Michael Sankey’s work spans many areas: traditional electrics, acoustics, headless, 7-string, etc. But it’s in the area of archtops (typically a very conservative area) where he shines with bold ideas …
Jersey Girl Guitars: True Art
I’ve always considered the truly exceptional guitars as modern, functional art. This is clearly evident in Jersey Girl Guitars which was formed in 1991 by two luthiers in Japan, Kaz Goto & …
Ramos Arise Series
Modern guitars almost invariably have some different body look and features that differ significantly from vintage instruments. One key feature is headless. Though the look is somewhat daunting and polarizing …
.strandberg* headless guitars
I’ve always loved headless guitars, ever since Steinberger came out with their GL series. The scale length of the guitar is the same as a normal guitar, but the length …
Matsuda Archtop “Deconstruction”
Michihiro Matsuda is an amazing luthier with bold ideas. He is well known in the acoustic guitar community, apprenticing with the legendary Ervin Somogyi. His sense of geometry, design lines, …
Claas Guitars
Alexander Claas from Germany is making some very interesting modern guitars. Note the body where the upper horn is normally located. It is connected to the neck all the way …
Sankey “The Tyger”
An amazing 7-string, multi-scale electric guitar from Michael Sankey. Swamp Ash, chambered body with epoxy/fibre laminate and Cocobolo top Bolt-on East Indian Rosewood neck with African Blackwood stringers African Blackwood …
Vai Academy 2015
I had the recent pleasure of attending the Vai Academy 2015 with Steve Vai and guest lecturers Eric Johnson and Sonny Landreth. In addition, there were workshops and talks by …
Teuffel Birdfish
The Teuffel Birdfish represents modern styling with an exo-skeleton (no-body) theme and construction, blending wood and metal. The body consists of two interchangeable tonebars which are screwed on both central elements “bird” …
Luca Stricagnoli – Sweet Child O’ Mine (Guitar)
Modern acoustic guitar was defined by Michael Hedges in the 1980s. Hedges redefined how an acoustic guitar could sound, and how it could be played. His percussive techniques and simultaneous …