Featured: Gibson ES-175D 1959 VOS Reissue
"I've always believed that when Gibson gets it right, they really get it right. This stunning 2016 Gibson '59 ES 175 vintage sunburst model perfectly illustrates my point. This faithful reissue of one of Gibson's flagship archtop models truly impresses me in every way.
"This instrument exudes pure vintage soul from the aged nickel wiggle tailpiece and pickup covers to the warm, sunburst patina. The rounded '50s neck profile is beautifully crafted, and the playability is smooth and enjoyable. The Memphis Custom Shop opted for "vintage" correct slab maple laminate, making this 175 the lightest (6.1 lbs) and most acoustically resonant model Gibson has produced in many years..." - Craig
Featured: Fender 1957 Telecaster
"People who lust after vintage Telecasters will understand precisely what this '57 Tele is all about. It is a vintage guitar rich with character, with a unique history that no recent masterbuilt guitar can truly capture. Its battle scars are honestly earned after being played by people who loved playing it. It's a Tele which gives you, the player, permission to dig in and play freely, without worrying about getting an unwanted nick or scratch..." - Craig
Featured: Johan Gustavsson Fullerblaster 2012
"We don't get many opportunities to offer pre-owned Gustavsson instruments — Johan's guitars are so good and hard to get that people overwhelmingly keep them close. I'm excited to have an outstanding and unique preowned Fullerblaster in the shop. We originally sold this guitar in 2012. It was exceptionally well cared for and is virtually in the same condition as when it originally left the shop...'" - Craig
Featured: Kraut OMC Nouveau
"Something remarkable happened when Ray Kraut created this fabulous guitar - in the way it looks (which you can see in the photos) and its stunning sound. Ray has stepped up and created a next-level build for me, a modern OMC monster of a guitar. This beauty is a guitar that enhances whatever you play without limits. Strum like a madman, and it will erupt 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 port surrounds the player with an honest and woody tonal mist..." - Craig
Featured: Sadowsky Jim Hall
"Roger Sadowsky's Jim Hall is the result of a close working relationship Roger had with the jazz maestro. (Roger maintained Jim's guitars for over 40 years). This signature model was inspired by Jim Hall's treasured D'Aquisto and is the result of a close collaboration. It's important to know that the result is a guitar Jim wanted to play - not just a model he'd endorse.
"After several prototypes, Roger refined the Jim Hall guitar by reducing the top and back thickness to provide a more acoustic response. He reduced the depth of the body to help control feedback, designed a new ebony tailpiece with a string ground, and painstakingly shaped the neck until it felt right to Jim...." - Craig
Featured: Sadowsky Semi-Hollow
"Few guitar builders understand the needs of working musicians better than Roger Sadowsky. Unsurprisingly, so many great players have played Sadowsky guitars — Jim Hall, Jimmy Bruno, Pat Metheny, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Sting — the list seems endless.
"Roger designed the semi-hollow for players who want a small-bodied guitar that has the warmth and voice of a hollow body but is resistant to feedback, so you can tear it up with overdrive if you want to. I love his semi-hollow guitar. It is a player's dream — the perfect guitar for someone who wants to have one guitar for many styles of music. And the thing is, you keep everything - tone, sonority, or soul - to get all that flexibility..." - Craig
News:
Last of the Line
Sometimes great things do come to an end
Now and then things that we thought would always be around surprise us with their ephemeral nature. That is the case with the Sadowsky line of archtop guitars - to the disappointment of many aficionados, Roger Sadowsky recently announced that he'll no longer be building archtop guitars - it's the end of the line. And while the stunning archtops that Roger built over the years live on in all their glory, the days of new instruments being available are over - *** almost ***. We have two of the last brand new Sadowsky archtops available in our authorized Sadowsky dealer shop, a beautiful Jim Hall, and a stunning Semi Hollow.
Now, at CR Guitars we normally like to avoid injecting too much urgency into your guitar-buying decisions, but in this case we want you to be aware that when these two guitars are gone that's it - there won't be any others. So have a look; Sadowsky's archtops are worthy of consideration by the most discerning of artists. They are artful, beautiful, deeply toneful and unique:
View the Sadowsky Jim Hall
View the Sadowsky Semi Hollow
Fender Diamond Collection Now Available
An alert from CR Guitars owner Craig Snyder:
"A very special collection of Fender guitars is up for sale at the Music Gallery (musicgalleryinc.com). The Music Gallery is owned by my good friend Frank Glionna. I've known Frank for many years, even before I opened CR Guitars, and he is the guy I've always turned to when I need a guitar with an "F" on the headstock. He is also a Fender Diamond Dealer and gets the very best of the best. I don't usually tout other shops in news entries, but this Diamond Collection is so special that I felt it worthy of a special mention and a heads up for any interested parties..."
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
...Read MoreFriends 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...
...Read MoreAn 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...
...Read MoreThe 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...
...Read MoreFriends 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:
Gibson ES-175 1959 VOS Reissue
This instrument exudes pure vintage soul from the aged nickel wiggle tailpiece and pickup covers to the warm, sunburst patina. The rounded '50s neck profile is beautifully crafted, and the playability is smooth and enjoyable...
Fender 1957 Telecaster
People who lust after vintage Telecasters will understand precisely what this '57 Tele is all about. It is a vintage guitar rich with character and a unique history that no recent master-built guitar can capture...
Johan Gustavsson Fullerblaster 2012
Johan loves the simplicity of the original Teles. He had no interest in simply branding an "also ran" model with the JG logo. He kept the familiar Bluesmaster silhouette, while incorporating the 6 in line headstock and bolt on one piece maple neck...
Mario Beauregard MB, 2010
This guitar was refreshed by Mario himself in 2023; 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...
Scott Heatley Parisienne Mercedes Yellow
Straight out of a collection, in the same condition as when it originally sold from CR Guitars, here is a Scott Heatley Parisienne and it is a beauty! Scott nails it here with the rich and elegant quality of his work...
D’Arcy Blake Custom 16 Archtop
Our current offering, the D'Arcy's Custom 16' model, is a testament to D'Arcy's extraordinary vision and craftsmanship. It proudly carries the lineage of D’Aquisto — Monteleone heritage, with its uniquely carved top, precise geometry, and pleasing aesthetics...
James Tyler Tylerbastar Aged White
While he may be best known for his S-style guitars, James Tyler also crafts superb T-style guitars. Case in point: this lovely brand-new Tylerbastar. It's steeped in the early '60s Tele mojo...
Stephen Marchione OMC African Ebony, 2017
Putting it together, this exceptional OMC is a beautiful sounding guitar, rich and spacious, with a woody midrange presence characteristic of Stephen's fine acoustics. Sonically, African ebony reminds of Brazilian rosewood with its rich and balanced presence...
James Olson SJ Preowned, 2001
Our current Olson SJ offering was built in 2001 and has been part of a curated collection of guitars. It has been well taken care of and is in near-mint condition. The SJ is the model that brought builder fame to Jim Olson...
Stephen Marchione Uni-Body Carve Top, 2018
Stephen's Uni-body guitar model is an extraordinary piece of guitar craftsmanship. It is not something that can be custom-ordered. The reason is that Marchione only builds this rare model when he finds a perfect piece of wood...
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...
Jason Kostal MDW Cocobolo, 2020
This particular MDW is a stunning example of Jason's commitment to excellence and is an instrument that certainly would satisfy the yearning of both a player and a collector...
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...
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...
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...