These Artist’s Proof and custom instruments, infused with my “Modern Vintage” DNA, are available for you to purchase right now
Most of our instruments are built to order for customers, but occasionally we build experimental or “spec” guitars for evaluation, or just keep them around for demonstration purposes. After our review period these guitars are made available on this page. These are essentially one-off instruments for a fraction of a Signature Series cost, and a great way for you to get a unique guitar without waiting (our backlog is currently around 6 months).
Just remember that many of these configurations will not be repeated, so if you see something you like, act fast.
Sold Artist Proof and Spec Guitars
Sorry, temporarily sold out—check back soon or contact us about instruments in progress.
Meanwhile, take a look at some of the previous instruments to imagine your own build!
Tulsa Korina (White African Limba)
My most popular build by far is the Tulsa model. This is a wonderful example in white limba with a flame maple top.
Classic Dantzig design cues: Faded ’59 Burst (nitrocellulose lacquer) on a German carved “Rustic” maple top, white limbs (Korina) body and neck, Brazilian rosewood fretboard with 22 gold EVO frets. Seven piece “Claw” inlay of abalone and pearl at the 12th fret. Lightweight Made-in-USA wraparound bridge, and the ultra-unobtainable Jon Grail G90 pickups.
Hear Lance Keltner put a Grail G90 Tulsa through its paces Tulsa G90 Demo
Milano Korina Plus Hollowbody
This highly optioned version of the Milano model was constructed for and used as our shop demo guitar, intended to show our visiting customers some of the most beautiful, toneful, and desirable upgrades available. Having done its duty for our purposes, it’s time for us to pass it on.
Tulsa Redwood Old Growth—Second of a Series
Second in a series of mahogany bodied Tulsa proofs with incredible redwood tops. We’ve jammed on this guitar for a few months to evaluate some design ideas and hardware choices (like the amazing Ratio tuners) and now it’s time to release it into the wild. Stunning figured redwood over a chambered old growth Honduras mahogany body and neck with low-gloss hand-rubbed violin lacquer finish in “Cognac Burst” nitro.
Lightweight and comfortable to play, with a Brazilian rosewood fingerboard marked with pearl Chevron inlays. 25.5″ scale and an American made locking stop bar bridge. John Grail humbuckers hand wound and out of this world. Available for you now.
Tupelo Artist’s Proof Nº3
One-off Tupelo Double Florentine. Lightweight and insanely responsive, this hollow body version of the Tupelo is the third in a series of refinements. It has been extensively tested in our shop and by our group of professional musicians and builders as a fine-tuning exercise, and it is now ready to leave the nest. There are several features on this guitar that make it different from the final model as well as the previous proofs, none of which diminishes this example as a spectacular instrument.
Tupelo Artist’s Proof Nº2
This is the second version Tupelo model, a working prototype, built for evaluation—a rare opportunity
to score a handbuilt, one-of-a-kind guitar.
Extremely lightweight and responsive, this version of the Tupelo is the second in a series of refinements. It has been extensively tested in our shop and by our group of professional musicians and builders as a fine-tuning exercise, and it is now ready to leave the nest. There are several features on this guitar that make it different from the final model, none of which diminishes this example as a spectacular instrument. The switch rout cover plate is made from matching poplar—a beautiful touch, but not destined for the final “production” model. The bound F-holes may be available on future examples as an option, as will be the inclusion of the lower F-hole. This of course, makes this instrument all the more desirable as a one-off.
Tulsa Pine Nº 4
The Georgia Pine Project was the first set of components that I tested on the newly finished tooling for my Tulsa model. I used pine because it is plentiful and easy to work. It’s not as rare (or costly) as the exotics from Central and South America, or the African woods I normally use, which is good when you are experimenting! I was intrigued by the light weight and buttery color, and decided to pair it with a hard maple neck just like Leo’s prototypes. To my delight it yielded a wonderful tonal palette as well as a very lightweight instrument.
Tulsa Black Korina “Staple”
Many of my customers have been asking for African black limba bodies and necks on their custom builds, but usually they are capped with a figured maple top. I found the backs of these guitars were sometimes even more interesting than the front, so I decided to build a solid black limba Tulsa. It turned out quite spectacularly.
This instrument is a featherweight at 6lbs. 10.5 ounces, and rings clear and loud with a pair of Lollar’s wonderful staple magnet P90s. Soft V neck shape for a true vintage feel, and 22 perfectly seated 6105 style frets.
This amazing instrument plays perfectly and intonates amazingly well. The locking wraparound bridge is lightweight aluminum and made in the USA. Two volume and two tone controls with treble bleed circuitry and Sprague/Vishay Orange drop tone caps specifically matched for an outstanding “cocked-wah” or “woman” tone. Delivered in a custom made blonde G&G case, this guitar is available immediately.
Espresso Doppio—Second of a Series
Old growth mahogany body and neck. Torrified flame maple top with German carve. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with 12th fret seven-piece Claw inlay. Medium oval Jescar frets on my own “compensated” 25.5″ scale that yields as close to perfect intonation as can be had—even with a stop bar bridge! John Grail humbuckers.
The Blower—this one goes to eleven!
German carve figured maple over figured korina body and neck (upgrades) with stunning hand-rubbed violin lacquer finish in amberburst nitro. Rosewood fingerboard with abalone and pearl “Claw” inlay at the 12th fret. Seth Lover humbuckers, nickel hardware including a 30 gram aluminum wraparound bridge. 25.5″ compensated scale. 7 lbs/9 oz. Rock and Roots machine!
Wake up and smell the coffee!
Tulsa “Espresso” number 1
Artist’s Proof 2017. This luscious example is dripping with tone and weighs in at a manageable 7 lbs-8 oz. Torrified maple top over Honduras mahogany with German carved front and back! 25.5″ scale Brazilian rosewood fingerboard with ultralight milled aluminum wrap bridge. Sperzel open back tuners with Ivoroid keys. John Grail humbuckers for insane vintage tone.
Own some serious mojo!
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Tulsa “Georgia Pine #1” Artist’s Proof guitar 2016.
Pine body with spalted maple top, maple neck, Brazilian rosewood fingerboard, pearl dots,
Featuring a 25.5″ scale, aluminum wrap tail, TonePros strip tuners, Custom bridge humbucker/DD single coil neck. You’re going to love the light weight—7lbs/3.5 oz.
Used on the Mike Eldred Trio’s East Coast tour. It’s not used—it’s experienced!
Vintage Vibe
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Number six in a series. You can’t resist a pretty face. German-carved figured maple over German-carved figured korina body and one-piece neck (upgrades) with hand-rubbed violin lacquer finish in ”59 Burst nitro. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard upgrade with pearl dots and abalone and pearl “Claw” inlay at the 12th fret. Two NOS Lollar Imperial humbuckers from 2007, nickel hardware including a 30 gram aluminum wraparound bridge. 25.5″ compensated scale. 7 lbs/15.5 oz. This baby ROCKS!
Light as a Feather
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Third in a series. You’ll be amazed to see this one in person— German carve figured maple over figured korina body and neck (upgrades) with stunning hand-rubbed violin lacquer finish in amberburst nitro. Brazilian rosewood fingerboard upgrade with abalone and pearl “Claw” inlay at the 12th fret. Two Grail humbuckers, matte nickel hardware including a 30 gram aluminum wraparound bridge. 25.5″ compensated scale. 6 lbs/15 oz. Sings like a bird!
Blondie
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If you are looking for a great sounding, great playing, workhorse guitar, look no further. This is the second Pine Project Tulsa—used to dope out new tooling and construction ideas now utilized in the line. Multi-lam lightweight pine body with natural matte lacquer finish. Rosewood fingerboard with abalone and pearl “Claw” inlay at the 12th fret. Two Duncan special wind lo-output humbuckers, nickel hardware including a lightweight aluminum wraparound bridge. 25.5″ compensated scale. 6 lbs/15 oz. Punchy as hell!