Bruce Guitars 1930-Spec 000-18

We've followed the work of luthier, Micah Bruce, for a couple years now. He trained with our friends at Collings Guitars -- an apprenticeship that would whip anyone into shape when it comes to woodworking, detail-orientation, and cleanliness of craft.

The ability to see Micah's work in person at the annual Fretboard Summit showcases in Chicago reinforced our enthusiasm. But with so many great guitars all competing for attention, what makes one stand out? Perhaps it's the willingness to do things others won't, but ultimately, it's still about sound.

Micah builds lovely guitars--both acoustics and electrics. But the ultra-light, 1930's inspired flattops we saw in Chicago each of the last two years convinced us to take the plunge. This 1930-style 000-18 is a replica of a guitar made for last year's show that sold while in Chicago. We were knocked out by that one, and ordered an exact replica. It's a faithful reproduction of a pre-1935 000-18, right down to the bar frets and Ebony neck support, which is bolstered by carbon fiber strips for extra rigidity. The sound and responsiveness are both wonderful: the voice is warm, open, and dry, and players of all styles will have an easy time coaxing lush tones from it whether playing with a pick or bare fingers.

While the Bruce name may not be as recognized as some of the other players in the distressed acoustic guitar niche, we think that's bound to change. Have a listen as our friend, Lyle Brewer, demonstrates this guitar in the accompanying video.