Lots of sparkle around the fundamental note makes this a dreadnought for all seasons.

Why We Love This

More than two years ago, we picked out about a half dozen sets of exceptional flamed Koa with our friends at the Martin Custom Shop; and the completed guitars have finally started arriving! This lush-sounding dreadnought takes its visual cues from an early TJ Thompson guitar we were lucky enough to have in the shop for a while. Its style-28 body and style-42 neck just seemed to work together (and the Koa peghead veneer offsets the natural "bling" of the Torch inlay very nicely).

We always recall luthier Dana Bourgeois describing Koa guitars as having a "syrupy" sound; and that description certainly rings true here. The overall voice calls to mind a Mahogany guitar, with its woody, authoritative sound, but there's so much more sweetness on tap. Lots of sparkle around the fundamental note makes this a dreadnought for all seasons, if you will. The traditional, bluegrassy power is certainly available if desired, but putting the guitar in an open tuning reveals a cavernous array of overtones perfect for exploring alternate chord voicings and fingerstyle instrumental music.

Priced with thermoplastic hardshell case from Martin.