M-Tone River, 2022

CONDITION: excellent - Shows minimal signs of play wear

This M-Tone River feels like holding a piece of art that happens to be a well-made guitar. To me, it's like a modern artistic take on a small body archtop design. Matt Proctor spent 15 years as a sculptor before building guitars, and you can see it in every curve and detail. Working out of Portland, he hand-builds each guitar one at a time with his "No Robots No Plastic" approach, and each M-Tone is a one-of-a-kind design.

The flame walnut and maple body is striking, and the black limba neck adds visual contrast that works well with the overall design. Those birdseye maple inlays on the ebony fingerboard catch the light nicely. But beyond its appearance, this guitar delivers solid performance. M-Tone guitars are known for their woody resonance and clarity, and this River provides exactly that: punchy and articulate, whether you're playing clean or cranked.

The Lollar Imperials are perfect for this guitar, giving you that sweet spot between vintage warmth and modern bite. The neck feels just right in your hands, and at under 8 pounds, it's comfortable without being too light. Even the volume and tone knobs are custom-hammered pieces that show Matt's attention to detail.

M-Tone guitars show up at the Holy Grail Guitar Show alongside the world's best builders, which tells you everything about their reputation. This River captures what makes Matt's work special: it's innovative, beautifully crafted, and reminds you why great guitars are so inspiring to play.

If you'd like to find out more about this item, just call or e-mail me. It would be my pleasure to talk to you about it.