A Private Collection
Bresnan
Grand Symphony
Engelmann Spruce · Honduran Mahogany
Bresnan
Grand Symphony
Bresnan
Spruce Top
Bresnan
Body & Bridge
Bresnan
Lower Bout Detail
Bresnan
Mahogany Back & Waist
Bresnan
Upper Bout
Fender Custom Shop
Artisan Stratocaster Deluxe
Flame Maple Top · Cherry Burst · Rosewood Board
Fender Custom Shop
Artisan Stratocaster Deluxe
Fender
Flame Maple Body
Fender
Pickguard & Neck Joint
Fender
Upper Bout Detail
Fender Custom Shop
Neck Plate · No. 9266
Fender
Body Back · Flame Maple Neck
Fender Custom Shop
Wildwood 10 · 1955 Telecaster NOS
Red Sparkle · Maple Neck · Gold Hardware
Fender Custom Shop
1955 Telecaster NOS
Fender
Headstock · Maple Fretboard
Fender
Bridge · Pat. Pend.
Brass Saddle · Original-Spec Bridge Pickup
Fender
Body Back · Red Sparkle
Fender
Maple Neck · Skunk Stripe
Froggy Bottom
B-12 · 1 of 1
Adirondack Spruce · Brazilian Rosewood · Butterfly Inlays
Froggy Bottom
Owl Heel Cap · Brazilian Upper Bout
Froggy Bottom
Brazilian Rosewood Back
Abalone Center Strip · Maple Binding
Froggy Bottom
Headstock · Butterfly Inlays · Gold Hardware
Froggy Bottom
Adirondack Top · Inlay Cascade
Froggy Bottom
Model F-12
Engelmann Spruce · Honduran Mahogany · Abalone Appointments
Froggy Bottom
Spruce Top · Tortoise Pickguard
Froggy Bottom
Lower Bout · Mahogany Sides
Froggy Bottom
Back · Heel Cap · Abalone Strip
Figured Maple Binding · Herringbone Purfling
Froggy Bottom
Upper Bout · Waist
Froggy Bottom
Mahogany Back · Abalone Center Strip
Froggy Bottom
H-12
Adirondack Spruce · East Indian Rosewood · 2004
Froggy Bottom
H-12 · Full Front
Froggy Bottom
Indian Rosewood · Three-Quarter Back
Froggy Bottom
Indian Rosewood Back · Abalone Center Strip
Froggy Bottom
Upper Bout · Heel Cap · Abalone Strip
Froggy Bottom
Body Front · Rosewood Sides
Froggy Bottom
Model K Deluxe
Sitka Spruce · Tasmanian Blackwood · Abalone Appointments
Froggy Bottom
Model K · Three-Quarter Front
Froggy Bottom
Upper Body · Tasmanian Blackwood Sides
Froggy Bottom
Neck Join · Upper Bout
Froggy Bottom
Detail
Froggy Bottom
Tasmanian Blackwood Back
Froggy Bottom
Back · Flame Detail
Gibson Custom Shop
1959 Les Paul Reissue
Flame Maple Top · Uncovered Custom Buckers · Jimmy Page Profile Neck
Gibson
Honeyburst · Flame Maple
Gibson
Custom Buckers · Toggle Switch
Gibson
Lower Bout · Gold Knobs · ABR-1 Bridge
Gibson Custom
Est. 1894 · Made in U.S.A.
Gibson Custom Shop
1959 Les Paul Reissue
Gibson · Ford GT Edition
SG GT
Torch Red · Racing Stripe · Limited 2007
Gibson
SG GT · Full Front
Gibson
Racing Stripe · Chrome Tailpiece
Gibson
Upper Horn · Devil's Wing
Gibson
SG GT · Red Session
Gibson
Tailpiece · Red Surface
Gibson
Fretboard · Ebony
Gibson
GT Detail
Martin Custom Shop
OM-45 Tasmanian Blackwood
Curly Engelmann Spruce · Tasmanian Blackwood · No. 29 of 31
Martin
OM-45 Tasmanian Blackwood
Martin
Tasmanian Blackwood Back
Martin
Heel Cap · Abalone Center Strip
Martin
Waist · Abalone Binding
Martin
Lower Bout · Bridge Detail
Martin
Rosette · Abalone Inlay
Martin
Tasmanian Blackwood · Side
Martin · Gruhn Spec
D-18 · 12-Fret · Sunburst
Sinker Mahogany · Tobacco Sunburst · George Gruhn Spec
Martin
Sunburst · Sinker Mahogany Top
Martin
Headstock · Est. 1833
Martin
Sinker Mahogany Back
Martin
Back · Side · Heel
Martin
Sinker Mahogany · Detail
Martin
Detail
Martin Custom Shop
GP-42 · Tree of Life
Engelmann Spruce · Koa Back & Sides · Full Abalone Inlay
Martin
GP-42 · Full Front
Martin
Engelmann Spruce · Sunburst
Martin
Koa Back · Full
Martin
Koa Back & Sides · Herringbone Binding
Martin
Tree of Life · Detail
Martin
Fretboard Inlay · Upper Bout
Martin
Purfling · Abalone Vine
Martin
Headstock · Tree of Life
Martin
GP-42 · Detail
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Brutus 212
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
Montuoro
Detail
National Reso-Phonic
Resolectric
Mahogany Body · Spider Cone · Firebird Mini-Humbuckers
National
Resolectric · Full Instrument
National
Pearl Headstock · Reso-Phonic Badge
National
Pearl Pickguard · Firebird Neck Pickup · Controls
National
Three-Quarter · Spider Cone
National
Mahogany Back · Electronics Cover
National
Neck Back · Kluson-Style Tuners
Olson
Small Jumbo
Olson
Small Jumbo
Olson
Detail
Olson
Detail
Olson
Small Jumbo
Olson
Detail
Olson
Detail
Olson
Detail
Olson
Small Jumbo
Olson
Detail
Olson
Detail
Olson
Detail
PRS
McCarty · Dark Cherry Burst
Flame Maple Top · Solid Rosewood Neck · Bird Inlays
PRS
McCarty · Full Instrument
PRS
Flame Maple Top · Body Front
PRS
Solid Rosewood Neck · Back
Straight-Grain Rosewood · Locking Tuners
PRS
Body · Three-Quarter
PRS
Headstock · Paul Reed Smith Signature
PRS
McCarty · Cherry Burst Flame
PRS
Rosewood Headstock · Locking Tuners
PRS
Bridge · Toggle · Knobs
Ted Thompson
T1 Deluxe
Adirondack Spruce · Indian Rosewood B&S · Mahogany Neck
Ted Thompson
T1 Deluxe · Full Front
Ted Thompson
Indian Rosewood Back
Ted Thompson
Adirondack Top · Body Front
Ted Thompson
Heel Cap · Ebony Wedge
Mahogany Neck Junction · Indian Rosewood Back
Ted Thompson
Rosette · Herringbone Purfling
Ted Thompson
Headstock · Signature Inlay
Ted Thompson
Side Curve · Herringbone Detail
Ted Thompson
Three-Quarter Back · Indian Rosewood
Ted Thompson
T2X
Cedar Top · Indian Rosewood B&S · Full Abalone Purfling
Ted Thompson
T2X · Full Front
Ted Thompson
Indian Rosewood Back
Ted Thompson
Cedar Top · Abalone Rosette
Ted Thompson
Waist · Abalone Purfling · Rosewood Side
Ted Thompson
Upper Bout · Back Detail
Ted Thompson
Bridge · Lower Bout · Abalone Purfling
Ted Thompson
Cedar Top · Bridge · Purfling Detail
These instruments were not acquired. They were arrived at — through decades of playing, listening, and the occasional conversation with the people who built them.
TheFinerStrings is a record of that journey. Some of these guitars are still here. Some have moved on to other hands. All of them deserved to be seen properly.
Inquiries welcome →