2005 Stephen Brown Harp Guitar
Virtually never played 14-frets-to-the-body Dyer style, with electronics!
SOLD

In 2003, Fullerton guitar player Kevin Stevenson commissioned local flat-top builder Steve Brown to build him a Dyer copy harp guitar.  Steve suggested, "How about if I build two, and you can take your pick?"  Well, the choice was too hard, so Kevin bought both! 

#1 is virtually the same as this one, but in walnut.  As it was finished first, Kevin played it the most, including immediately recording an entire Christmas album with it.

Kevin provided a box of promo CDs, so if any potential shopper would like one to get an idea of this similar instrument, you can request one at no charge.

This guitar was finished two years later, built with very fine Sitka top and premium Honduras mahogany back and sides.  The neck is mahogany, as is the bass headstock veneer.  The neck headstock and binding (top and back) are unknown.  The ebony bridge is of an interesting original design.

It wasn't until my assistant Frank Doucette and I were playing it just before listing it that we realized this custom instrument had a neck/body joint at the 14th fret - very unusual for Dyer style instruments!  In fact, we still can't figure out how he did it.  Perhaps because there is an extra inch of real estate below the bridge and the scale is a tad shorter at 25-1/4".

Playability is great, the only drawback being the fret ends, which could use dressing, as they're a bit sharp and uncomfortable.  Other than that, the fit and finish is a good 8 or 9.  There are a few finish nicks (significant ones pictured; I tried to show worst case).  There is a small (glued) crack on one side of the neck heel.  This is not a structural problem, but presumably the result of screwing in the strap button in the heel which is in also bolted to the body.  There is an adjustable truss rod as well. 

Tone is excellent, and right in line with the construction quality, design and price point.  Balanced, clean, and powerful enough across the whole range, with a nice hint of overtones.  Kevin barely played it, so it it sounds like a new, slightly tight, guitar.  I played his # 1, which has opened up quite nicely.  The pickup system is unknown, but we plugged it in, and it sounds great. 

Tuners are nice - individual Waverlys for the neck and Stew-Mac 5-Star 4:1 banjo tuners for the six subs.  The two headstocks are joined by a small wooden dowel.

Included is a (very slightly used) black Harp Guitar Music gig bag.  If you prefer to shop for an alternate case, I'll give a $125 rebate on the gig bag.

Bottom line: This is a very clean, ready-to-go pro harp guitar at a very attractive price.  Consider it blessed.

-Gregg Miner, the "harp guitar pope"

Specifications: 

  • Fine grain Sitka spruce top
  • Premium Honduras mahogany back, sides and neck
  • Mahogany headstock veneer
  • Ebony fingerboard and bridge
  • Adjustable truss rod
  • Multi-ply wood and plastic binding on top, wood on back
  • Six sub-bass strings
  • 5-star 4:1 sub-bass tuners
  • Waverly "Vintage Style" individual neck tuners
  • Stereo under-saddle pickups
  • 25-1/4" scale
  • 1-23/32" nut width
  • Dimensions: 16-1/4" lower bout, 19-1/4" body length, 4-1/4" depth at tail block, ~41-3/4" total length
  • Comes with black Harp Guitar Music gig bag (additional HGM Flight Case available here)
  • Strings: Most harp guitars offered have temporary sub-bass strings (whether new or used) in various tunings.  New strings are available here.  If you need help calculating gauges for your tuning on this instrument (or if you would like help with tuning suggestions), just ask the pope!

Price: $4,500 SOLD

  • International Shoppers:
    Please research the Cites Treaty Regulations and the ramifications of shipping any instrument before purchasing or shipping.  Harp Guitar Music is not liable for any confiscation of instruments for real or imagined inclusion of Cites-listed material.


CDs & DVDs by Stephen Bennett, John Doan, Muriel Anderson, Andy McKee, Stacy Hobbs, Tom Shinness, Dan LaVoie, James Kline, Larry Berwald, Bill Dutcher, Gregg Miner, Pasquale Taraffo
To learn more about harp guitars, please visit Harpguitars.net
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