Handmade guitars.
Each unique.
Behind the sound.
Players' instruments.
I started making guitars in 1989, searching for a mix of tone and playability that is not common in factory instruments. That pursuit continues today. Each instrument is unique, but shares family traits: simple design, beautiful woods, comfortable necks, powerful tones and lots of sustain.
photo: J. Patrick Riceci
Gallery
Walnut headstock veneer; signature
Constellation rosette in rosewood.
Sound port, Indian rosewood sides, Lutz spruce top.
Sound port, walnut sides, red spruce top.
Sapele back and sides.
Basic rosette; round sound hole
Oval sound hole option
Behind the sound.
A guitar unlike any other.
I build guitars one at a time, for myself or for friends. Most are steel-string acoustic or classical models. The choices of body design, woods, bracing patterns and strings all influence how a guitar plays and sounds. These guitars are built to be high-performance, hard-working tools for making music.
Current inventory. Inquire for actual prices and more info.
No. 62 AGS--SOLD
No. 62 AGS--SOLD
No. 62 AGS--SOLD
Retail $2250. This one is sold.
Engelmann spruce, black cherry, khaya mahogany 13-fret neck, 25.4" scale, Indian rosewood fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, maple binding. This is my new "advanced" grand standard (20" body length, 15 7/8" lower bout): big and loud with deep lows, clear mids and bright highs. (12/2023)
No. 62 AGS--SOLD
No. 62 AGS--SOLD
No. 62 AGS--SOLD
No. 63 Grand Standard
No. 63 Grand Standard
No. 63 Grand Standard
No. 63 Grand Standard
Retail $2250. Inquire for price.
Alaska yellow cedar, black walnut, khaya mahogany 14-fret neck, 25.4" scale, ziricote fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, Indian rosewood binding, sound port. Based on traditional dreadnoughts, the GS model has streamlined 11 1/8" upper bouts and 15 3/4" lower bouts that provide a good balance of power and playability. Oval sound hole allows longer main x-bracing and big, rich tones. (6/2024)
No. 63 Grand Standard
No. 63 Grand Standard
Options
Oval sound hole with sound port, NC;
JJB Prestige pickup, $250
No. 59 Grand Standard
No. 59 Grand Standard
No. 59 Grand Standard
Retail $2250. For sale at
Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments
Engelmann spruce, sapele, khaya mahogany 14-fret neck, 25.4" scale, Madagascar rosewood fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, Indian rosewood binding. The grand standard is based on traditional dreadnoughts, with a curvier, more streamlined shape. (10/2022)
No. 59 Grand Standard
No. 59 Grand Standard
No. 59 Grand Standard
No. 49 L-14
No. 49 L-14
No. 49 L-14
No. 49 L-14
Retail $2250. For sale at Greg Boyd's House of Fine Instruments.
Lutz spruce, sapele, 14-fret khaya mahogany neck, 25.4" scale, Indian rosewood fingerboard, bridge and binding. This is the 14-fret workhorse version of the L-00 pattern, with slightly larger 14 15/16" lower bout. (7/2019)
No. 49 L-14
No. 49 L-14
No. 60 L-12
No. 60 L-12
No. 60 L-12
Retail $2250. Inquire for price.
Red spruce, Port Orford cedar, 12-fret Spanish cedar neck, 24.9" scale, African ebony fingerboard, mesquite bridge, purpleheart binding, western red cedar rosette. Super light and explosive; this 12-fret version of the classic steel-string L-00 pattern combines the materials and style of a flamenco guitar with an all-American sweet, rich tone. (4/2023)
No. 60 L-12
No. 60 L-12
No. 60 L-12
No. 57 Grand Standard
No. 57 Grand Standard
No. 57 Grand Standard
No. 57 Grand Standard
Retail $2500. Inquire for price.
Western red cedar, American chestnut, khaya mahogany 14-fret neck, 25.4" scale, Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, walnut binding. Back and sides are from a blight-free northern New England tree that died of natural causes; very light, very resonant and very rare! (2/2022)
No. 57 Grand Standard
No. 57 Grand Standard
Options
Sound port, $250
No. 56 L-13
No. 56 L-13
No. 56 L-13
Retail $5000. Inquire for price.
Engelmann spruce, Brazilian rosewood, sound port, 13-fret khaya mahogany neck, 25.4" scale, 14 3/4" lower bout, Indian ebony fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, walnut binding, French polish finish. This powerful guitar is the acme of the L small-body pattern. Its sound port is a monitor for the player and the smallish sound hole helps balance bass notes.
No. 56 L-13
No. 56 L-13
No. 56 L-13
No. 51 L-13C
No. 51 L-13C
No. 51 L-13C
No. 51 L-13C
Retail $2750. Inquire for price.
Lutz spruce, Indian rosewood, sound port, 25.4" scale, L-00 style, 14 3/4" lower bout, 13-fret khaya mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, koa binding, cutaway, K&K mini pickup. Small oval sound hole allows longer X-bracing and a deep bass response. Prototype high-performance special.
No. 51 L-13C
No. 51 L-13C
Options
Oval sound hole with sound port, NC; cutaway, $250; K&K pickup, $250
No. 31 Classical
No. 31 Classical
No. 31 Classical
Retail $2500. Inquire for price.
Redwood, Indian rosewood, 25 21/32" scale, 14 1/4" lower bout, Spanish cedar neck, walnut rosette, ebony fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, purpleheart binding.
No. 31 Classical
No. 31 Classical
No. 31 Classical
No. 55 Parlor--SOLD
No. 55 Parlor--SOLD
No. 55 Parlor--SOLD
No. 55 Parlor--SOLD
Retail $2150. This one is sold.
Sitka spruce, black walnut, 13-fret neck, 24.9" scale, khaya mahogany neck, katalox fingerboard, Brazilian rosewood bridge, Indian rosewood binding, sound port, long x-braces, 12 7/8" lower bout. These small guitars travel well and are surprisingly powerful.
No. 55 Parlor--SOLD
No. 55 Parlor--SOLD
Album: Live from the Living Room
Album: Live from the Living Room
Album: Live from the Living Room
In the summer of 2021, my musical partner MB Whitaker and I released an album of mostly original singer/songwriter material. The album was recorded live-to-4-track, in the living room, featuring our voices, Scot Oliver guitars and some harmonicas. Mixed and mastered by Don Cunningham, artwork by MB Whitaker.
Album: Live from the Living Room
Album: Live from the Living Room
Live from the Living Room is available to stream or download wherever you get your music; the best place to order the actual CD is from Boise's Record Exchange: https://therecordexchange.tuneportals.com/UPC/755491202661.
Album: Live from the Living Room
Contact me!
I try to keep this website up to date. Check back soon!
Contact me directly to discuss available instruments or to design one just for you. Email or voice messages only; if you call, leave a return phone number. Visits by appointment in Boise.
Scot Oliver Guitars
