.
Stainless Steel Truss-Rod and Carbon Fiber Neck Reinforcement
I use a fine-adjustment, dual-action truss-rod made entirely of stainless steel. The truss-rods are handmade by Mark Blanchard and are welded with silver solder. This is a remarkably rugged and effective design that provides excellent control over the neck relief. I also run two carbon fiber beams thru the entire length of the neck (including the headstock). This process yields an extremely strong and stable neck --- a big benefit to guitarists who use multiple tunings.
Innovative Bracing Design
I aim to build guitars that are vibrant, loud, and responsive -- producing a full, open tone with exceptional balance and clarity. In this effort, I have created a bracing design that allows the soundboard to remain very flexible but still have significant strength in key locations.
Polyester Finish
There are a number of excellent finishes for the acoustic guitar. I have experimented with almost every finish type and my favorite by far is polyester. The key advantage of a polyester finish is that it can be applied as a very thin film and still offer wonderful protection. The final film thickness of my soundboard finish is approximately 0.003” (half as thick as a sheet of paper). Furthermore, the finish is highly resistant to a wide-array of solvents and does not degrade over time like nitrocellulose lacquer. Polyester is also very resistant to checking and damage due to rapid changes in temperature or humidity. Polyester is the finish of choice for most high-end factory and small shop builders. In recent years, most of the elite steel-string luthiers have switched to a polyester finish as well.
Cedar Creek Cases
All my guitars ship with a custom fit Cedar Creek case. I continue to be very impressed with the quality of these cases. They look beautiful and are built to very high standards --- without a doubt, one of the nicer cases on the market. Please note that there are several flight case options available --- Accord, Karura, and Hoffee.
Premium Materials and Workmanship
I am a dedicated perfectionist and it has been my driving passion to build guitars at the very highest level. I pay considerable attention to the quality of my materials and have developed trusted sources in the industry that I can rely upon for premium tonewoods. Every pre-caution is taken to ensure that all raw materials are fully seasoned and inspected before use. I always maintain a constant 43% relative humidity in my shop and wood storage area. In my opinion, great customer service starts with a world-class guitar. I recognize the expense of purchasing one of my instruments and it is my commitment to the customer that their guitar will represent the very best I am capable of.