Featured: Kostal OMC Luthier’s Choice
"This Luthier's Choice OMC has a beautiful, rich, and sonorous tone that speaks volumes of Jason's uniquely sourced wood in this guitar. Jason's brilliant esthetic and remarkable world-class luthier skills further enhance this beautiful instrument. I fully understand why Jason is thrilled with it, and I think you will be, too..." - Craig
Featured: Kraut 00 Nouveau, The Tree
"Something remarkable happened when Ray Kraut created this fabulous guitar - both in the way it looks (which you can plainly see in the photos) and its stunning sound. Ray has stepped up and created a next-level build for me, a modern 00 monster of a guitar. This beauty is a guitar that enhances whatever you play without limits. Strum like a madman, and it will roar with every strike. Brush with your fingers, and she'll whisper in your ear. Sonically, it's a 3-D experience. The unique and elegant
sound ports surround the player with an honest and woody tonal mist..." - Craig
Featured: Isaac Jang OM, 2022
"As a professional guitarist/musician, avid guitar collector, guitar shop owner, and all-around insane guitar nerd, I have had the great fortune to come across many talented and gifted individuals, musicians, guitarists, and builders. In this realm, something very mysterious and meaningful happens occasionally: you meet someone who stands out and engages you. Isaac Jang is one of those exceptional, unique, uplifting talents. From the moment I met him and played his guitars, I knew this young lion of a builder was going to be a rock star. And deliver the goods he does, big time: Isaac's Cocobolo OM is just an extraordinary guitar..." - Craig
Featured: Michi Matsuda M1, 2011
"Writing about an instrument as sublime as this reminds me of the saying: "Writing about music is like dancing about architecture." Trying to adequately put in words the sublime deliciousness of this guitar is like that. I can try - it's a superb example from Michi Matsuda, one of the world's finest and most talented luthiers. This guitar is all about incredible sound and feel and inspired touches — check out the stunning neck joint/heel as one example of Michi's unique and transcendent aesthetic..." - Craig
Featured: Asher Electro Sonic A+ Koa Top, 2022
"Inspired by Bill Asher's own lap steel model, his Electro Sonic guitar is designed for both bottle-neck players and any guitarist looking for fat tone and great sustain. The neck is hand-carved with a smooth transition into the body for easy access to the upper frets. This instrument has perfectly executed fretwork and exquisite construction. Asher's fine custom detail work is of the highest order, with an impeccable eye for body design..." - Craig
Featured: Mario Beauregard MB, 2010
"Having Mario Beauregard visit us was a pleasure. Having him drop off a stunning 2010 MB model in a beautiful translucent black finish was an absolute treat. Having just been refreshed by Mario himself, it's like a new guitar. The MB design is unique and gives the guitarist a wonderfully versatile instrument with all the woody resonance and build quality of an exemplary electric archtop in a highly comfortable and original body style..." - Craig
Featured: Briggs Reserve Stock Apollo
"In addition to it being absolutely stunning, this Briggs goes well beyond eye candy here. The Apollo is a fantastic player's guitar. The '59 neck profile is what I like, medium/full with just the right amount of shoulder. The guitar has a pleasing acoustic resonance that blooms when plugged in. Played through my blackface Princeton Reverb, I can only describe the sound as glorious. With any combination of pickups I choose, this is a sonic beast that covers any sonic road you decide to travel. Hats off to you, Jack Briggs, for an absolutely killer guitar!..." - Craig
News:
Adam Levy - String Theories
Friend of CR Guitars and guitarist extraordinaire Adam Levy has wrtitten a book with Ethan Sherman that we just have to tell you about. But Julian Lange can do a better job of it than we can - "String Theories is a brilliant and soulful exploration of the world of guitar — from practicing and performing to cultivating one’s own voice, Adam and Ethan so elegantly celebrate the multidimensionality of what it means to be a modern guitarist." Check it out here --> https://www.amazon.com/String-Theories-Challenges-Reflections-Guitarist/dp/B0CK45SGP1/
A Trio of Great Collings Electrics
"I have long been an admirer of Collings guitars - and have been a dealer for 12 years. It seems as though they up their game every time they make a new instrument. Truth be told, many Collings go through the shop so quickly, they never make it to the web site. Right now, I have three exceptional Collings in the shop. I can’t recommend them highly enough." - Craig
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Radack, Master of Design
"Every once in a while, I come across a guitar that is a complete thought, meaning it's on the money right out of the gate. It's not a replica of an existing design, not a guitar built as a builder's conceit or a craftsman's whim. Instead, it's an instrument drawn from a store of knowledge from the builder's skill and player feedback. Add into that mix an inspired design, a sense that there is a niche to fill, and the desire to serve it, and you have the ingredients for something special And then, you hope it all works. Straight to the point, Radack guitars work. Beautifully... - Craig
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Friends of CR Guitars: Adam Levy
Adam Levy is widely respected as a "musician’s musician" — with many featured turns to his credit. His memorable solos on Norah Jones' album Come Away with Me are shining examples of his handiwork. His bluesy lines on Tracy Chapman's hit "Give Me One Reason" tell a juicy story, with not a single note wasted. He's a nuanced accompanist as well, as can be heard on Allen Toussaint's recording of "American Tune." He's also featured on recordings by Vulfpeck, Anaïs Mitchell (composer of Hadestown), Meshell Ndegeocello, Ani DiFranco, and Amos Lee...
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The Creek Time Machine
The Time Machine we're referring to here is the Creek Time Machine Series, three "new vintage" acoustic guitars that are simply stunning. They are inspired by legenday acoustic guitars, but these are not just vintage replicas. They venture beyond that...
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An Introduction To Scott Heatley
Heatley Guitars was founded in 1997 with a very humble loan and a tiny shop. From the beginning the idea was to build high quality guitars in small numbers and it remains that way to this day. The output is kept limited to ensure the quality stays high...
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The Yanuziello Milano Series - Interview w/ Joe
Like every artist Joe Yanuziello is always looking for new territory to conquer, the next mountain to climb. Enter the first in a 10 piece Limited Edition Series called the Milano, what Joe considers his next level instrument. It's that great. So great we decided to interview Joe for a feature on his new Milano Series. Joe's insatiable curiosity has taken him off the beaten path to a line of unique guitars that harken back to the European electrics of the early '60s, particularly Italian makers, that over the years have become quite collectible in the vintage market. Read on to find out about the truly remarkable Milano Series...
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Friends of CR Guitars: Jostein Gulbrandsen
Jostein Gulbrandsen, who has done many product videos for CR Guitars and is a longtime friend of CR Guitars owner Craig Snyder is originally from Norway. Since 2001 he has been based in New York where he received his master's degree in jazz guitar from the Manhattan School of Music in 2003. Gulbrandsen has played at Kongsberg Jazz Festival, Blue Note, Birdland, BB. Kings, Cornelia Street Cafe, Smalls, Smoke, Blues Alley, The Kennedy Center and many other places. He has toured in Norway and Scotland and also held master classes at Agder College of Music and Hobart and William Smith Colleges...
...Read MoreRecent Arrivals:
Blue Arch Big Bang Acoustic Archtop
Krzysztof Trześniowski's latest build, Big Bang, is a beautiful archtop. His innovative builds result in a remarkable instrument - one that plays and sounds great.
Steve Klein Custom Electric
We are fortunate to offer a unique electric built by the legendary luthier Steve Klein. This ergonomic headless wonder — serial number 029 — was custom-made for virtuosic guitarist Matte Henderson in 1990...
Tao T-Bucket H.A.L. 2020
This custom guitar was built using the Tao brothers' relentless attention to detail. Its inspired design speaks for itself. This is a simply wonderful, tuneful, and joyful guitar to have in your hands...
Collings I35LC Vintage Sunburst
Besides being a joy to play (impeccable quality) and hold (ergonomic and lightweight at 6.6 lbs), the sound of this guitar captures the tone of a fine vintage instrument...
Sam Guidry OO Brazilian/European Spruce
While it is a OO body, the sound of this guitar is bigger than you'd expect from a smaller instrument. This beauty covers all sonic territory, rich and full with robust deep bass, articulate mids, and exceptional highs...
Ibanez JSM20TH John Scofield Signature, 2021
Based on Scofield's original JSM model, this semi-hollow JSM20TH celebrates the pair's partnership in style with a series of sleek finishes and appointments...
McKay ‘64 Cherry Block Mark 335
The McKay '64 Cherry Block Mark 335 is a recreation of the classic semi-hollow guitar built with deep attention and skill to maintain all the magic and mojo of that golden era of guitar building...
Tom Ribbecke Testadura, 1996
This semi-hollow wonder is a carved archtop that works under any playing situation. This fine example was built in 1996, well before it became fashionable for boutique builders to use the 335 platform as the backbone of a guitar build...
Rick Toone Goshawk, 2022
This Goshawk is a superb Rick Toone creation. Like all of his guitars, it reflects a very particular point of view, one that was developed via close conversations with players. It's a great guitar...
Suhr Aura Tea Burst #88 of 100, 2021
it is no surprise that Suhr's 20th anniversary Aura is such a well-executed and refined ‘burst-style guitar. Everything about this build is top-notch...
Sadowsky Chuck Loeb LS-13
Roger Sadowsky hand-crafted Chuck's guitars throughout Chuck's illustrious musical career. The recent model was based on Sadowsky's Broadway line of electric guitars...
Collings I35 LC Vintage, Aged Blonde
Besides being a joy to play (impeccable quality) and hold (ergonomic and lightweight), the sound captures the tone of a fine vintage guitar...
Galloup Borealis, 2005
Our current offering, a beautiful 2005 Galloup Borealis model, is an elegant and sophisticated guitar, expressively built with only the finest woods and artistry. From the rare "tree-flamed mahogany" to the Laskin-inspired arm bevel, this is a player's dream...
Rob Radack Hemi Semi-Hollow
Drawing inspiration from his fascination with short-scale and smaller body guitars, Rob made a short-scale instrument that was fully realized, a complete instrument, a guitar that a player would pick up and fall in love with before they even realized it was a short scale...
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...
