Featured: Tao Guitars T-Bucket

"As a player and guitar nerd who is steeped in a deep tradition and blessed with having grown up surrounded by legendary guitars, it has always been challenging for me to embrace new for the sake of being new. I want my builders to be clear what their purpose is and to ameliorate traditional design with their personal esthetic. That's particularly true if their DNA platforms reference the brilliant original designs from Fullerton or Kalamazoo. They have to bring something to the party.

"With that being said, I am extremely pleased to present my first offering from Belgian guitar builders John and Serge of Tao Guitars; their T-Bucket. Inspired by Leo Fender with enough twists and turns to bring something new, useful and refreshing to the table, John and Serge have built a true winner. This is a simply wonderful, toneful, and joyful guitar to play. It's remarkably lightweight — 5.8 lbs. With its Gibson scale of 24 3/4" you could play this wonder all day and night with no fatigue. Everything is so brilliantly conceived. The sound is incredibly woody and wooly with spank and sparkle that lies somewhere between a single coil and humbucker. It's infectious, versatile and incredibly usable...'" - Craig

Featured: Michael Greenfield Model G3

"I've known about Michael Greenfield for many years. He has a legendary reputation amongst players and collectors. It's the kind of reputation that only time and talent can render. His guitars are famous for their extremely well crafted and carefully articulated tone and build.

"But until the recent Woodstock Luthiers Invitational, I had never really spent quality time with one of Michael's steel string acoustics. Michael's exquisite G3 model is now in residence here at CR Guitars. It is a gem of a guitar built by a real gem of a human being, one who cares very deeply about every aspect of his craft as well as being finely tuned in to what a player wants in his guitars. His goal is that you the player are just not satisfied, but thrilled with your Greenfield. His masterful guitars and commitment to the player are why Michael is now part of the CR Guitars family. I am honored to be one of his few dealers...'" - Craig

Featured: Swope GTO

"I've known Chris Swope for quite a few years - from back when he was working for Roger Sadowsky. There are few places that are better training grounds for builders than Roger's shop. He has a clientele of the most demanding and discerning pro players, and working for Roger is a master class on learning the differences between a good and a great guitar. Following his time with Roger, Chris went on to join the Gibson Custom Shop.

"Chris, like all of my builders, goes to great lengths to make an instrument that is well thought out, skillfully built, with a laser focus on the end user. That's why I’m so pleased to welcome him as a new builder for me to represent at CR guitars. His GTO platform is steeped in the Fullerton tradition, but is far more dynamic than you might expect from a bolt on model...'" - Craig

Featured: PRS Private Stock Hollowbody 594

"This is the first Hollowbody McCarty 594 built!

"I'm absolutely blown away by this Private Stock Hollowbody that recently arrived at the shop. It's the very first Hollowbody 594 to be built by PRS. Being a real fan of the new 594 model, I had contacted my friends at Private Stock about a year ago with the request of marrying the 594 and Hollowbody models into one awesome archtop guitar. It would, of course, be a Private Stock build, done with the same perfection of detail and quality that I'd expect in all their work.

"All I can say, in short, is that they nailed it, BIG TIME. This beauty is everything I hoped for and more. Tonally it crosses genres, from jazz to blues, from country to rock. To me this PS PRS would be at home in the hands of Robben Ford, Bill Frisell, John McLaughlin, Trey Anastasio, pretty much any guitar player I can think of and admire. Unlike other PRS Hollowbody models, this guitar has 2 volumes and 2 tones. The PRS 58/15 LT pickups have an extended dynamic range and there are further tonal options and versatility when the coil tap is engaged. In addition, there is a wonderful woody acoustic quality that translates beautifully when amped through my Blackface Princeton...'" - Craig

Featured: Raymond Kraut Mod-D African Blackwood

"I think Ray captures beautifully the thought that he puts into his instruments. And he captures the instrument's qualities perfectly. For those of you who have not had the pleasure of playing one of Ray's instruments, let me give you some perspective:

"To me this guitar is a modern sounding flattop that is truly inspiring to play. Ray's Modified Dreadnought is wonderfully articulate and even in tone with a rich and powerful quality to its bass note. It keeps its character throughout the whole playing range. I love that about this instrument. It's a Kraut Modified Dreadnought from top to bottom..." - Craig