AVAILABLE NOW
The ” JELLY BEAN”
Left Handed
17″ Artist Series Archtop Guitar
Designed with a solid wood Bigleaf Maple top, back, and sides. Ribbon Sapele Mahogany trim. Handcut Solid wood binding. Offest Soundhole. Naturally acoustic hot hide glue throughout.
AVAILABLE NOW
The “Maple Cream” Right Handed 17″ Artist Series Archtop Guitar
Designed with solid wood Sitka Spruce top, Flamed Bigleaf Maple Back and Sides. Leaf shaped soundport, Quilted Sapele Mahogany appointments, ebony bridge.
GUITAR INTERNATIONAL MAGAZINE INTERVIEW
Guitar International sat down with luthier Dan Smocke and guitarist Jack Grassel to talk about the unique JG-1, one of a kind guitar and just what went into building such a stellar instrument.
Click to View the ArticleiNSTRUMENT FEATURES
Solid wood top, back and sides on all series: Professional, Artist, and Collector series.
Hand crafted and customized for each client.
Hand tuned, unique cut-away and soundports, exotic woods (CITES approved)
Environmentally friendly super hard, waterborne lacquer finish, french polish finish.
ARCHTOP GUITARS & MANDOLINS
Handcrafted instruments custom made for years of enjoyment with unlimited design capabilities and customization possibilities
Free consultation to discuss your custom guitar or mandolin
A few things that are important to me.
The playability and comfort of the instrument for the artist; the quality and precise woodworking techniques used to help the artist produce their unique sound; hand tuning each instrument to maximize each piece of tonewood and finally the aesthetics of the overall instrument.
MEMBER G.A.L.
GUILD OF AMERICAN LUTHIERS
MEMBER A.S.I.A.
ASSOCIATION OF STRINGED INSTRUMENT ARTISANS
ONE-OFF SOLID BODY GUITAR
The JG-1
Custom designed and crafted solid body guitar made for Jack Grassel, Jazz Guitar Artist
Click For MoreTHE BODY
Solid Bubinga
THE NECK
Solid Wenge
THE PICKUPS
1960’s Guild Humbuckers
BODY
Solid Sitka Spruce Top
Solid Bigleaf Maple Back and Sides
Leopardwood binding and headstock
NECK
Three piece Rock Maple with Leopardwood center stripe
Client Testimonials
Dirk Krouskop
Jazz Guitar Artist
& Collector
“It is truly a beautiful guitar with absolutely stunning craftsmanship.”
Jack Grassel
Jazz Guitar Artist
“It’s great having a custom made guitar because it has all the things I like in a guitar.”
Tom Zietlow
Jazz Guitar Artist
“My music has taken on an entirely new sound with an 8 string guitar. The extra high A string and low A string allows me to explore sounds
and arrangements that were never possible on a 6 string guitar.”
Latest News
Two new custom guitars are now available. One is a left handed 6 string archtop and the other a right handed 6 string archtop. See links above.
NEW: “Maple Cream” 17″ Right Handed Archtop Guitar
August 5, 2019 JUST RELEASED A new 17″ Artist Series Archtop Guitar has just been finished and is available for purchase. The acoustics coming from the Sitka Spruce top and[…]
Read moreThe Effect of Finishes on the Vibration Properties of Spruce Guitar Soundboard Wood
I read an interesting paper recently published in the Savart Journal which is published in collaboration with the Guild of American Luthiers. The article was written by Howard P. Stephens,[…]
Read more