Artinger Bearclaw Steel String

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DestroyAllGuitars has been waiting with great anticipation for this guitar and it has gone well beyond our wildest dreams, hopes and expectations.

Matt Artinger: Brazilian rosewood/Bearclaw Sitka AOM made with 75 year old Brazilian from the old Martin saw mill...

"In 2005, I ran into a large local stockpile of brazilian rosewood, originally collected over many years by an elderly gentleman who would visit the CF Martin sawmill once a week to pick through the lumber they weren't going to use. He intended to one day use this wood for cabinetmaking, but never got around to using it, and thus it sat. I was fortunate enough to acquire several hundred board feet of this old circular-millsawn Brazilian 2 years ago as the gentleman was looking to clean out his basement. I was able to put together 3 fantastic acoustic sets with this wood, this one being the best example, and CF Martin has since purchased the rest back for their higher end production!"

"This guitar has a slightly enlarged OM shape, similar to the Martin 'OMC Artinger 1' model, my oval soundhole, a heavily bearclawed Sitka top, 25.4" scale length, Brazilian headplate, inlaid Brazilian pickguard and Brazilian tail inlay on the top, with highly quilted sapele binding, fingerboard inlays, headplate inlay, and back inlay. Nut width is slightly under 1 3/4" with 2 1/4" string spread at the bridge. Bridge is gaboon ebony, scalloped nut, bridge pins, endpin, and saddle are bone, and the guitar comes with a form fit black tooled exterior case with black interior. I have also included a few pictures of the most special piece I own of this historic Brazilian.....the original stamped CF MARTIN & CO NAZARETH PA slab that proudly hangs in my home......."

"The guitar has a HUGE low end, oodles of volume, and a familiar articulation and bell-like overtones of special old-growth Brazilian paired with Sitka spruce. One other slightly non-traditional element to this guitar is the final assembly. Most makers and companies fret their fingerboards well before the even become part of the guitar, and during neck-fitting, if conditions aren't just right, this technique can result in a fingerboard 'hump' at the body joint. I have fretted this guitar after the neck has been fit and glued to assure that the board is absolutely straight....the result is absolutely flawless action without the worries of a developing 'body hump'. It's an amazing guitar all around....a visual stunner, a fantastic player, and a handmade guitar at a fraction of what a comparable Brazilian Martin would be priced at!" - Matt Artinger

Price: $15,500