We see a lot of great guitars in the shop, but some have a way of stopping us in our tracks. This Dottie is one of those guitars—as is everything Thomas Rodriguez builds. Check it out. You won’t be disappointed.

With every guitar we receive from Virginia-based luthier Thomas Rodriguez, it becomes more apparent that he’s one of the best-kept secrets in the electric guitar world. He prefers it that way—living quietly in the country, far from the noise of modern life, where his focus is solely on crafting exceptional instruments by hand (he's also a highly regarded nylon string guitar maker if you can believe it). That dedication to old-school craftsmanship is what makes his guitars so uniquely inspiring.

The Dottie embodies the "Tele-Paul" concept—that seamless fusion of Telecaster and Les Paul DNA that has captivated players over the past decade (and then some). Many builders have attempted their own versions of this hybrid, but Rodriguez’s take stands apart.

Why? Because his process is pure, traditional, and deeply skilled. No shortcuts, no CNC machines—just expert hands, time-honored techniques, and an ear for what makes a great instrument truly sing.

The result? A guitar that feels alive—remarkably responsive, incredibly dynamic, and packed with soul and sustain. There’s an unmistakable magic in guitars built this way: they don’t just sound good, they feel like an extension of the player which is exactly why vintage instruments are so prized. Dottie will get you there