Featured: James Tyler Tylerbastar Gumbo w/Bacon

"A little background. The Tylerbastar with Gumbo is a unique Tyler model only available at CR Guitars. Its inception was a series of conversations I had with Jim Tyler. We decided it would be cool to conjure up a hardworking jazz/blues musician who switched out the pickup on the road and ditched the pickguard, leaving the pickguard screw holes still in place. We named the guitar after him - Eddie "Gumbo" Gillette.

The result of our collaboration is the beautiful guitar you see here. It's one that only Jim Tyler could create. A Tylerbastar with Gumbo only comes around occasionally - and it's a fantastic instrument...'" - Craig

Featured: Steve Grimes Jazz Nouveau, 2004

"Steve Grimes is one of a few luthiers who build world-class archtop guitars and flat top steel strings. I am fortunate to be able to offer an exquisite Jazz Nouveau carved top guitar in the shop.

"This particular Jazz Nouveau was custom-built in 2004 for John Pearce, the founder of John Pearce String Company. This model incorporates a carved top with a flat back with an extended cutaway. For this particular build, Steve selected his finest set of Koa matched with a lovely spruce top that has wisps of bear claw figure. This guitar bridges the gap between flat and archtop guitars in its ability to produce the bass response found in flat tops while retaining the crispness and clarity found only in archtop guitars...'" - Craig

Featured: Collings I35LC Faded Cherry, Ron Ellis P/Us

"Collings has upped their game with their I35 LC Vintage model guitar. That's a challenging task when the company already has some of the finest ES-style semi-hollows on the market. Immersed in the culture of quality and inspiration that drove Bill Collings, they strive to draw from the very best in every Collings guitar. If there is magic to be found, they leave no stone unturned in their search. So it's no real surprise that I'm impressed after playing this inspired model. And I mean genuinely impressed. Besides being a joy to play (impeccable quality) and a pleasure to hold (ergonomic and lightweight), the sound captures the tone of a fine vintage guitar...'" - Craig

Featured: PRS Dragon III, 1994

"An exquisite PRS Dragon III has made its way into the shop. The PRS Dragon III is a sought-after and beloved rare instrument. This guitar is #21 in the limited series of 100 crafted in 1994. Additionally, it's only one of a handful done in a tortoiseshell finish. Just look at the pictures to see its artistry and craftsmanship. It's near mint, rare, and even has Paul Reed Smith's signature on the backplate...'" - Craig

Featured: Benedetto Custom Benny, 2011

"This Benny is a very special custom guitar created with premium woods, selected and hand carved by Bob Benedetto. It is an absolute joy to play.

"Acquired from the original owner - a gigging guitarist - this Benedetto has inspired him for over a decade. This exquisite instrument covers Gibson and Fender tonal territory with its chambered body, tapped dual humbuckers, and middle single coil pickup. Yet it has its own very special voice...'" - Craig

Featured: Blue Arch Oldie Acoustic Archtop

"When my good friend and owner of CR Guitars, Craig Snyder, tells me to "Stop by the shop; I've got some cool guitars you need to check out," I hightail it over there. This particular sunny winter was archtop day—I had the great honor of playing several incredible and historic archtops from some legendary builders, including one guitar, the "Oldie" from a builder I hadn't known before, Krzysztof Trześniowski of Blue Arch Guitars. As I lifted Krzysztof's guitar from its case, I immediately noticed how alive it was. Simply grabbing the neck and placing the guitar on my lap produced vibrations that I could feel and hear. It was like handling a hand drum, like an Irish bodhrán. This guitar is exceptionally light and perfectly balanced. Then I played a few notes. I was not prepared for the experience that began to unfold. Its sound enveloped me as if I were in a small concert hall. It has what I like to call a "personal soundstage." It was fantastic. I looked at Craig, and he knew exactly how delighted I was....'" - Mark Dzubia

Featured: Moffa Coraline Semi-Hollow, 2018

"I'll admit that sometimes my visual preconceptions get in the way of fully appreciating a remarkable instrument. When I first saw the Coraline model, the guitar that came to mind was a two-pickup Gibson Howard Roberts. But it's not that. Nor a 175. It's its own thing. Nicco's instruments are like that. They turn your expectations upside down. Their finishes are reminiscent of old-school violins - as are the way the tops and bottoms are joined together. Yet while he has the chops and extensive knowledge to build traditional archtop designs, he doesn't limit himself. His guitars are meant to be played today, and as such must meet the demands of today's players...'" - Craig

Featured: Gibson 60th Anniversary 1960 Standard, 2020

"I am highly impressed with this 60th Anniversary Les Paul. I firmly believe that GIbsons are hard to beat when Gibson really puts its heart into it. (You know what I mean). This minty example is that legendary company at the top of its game. This LP is a non-aged, no-nonsense, lightweight, and acoustically resonant (8.3lbs) guitar that celebrates an iconic year in Gibson's long history. The original dealer hand-selected the maple top, which is stunning and really captures that old-school vibe. The V2 neck carve is righteous, not too thick and not too thin; very comfortable indeed. Its unpotted Custombucker pickups sound like…well, exactly the way you’d hope a Les Paul should sound...'" - Craig