Used 2018 Artinger Custom Hollow Jerry Garcia Wolf Inspired Vintage Natural with Case
We just took in a amazing guitar from one of the best boutique builders out there. For over a quarter century, Matt Artinger has been crafting incredible instruments in Pennsylvania, with only a few dozen made available each year. What he is does is beyond impressive, with incredible attention to detail. We've never had one here, but have been fans of his work from afar - so we were thrilled when this guitar came in.
Jerry Garcia's Wolf is one of the most famous custom guitars ever built, and Artinger Custom Guitars has taken that design as the starting point for this hollow-body version. It was built in 2018 as a one-off. Doug Irwin built the original Wolf for Garcia in the early 1970s, and he made the body asymmetrical on purpose so the guitar would hang in balance on a strap. That shape is what this guitar borrows, and as a semi-hollow, it comes in at just 6.1 lbs.
The guitar has a mahogany body with a stunning flame maple top - that's the first thing you'll notice. It's finished in Vintage Natural to show the wood grain nicely. We noticed how resonant the guitar is, even before plugging in. Of course, once you do, that's were it really shines. This build utilizes DiMarzio 36th Anniversary PAF pickups to provide vintage-inspired tones. They are classic humbuckers, with plenty of warmth. It's also a very versatile guitar, as you have the flexibility of coil-spolitting for single coil sounds. Of course the goal here is for Jerry Garcia like tones but you can actually do a lot more with it - this one for you to find your own voice on.
It also has a mahogany set neck that is super comfortable to play. it's a 25" scale and has a nice C profile. The ebony fretboard is smooth and adds a nice snap to an otherwise very warmly voiced guitar.
The guitar has been set up to play perfectly by the techs in our shop. We found that the strap button was moved for better balance (it's a very light guitar, so this makes sense), and the old hole was file. It's not mint but it's in great condition, with normal player wear. It comes with a hardshell case and is ready to go!
Whether you're a Garcia fan, or just wanting a great boutique build from one of the best out there, this Artinger Custom is quite the find. We don't see it lasting long.