Pre-Owned Preston Thompson D-GRA Acoustic Guitar With OHSC
We just took in an absolutely amazing custom-built Preston Thompson D-GMA acoustic. We've never had one of these here, and were immediately blown away by the build quality, tone and feel of this guitar. There's a reason they fetch high market values, and now we know!
Hand-crafted in Sisters, Oregon, Preston Thompson Guitars pay tribute to the best American made instruments from the 1930’s. Master guitar luthier Preston Thompson and his small team of highly skilled craftsmen produce custom acoustic guitars that have the look, playing feel and above all, the sound of the best instruments from that original Golden Era of guitar making. Thompson Guitars are built strong and light with time tested designs and construction methods, providing a lifetime of enjoyment. The instruments are handmade every step of the way, from the finest woods available. They have established a reputation in the boutique guitar market and are known for their tonal range, clarity, and immediate, responsive voice.
This D-GRA is a custom build, crafted in 2020. We were able to get detailed info that came from the original owner, who had supplied the tonewoods and designed the guitar with Preston Thompson. His notes about the wood are as follows:
- The top is a “master grade” set of old growth Adirondack (red spruce) sourced from the Hampton Brothers / Matt Hampton. This is from an old-growth red spruce tree in excess of 250 years old that the Hampton brothers logged back in 2015 in Western North Carolina at high elevation (5400’).
- The back and sides are a set of Guatemalan rosewood (Dalbergia tucurensis) sourced from luthier Bruce Sexauer, which he cut from larger boards that he got from Tim Mahoney / Handloggers Hardwoods. This was imported by Tim around 1980, from Belize where the material was originally cut & milled. The wood is old, air dried, truly quartersawn & straight grained, however there is a blemish visible on each side: there are two small pre-repaired cracks in the edge of the back, one on each side of the waist. These were pre-existing in the wood from decades ago while the set was air drying (i.e. way before the guitar was built). Bruce considered it a degrade but did not see any structural issues with the set. Gareth Jenkins (the head luthier at Thompson) also pointed out the degrade but did not think it would be an issue so filled it and was happy to build with the set
The resulting tone is fantastic - full, lively and extremely resonant. The guitar projects without being boomy, and rosewood is ideal for a variety of styles, including strumming, but especially finger picking. It has a sharp attack while retaining warmth. This is truly a guitar that covers the tonal spectrum with an amazing clarity. There are other guitars that can do this, but not many that can do it so well.
Sadly, Preston Thompson passed away this year. He will be sorely missed, but at the same time, his company continues in the hands of the team that he trained.
- Make: Preston Thompson
- Model: D-GRA
- Serial # 1717
- Top: Adirondack Spruce
- Back & Sides: Guatemalan Rosewood
- Pickup: Passive K&K
- Tuners: Waverly
- Case: Original Hardshell
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Nut width: 1.6875"
String spacing at bridge: 2.125"
Neck Thickness at 1st fret: .860"
Neck Thickness at 10th fret: .975"
Fret width: .080"
Fret height: .042"