Official Luthiers Forum!

The only guitar shows in North America that I'm aware of that feature contemporary handmade acoustic guitars are Healdsburg, Newport, and Montreal. There's also the Northwest Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit, but that one is limited to makers from that region. Are there any others that showcase the work of acoustic guitar makers from all over?

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/

Todd, Dallas Guitar Show is way big. There were plenty of handmade acoustic steel string makers at the show. Next year, I stay all three days and who knows, may just be a vendor myself.

A dealer from Fayetteville Arkansas, co-owner of Blue Moon Music, Les Haynie, said he'd sold 32 guitars. As we were exiting his booth he was writing up another. So DGS is a widely flavored blend of electrics, vintage, holy grail exhibits with armed guards, performance venues,acoustic makers, and demo areas by all major manufacturers. A couple of R Taylors caught my eye in one booth, very nice.

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

From all I've heard and can find on their website, the Dallas show exhibitors are mainly dealers in factory and vintage guitars, with an emphasis on electrics. The performances are also weighted toward electrics. There are other vintage shows that have some handbuilders, but it is also secondary to the main show.

Newport may not happen again. Unless he changes his mind, Julius says he won't do it, and is trying to sell the name. So at this point, shows that are mainly of handmade acoustics that have exhibitors from all of North America and the rest of the world are just Healdsburg and Montreal, so far as I know..

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Les and Tim from Blue Moon are great guys, BTW. Met them at the NAMM show.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Thanks Howard, I shook Tim's hand yesterday but know Les slightly better. They are great guys. Les left me alone one day four or five years ago while I fingerprinted up a few guitars that really lit my fire to build.

Those three guitars still stick out in my mind, A Gibson Style slope shoulder by Bourgeois, A Gibson style L-00 by Collings a C-10, and the other a Martin Style guitar by Santa Cruz the D-PW. That experience gave me a kick in the gas to build, along with a few others.....

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http://www.dickeyguitars.com

Thanks, Howard and Bruce.

I had heard that Julius doesn't want to do Newport again. Too bad... I hope someone steps forward to keep that show going. As a northeasterner, I was glad to have one of these in my region.

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Todd Rose
Ithaca, NY

https://www.dreamingrosesecobnb.com/todds-art-music

https://www.facebook.com/ToddRoseGuitars/