We’ve just received a few more F-style mandolins from Weber. We always like ordering customized instruments, making these mandolins more distinctive than the usual versions. Here are three examples. From L to R: Bitterroot F with rawhide burst custom color; Bitterroot F with light faded leather burst custom color; Yellowstone F with light faded leather burst […]

We’ve gotten a couple of recent shipments from Diamond Bottlenecks in England–which means that we have a great selection right now. Colorful leaded glass Ultimates as well as Diamond’s Redhouse Bottlenecks. And thanks to an international exchange rate that has tipped in our favor, the price is lower than usual right now. We’ve taken photos of each […]

Todd Cambio has been a friend at our shop for many years. He’s now a well-established instrument builder with an enthusiastic following. Every now and again he brings in a guitar to sell. This time it’s a Fraulini Loretta model guitar. Todd’s instruments are inspired by classics from the 1920s and 1930s. They’re punchy and […]

There’s a nice write-up about our shop in a recent Sunday edition of the Wisconsin State Journal. Thanks to Robyn Norton for finding her way to our shop and writing about it.

Linus Guitars – built by Brian Bauhs, a former staff member here. Hard to believe it’s been more than twenty years since Brian has worked in our shop. He was a capable repair person, and the esteemed lead guitarist for Marques Bovre and the Evil Twins (a grammy-nominated group in flyover land). He lives in Brooklyn NY […]

Along with guitars, harps, violins and such in our shop, we’ve always had banjos. Lately there’s been a growing renaissance in open back banjos, beautiful new instruments and appreciation for the music going hand-in-hand. Many of these instruments are built in small shops, where you find an appreciation for 100-year-old instruments as well as inspired contemporary […]

Here’s a fun comparison of wood used in three guitars currently in the shop. From L to R: a Bourgeois Bryan Sutton Signature Dreadnought, a 1959 Martin 00-28G, and a c.1900 Harmony.  Line ’em up, and we start to hear the Sesame Street song “One of these things is not like the other.” The Bourgeois […]

Openback banjos with 12-inch pots have become increasingly popular, and we’re pleased to have a great selection of them. Here are examples of models from four different companies (L to R): Ome Tupelo, Bart Reiter Buckbee, Pisgah Possum, Deering Goodtime Americana. Twelve-inch pots tend to favor a bigger low end response. Wood choice, tone ring material, rim thickness, head material, […]