“To us, it is simple. We love perfectly setup, adjustable, old sounding, and old/beat up looking guitars, and that’s what we make.”
~ Wes Lambe & Ben Maschal
Pre-War Guitars came about because of their mutual deep passion for the magical tone of 1930s-era acoustic guitars.
Although Wes and Ben had trod varying paths in building and repair, they soon discovered they shared a penchant for meticulous examination and documentation of these classic instruments. The next logical step was to bring this accumulated knowledge to bear on the luthier's bench.
The result are one-of-a-kind handmade guitars with a sound, look, and playability like no other.
Thoughtful Aging
Every mark, check, and finish detail is hand-applied to feel honest and musical - relic work done with intention, not gimmickry.
Authentic Vintage Tone
Built to capture the voice of well-loved golden-era flattops, these guitars sound like they’ve already lived a few lifetimes - open, dry, and endlessly inspiring
Modern Playability
Pre-War guitars benefit from contemporary construction know-how, making them stable, consistent, and a dream to play right out of the case.
Pre-War Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Pre-War Guitars Co. - the builders, the instruments, and where to try one near Boston.
Where can I try a Pre-War guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts is an authorized Pre-War Guitars Co. dealer. We carry Pre-War instruments at our showroom near Boston, and players from across New England come to try them in person. Pre-War builds in Hillsborough, North Carolina, and their instruments are in high demand - reach out or check the page to see what is currently in stock.
Who founded Pre-War Guitars and what drove them to start?
Pre-War Guitars Co. was founded by Wes Lambe and Ben Maschal, two builders who shared a deep passion for the tone of 1930s-era acoustic guitars. Both had independent backgrounds in building and repair, and when they met they discovered a shared obsession: the meticulous examination and documentation of classic golden-era instruments. The next logical step was to bring everything they had learned to the luthier's bench and build the guitars they had always wanted to play.
What makes Pre-War Guitars different from other vintage-inspired builders?
The key distinction is in how they approach aging. Pre-War guitars are hand-aged with intention - every mark, check, and finish detail is applied to feel honest and musical, not decorative. As Wes and Ben put it, they want guitars that sound old, look old, and play like a dream, and they approach the aging process the way a great prop maker might approach a period film: deeply researched, carefully executed, and never gimmicky. The result feels more like a genuinely well-loved vintage instrument than a factory relic job.
What Pre-War instruments does The Music Emporium currently carry?
Current inventory includes two preowned Pre-War Guitars instruments: a 12-Fret Dreadnought in Adirondack spruce and mahogany, and a Herringbone model in Adirondack spruce over Brazilian rosewood - both dreadnoughts with sunburst finishes. Inventory rotates; check the page or reach out to confirm availability and condition details.
What is Brazilian rosewood and why does it matter on a guitar?
Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra) is a tonewood with an extraordinary sonic reputation - the primary back-and-side wood on the most revered pre-war Martins and Gibsons. It has been a CITES-protected species since 1992, effectively ending its use in new production instruments. Guitars built with Brazilian rosewood from before that date, or using legally grandfathered material, can still be bought and sold, but they are rare and command a significant premium. The Brazilian rosewood Herringbone we currently carry is an exceptional example of this material in a modern Pre-War build.