We found that most new guitars in the range of $500.00 and under tend to have necks that are too thin and do not hold up well. So most of our work goes into the necks. We have what we like to call an "Old-School" type neck. Unlike the old Kay type baseball bat necks, we fashion ours more like a vintage Guild type neck - nice and beefy without being too big. Most guitar makers, including some that make "high-end" instruments, cut a graft and glue the peg head to the top of the neck at the nut line and truss rod box. All of our necks are made from one solid piece of wood, usually mahogany (some are maple), without any graft or glue joint at the peg head, which results in a much, much stronger neck. The only graft/glue joints in our neck are the low-stress areas of the outer wings of the peg head and the small end at the bottom heal. We also use an adjustable truss rod in our necks with a scale of 23" or longer. Does it cost more to build a neck this way? Absolutely! But we feel the cost is very well worth it and are very proud of the necks we make. All fingerboards are made from a thick slab of high quality genuine rosewood, not an imitation, for further strength. Yes, we still use a gun stock router from the 1840's to rough out the necks, but the fret slots in the fingerboard are cut using the most advanced CNC machine tool technology available. Frets are then hammered and trimmed by hand, not glued into oversize slots. We also use what is called a zero fret - a fret placed just forward of the nut that the strings rest on. This is a simple and dependable way to get a nice, even, low action at the top of the neck. It saves us time and is easy for a non-technical guitar player to maintain.

Our guitar bodies are reminiscent of the old, classic Gibson styles. To keep the critics happy, we will say that they are made from plywood. But it is not just "standard" plywood. The tops and backs are made of three layers of wood. The center ply (core) is solid, pressed linden wood, thicker than standard plywood, with only a very thin layer of veneer on each side. The top layer is finish grade for appearance while the bottom layer prevents the heavier center layer from cracking. The heavier, solid pressed core results in almost a cross between solid wood and plywood. We also use Violin technology in the making of our bodies. Standard multi-ply bodies that use a hard wood for the top and back can trap the tone inside the body. Instead, we use a softer core for the top and a harder one for the backs. The softer top core vibrates at a faster rate then the harder back. This makes the sound bounce off the harder back and out through the sound holes, providing more of a big acoustic sound, like that of a vintage carved solid wood guitar.

Most of our guitars are archtops, and archtops tend to have a higher setting on the strings. But don't be overly concerned. The action on these guitars is fully adjustable and well within range for an archtop - about 1/8" at the 12th fret (not 1/4" or higher like the old Kay). If, however, you are looking for a very low action of 1/16" or less, you will need something like a $4,000.00 Fender. Soares'y Appearance - made by elves in a dimly lit cave. Please understand that we do not make perfect looking, factory built guitars - ours are the old-fashioned handmade types. Think of them as being made by elves in a dimly lit cave. You will find little things, like a bit of varnish on the binding from masking tape that was a little off, maybe a peg head that was cut a little off center, a tuning peg that is a little out of line, or a spot of dust or fingerprint in the finish. This is all very minor, has no effect on the sound or playability, and is a big part of the handmade charm. We like to think of our guitars as being a combination of the better quality Kay type body with a Guild or Gretch type vintage beefy neck. Some models do vary slightly, like the all rosewood body models. And bracing will also vary depending on the particular body style. But overall you will find them to be well built instruments, with good tone and intonation, which are easy to play.

Our product line is still evolving. Some of the guitars pictured here have been changed slightly while other models are still being developed. Our inventory varies from day to day, and depends largely on when we receive shipments from Portugal. Please click the link at the right to email us if you are interested in one of our tenor guitars. We'll be happy to let you know what we have both in stock and on order. Prices vary, but we're sure you will be pleased with the value we offer. Check out the Tenor Guitar Registry If you're a tenor guitar player, novice or accomplished, you owe it to yourself to look at the Tenor Guitar Registry. Members from all over the world provide enlightening discussions and answers to a lot of questions about the Tenor Guitar. It has tunings... chords... songs... pictures... and more! Even better, it's free!