All of my Boutique Acoustics...are boutique guitars always better?

[@eddcarlile8973]

I went to buy a second hand Martin D18 the other day (had the money in my pocket) and the seller advised me that he also had a Czech handmade mahogany back side and neck,spruce top BSG guitar for sale too. I googled around and read some stuff about the BSG dreadnought and went to buy the Martin. When I arrived at the sellers home I asked to see the BSG and immediately i was knocked out by the finish on the guitar, it was like handling glass. The wood was stunning and when I strummed it it just sounded absolutely insane...the resonance and depth of tone was simply outstanding. I picked up the Martin and it was okay. I had a conversation with the seller about the two guitars and he said that in his opinion the BSG (hand made by a luthier) was simply in another class way above the Martin ( mass produced factory made) and that the guitars were incomparable. One had an instant immediate resell value (Martin) while the other would need someone who was not influenced overtly by a big named guitar but actually the sound of an instrument. The BSG was 650 pounds less than the Martin but I feel absolutely blessed that I own this instrument. It just sounds otherworldly. I just cant stop playing it. So, a boutique guitar may be in a whole class of its own. (I know mine is)

[@scarmyguitar]

Great video! Was proud to see my goof ball guitar in the mix up! That was indeed #2 and was - is most def a prototype! Your next one will reign supreme!!

[@nickseils8193]

Great video Jeremy! Love the sound of the Yellow Deluxe!

[@James-oh1wp]

Amazing collection! I liked the pageant and hustle-dalton the best :)

[@slpc30]

Very informative video thank you guitar hunter!!!

[@scottfishkind5335]

Great content as always Jeremy, I really appreciate your knowledge and passion for guitars! To my ears, the Furch was the most resonant, three dimensional sounding of them all. The Huss and Dalton and Padgett were favorites as well! No doubt I am biased because I purchased a Furch Yellow Master's Choice Gc-CR thanks in large part to you! But I also purchased it because of how exceptional it is. No doubt the boutique guitars are as expensive as they are because in addition to the expert craftsmanship and materials, they can only make so many. Furch is the best of both worlds. A guitar that has that boutique sound and quality without the same cost. They've found that perfect balance of quality and efficiency, as well as innovation in design.. The price reflects that as well. While Furchs are not inexpensive guitars by any means they much more affordable than the small boutique builders. Interestingly they are even more affordable than "comparable" guitars by Taylor and Martin. I put comparable in quotes because I don't think those other guitars are truly in Furch's class.

[@pselden2103]

What a collection! Nice playing, too. Thank you for sharing.

[@lifeasinterns]

I would pick up that H&D. My personal imaginary boutique collection would be a Bourgeois Slope D and Collings OM, but I’d still be ecstatic for a Martin D-18/D-28 and my Larrivee OM-40. Would also want to pick up that Schoenberg just to try the bar frets.

[@staleyexplores]

I think boutique guitars are fabulous, I definitely want one, but what I"ve learned is that not all of them resonate with me. Playing any acoustic especially is critical for me before buying. great video Jeremy. I say this because I never want to discount a guitar if it costs $200 or $10,000.

[@staleyexplores]

Padgett is my favorite.

[@hwnfrd]

Really informative presentation with important pros and cons regarding these guitars. Being a elderly lefty beginner who resides in a very humid climate and also of limited income, (retired), boutique guitars are out of the question for me as well as the higher priced Martin's and Taylor's. My last purchase is a Martin 0X1e and though it may be considered "rubbish" by some people because of its price, all HPL construction and sound, that guitar suits my purpose perfectly due to its size and durability when it comes to humidity and temperatures. If I could play the guitar as well as you do then it may justify me buying something better that I can comfortably afford but for now, like the saying goes "One person's trash is another person's treasure".

[@staleyexplores]

rock on friend.

[@RyanAlward]

Hi! Not sure where you live, but if you can make it to Sarasota to Jerry’s Lefty guitars, you will be in a dream location. Check out his website. So many amazing boutique lefties to play. It opened my eyes!

[@hwnfrd]

@@RyanAlward Hi there, I live probably as far from Florida as one can get within the US, I live in Hawaii. As far as boutique guitars go, it's overkill for me right now as I am just a beginner, even if I could play decent enough and could afford one I really don't know if I would want one. I'm the kind of person who would rather have a 4 wheel drive truck over a Porsche, that's just me.

[@noahcchapman]

I would love to see you review seagull artist spec guitars. I have a seagull artist concert hall natural, and it’s just so lovely. I’d love to know what you think value for money is for them, as they are North American made.

[@kais7181]

I had a 10-year-old seagull artist mosaic (mahogany back and side, cedar top), it is the sweetest sounding guitar! Imo, seagull makes the best guitar at their price range and the artist series is their highest end option!

[@sasquatchlife8836]

The Wright Lutherie and Padgett were my favorites. Wow

[@jyoun79]

That Wright Lutherie sounded AMAZING

[@TheGuitarsquatch]

There is an exception to boutique guitar depreciation. If you find a newer builder that is pulling all the stops you can possibly get them for low. I have a Culwell D18 that I had a missed opportunity to get new from the builder for $1300 and they are now starting at around $2000.

[@andrewbowen6875]

This fact blows my mind as guys like Michael Watts and another English Guitar wizard both happened upon two Ervin Symogi apprentices and had the foresight to buy their very first guitars made under their own names Tom Sands and Jason Kostal

[@davestagner]

Once you own a couple of truly great guitars (boutique or not), it’s hard to own anything else. Of course, not all boutiques are magical, and not all factory guitars are inferior, but where I’ve found real luck is small factories rather than solo craftsmen. At this point, I own four magical guitars - a Running Dog mini-jumbo (my first boutique, custom made for me), an ‘85/‘86 Lowden (early in the Irish factory), an ‘85 Baxendale-era Mossman, a ‘76 Mossman 12 string. I couldn’t pick any one of them over the others - it depends on my mood and the kind of music I’m playing at the moment. They’re all very different.

[@CoyoteSlim]

Good video on BOO-teek guitars. That particular model of Waterloo seems to be the most difficult to find. I guess production went down during COVID and demand went up. I got a good deal on a Waterloo in 2019 - a Jumbo King (which seems to be their least popular model for some reason, maybe I just like bigge-bodied guitars because I'm tall) and according to reverb the value has increased. but I'm not about to sell it.

[@johnhiscutt1853]

That Waterloo is great!

[@thomasknapp7236]

Your opinion on Iris? Seems spendy for what you get. Compared to a Gibson L-00. Or even a Furch 00

[@andrewbowen6875]

So I know how much you love your Waterloo guitar despite your initial pre conceptions of it not being your thing? How I wish I had more knowledge of what I was buying when after just two years of learning on my much loved Yamaha LS 6 was replaced by a second hand boutique handmade Brook twelve fret guitar made on Dartmoor in 2007. Fitted with a duel highlander pick up with goose neck mic it really hurts me to admit that I just can’t play the damn thing and being a folk players dream for finger style in alternate tunings I just can’t play it in standard for some reason. Guess I’m faced with the decision of trading it in for a guitar that is more compatible with the Americana sound I so love

[@SlimeyGuitarStrings]

The Huss and Dalton and Padget sounded really good to me. The Waterloo wasn't bad either, I just preferred those.

[@philg2874]

Huss and Dalton and the Waterloo for me!!!! Love them

[@KillerBudda1418]

I have a om28 but would love any of those where im located there are not many boutique guitars around here, when i bought the martin I would had bought the house if it were available

[@rmzzz76]

That Schoenberg Vintage OM is amazing. $18k is a lot to ask, but the buyer isn't just paying for the tone, they are paying for a historic recreation hand-built down to that Brazilian. Watching in April 2023, I hope you found it a good home.

[@CCaraway]

If you want to see how a guitar "should" be built just check out either of the Hendersons. Wayne (father) and Jayne (daughter) both build the best acoustic guitars.

[@johnmcrae3221]

Jeremy, really good video!! Learned some and enjoyed it all. Thanks for doing it. I think the Martin without a pick guard is better not just in terms of volume, but also in terms of the tone. High quality top tone wood with a plastic guard glued on can not be all that great a combination. Hope you are staying well. Best to you!!

[@angelg8445]

It’s not a Martin, it was made at the factory with several other boutique builders.

[@johnmcrae3221]

@@angelg8445 oh. I thought he said Martin. Thanks. So what is it, then?

[@angelg8445]

@@johnmcrae3221 8:10

[@MashaT22]

You’re right about the value of guitars and the headstock thing. It’s no different than people who only want designer clothes. They cost more, but does it mean than a similar lower end option is any worse? Sometimes yes, sometimes no. But still, people want the label even if what they’re buying is no better or is even worse quality/value than the less expensive clothing from an unknown source. It sure would help if a few well-known musicians would get behind some boutique brands. If people would see a Padgett up on stage with someone like John Mayer and/or find out he used one to record his latest album, everyone who could afford one would want it. Call it The Silver Sky Effect, lol! 😂🍴🎸😂

[@Nicole_Gucci_Baby1k]

My great grandmother has a guitar that is somewhere in the family she says it’s extremely old but we don’t know where to find out where the maker or name kind of guitar is we know it’s acoustic but she wants me to figure out what kind of guitar it is Can you help me???

[@mediumdun18]

could you tell me the second tune you were playing on the schoenberg?. Beautiful sounding guitar

[@ninjer66]

I love that H&D. I'm a sucker for any guitar with a a lot of play on it and a story. That maple back and sides sounds amazing, why don't more builders use maple?

[@imannonymous7707]

A good friend of mine hailed from godrich ontario. Rip. Ive been before . Situated on the shore of lake huron in the snowbelt . Not that it matters much to anyone here but a little colour commentary on the canadian guitar

[@texhaines9957]

Great video Jeremy. While ago, someone told me to get the best you can get of something (camera, guitar) that you'll use. It helps the environment (using only 1) and is responsible (more $$ left for the poor & charities). I also feel with a better sounding guitar that I sing better. Correct that boutique guitars are usually better. My other reason to get a great guitar is for my kids & grandchildren after I'm gone. I like the Furch & Padgett, and have a great Showalter.

[@CarlosGonzalez-tx4cb]

I have a lot of handmade guitars by a single builder and they are incredible. It makes it hard to go back to factory built instruments

[@andrewbowen6875]

Probably down to the law of diminishing returns whereby you may find one really good en out of ten say. My handmade Brook is a stunning example of a boutique handmade guitar from a two man team on Dartmoor. That said I didn’t fully appreciate they are known for very slim necks and it just doesn’t suit my playing, albeit the balance tone and sound esp in folk tunings is very noticeable as sounding amazing

[@CarlosGonzalez-tx4cb]

@@andrewbowen6875 I agree with the las of diminishing returns. It can be said of the jumó from high end factory to hand built. For many, high end factory guitars are better because they aren’t paying thousands for minor upgrades in tone and playability. There are advantages for many in buying a $3K Martin D-28 over something that can easily cost more than double from small bench luthiers. My classical guitars are handmade, But my steel string is a factory made Furch red deluxe. I probably wouldn’t pay more than that for a steel string guitar since I don’t play I don’t play it much. I think our consensus is that there’s definitely give and take with factory Vs hand built

[@gregoryguarneri8473]

I studied the video and in my humble opinion the “Ben” guitar was leaps and bounds what I thought was the best sound!

[@ojaiandrew]

There's a Shoenberg right now at The North American Guitar made during the same era as the one you are showing that was made by Dana Bourgeois and TJ Thompson. It's selling for $12,500. How could the one you are showing be worth $18? I'm doubtful.

[@JeremySheppard]

This one is TJ Thompson. It's being sold on consignment for Good Acoustics and Guitar Bench Magazine, they have set the price.

[@ojaiandrew]

@@JeremySheppard The price of guitars especially Vintage Martins has skyrocketed over the pandemic. But that still seems rather excessive given the other one at $12,500 which is also Brazilian and in great shape. I guess it’s what the market will bear.

[@donaldcook3112]

@@ojaiandrew . . . 'Smoke and mirrors'... Andrew, 'Smoke and mirrors' - and the m o n e t i s a t i o n of a-n y and e-v-e-r-y thing ... to the g r e e d degree .

[@michaelmalik5049]

Hello. A Gibson style guitar with a Martin style scale length would be like an Epiphone Texan. The Texan was basically a J-50 with a 25,5” scale length.

[@JeremySheppard]

Gibson J-35

[@michaelmalik5049]

I guess you’re right. The J-50 technically did have fancier binding & was more of fancier model. I forgot about the J-35 since they were made so briefly. Thank you for the reply; I enjoyed the video. Can’t afford (and don’t have the skill to justify buying) a boutique guitar. I just bought an Eastman slope D and that is my nice guitar for around the house.

[@JeremySheppard]

The Eastman's are 🔥

[@rondykeman5154]

Hi Jeremy Sheppard. What is that chord that you make and what strings are you fretting when you are playing the Padgett and you have your m finger on low E, 7th fret? Also the next chord at the 5th fret.

[@JeremySheppard]

It's a Bm triad and an A triad. Similar to Dave Matthews in his song Gray Street.

[@tjsanner4787]

Great video!

[@Wynndell1]

Hi Jeremy, Nice Collection. I would love to own that house? Guitar. The one to your far right. The one from Canada. I live in Alberta, Canada. It sounds like a good finger picking guitar.

[@a.bergey522]

The house and Huss are dreams

[@rzh3443]

I think the Wright and Padgett guitars sounded the best in my headphones. You also pay for fine tuning the bracing, but Breedlove seems to have a way to that with technology. Waterloo appears to be a victim of the pandemic? No production in a long time as the Collings employees either split or were transferred to the Collings line. I just saw a music store in Pittsburg advertise three custom Fender Strats made by a single luthier in their factory. All three gone out the door at $8k plus in a minute! Good discussion.

[@jonlieberman997]

this is a great video

[@darrellskinner5263]

Hey was that a snippet of If We Were Vampires?

[@JeremySheppard]

It was! I'm a huge Jason Isbell fan.

[@darrellskinner5263]

Thought so! I cover some of his tunes, not that one but I recognized it. That’s a crazy collection you have there! I recently got a BG-52-GIM hot rod that I ordered last year, but this past weekend I mostly played my bare bones SG-52 that I’ve owned since 2019, and I fell in love with it all over again. Sad part is my Larrivée D-09 gets neglected now with two Bouchers in the house 😢

[@albertpsaros4988]

Paget and the furch

[@markinthemix6055]

The Hause and the Shoenberg. My picks. Both probably spelled wrong

[@tonywhetham8165]

To my ear, that Waterloo stands head and shoulders above the others.

[@luissaldivar2808]

Definitely the Waterloo , shessh 🔥

[@angelg8445]

Hi Jeremy, good vid and an incredibly eclectic collection you have! I think Shoenberg/Thompson/Martin Brazilian at the top and then tied for second the vintage OM/Furch. The Padgett is intriguing but not Sure how it plays. 18k is pretty high for the 33’ Martin bench copy but I know with that Brazilian and the prestige of the builders means it’s a lot of money, but I’ve got a 4,500 Custom Martin with Vts and addy/hog that probably fits me better than any of these. Just my opinion, but I dream of an age tone 000 bourgeois or Santa Cruz!!!!

[@lonewolffgrey8983]

the house looks cool

[@JeremySheppard]

I agree! It's really well built

[@ericecklund676]

Jeremy, the best boutique guitar is the one that is NOT a boutique guitar. Go look at the specs on a new Martin 000-28 Custom Shop Authentic 1937 Aged (I have one), and see how it matches up against any boutique guitar you would want to own. Even better would be to go your local Custom Shop Experts dealer and play one. Great video!

[@Dub1281]

I've got the D28 version and agree with you 100%

[@CravenStudiosArt]

the neck on the new om md is insanely comfortable/unique/amazing...and of course great martin sound

[@deanmcbride8747]

Hi Jeremy , great video once again. That furch yellow guitar blew the previous ones of of the water. Cnc heaven. Exellent wood quality. Might be buying a unused Martin d 45 soon. 2010 model in mint. Out of all the guitars I've owned I prefer the Martin tone. God bless Martin guitars. Always wanted one. Got a d42 but want more abalone Can't play very well but enjoy buying and selling and meeting people who play worse than me. Ha Far too much money to lose buying a boutique guitar which sounds naff compared to Martin and Taylor. Dean 🇬🇧.

[@rosewoodsteel6656]

To my ears, the Wright sounded the best.

[@russellr1509]

Definitely the Padgett for me.

[@jasper_north]

For how much did you insure all your guitars together?

[@JeremySheppard]

Good question. I have homeowners on the studio and they cover them at market value I just have to keep a spreadsheet with basic info on them.

[@3cardmonty602]

The Padgett guitar is the best sounding guitar to me.

[@johnwashburn3793]

There's a 12 step program for that. BGA,boutique guitars anonymous.

[@johnwashburn3793]

The maple is sweet. Ben's and the Waterloo also sound beautiful. I would probably try that House because it is for sale.

[@johnwashburn3793]

...but the double X bracing is a off-putting...

[@Dub1281]

I think some aspects of the definition needed to be looked at. Just because a shop was small/boutique at one point, doesn't mean they are today. Collings certainly isn't, Bourgeois has an international partnership with Eastman. Collings got big enough to branch off and make Waterloo. They're more like small factories than a Boutique. Just my opinion. Agree? Disagree?

[@BillBurnette]

The Waterloo is a Collings line.

[@BillBurnette]

And Bourgeois still makes guitars outside of the Eastman partnership as they always have. I have a 2021 OM Country Boy .

[@TUBEORATER]

THE most underrated guitars are Laurel Canyon. I would put mine up against a Taylor or Martin any day. Don't waste $$$ on brands. S e c r e t... Laurel Canyon...good stuff.

[@pawlowski6132]

What?? No Froggy Bottom???

[@JeremySheppard]

One day maybe, haha.

[@ojaiandrew]

Or Collings, Bourgeois, Goodall……

[@This_crazy_life]

Or Fairbanks?

[@mrpaiute9013]

I see high priced boutique guitars and I laugh at the $8000 price tags for a les paul style guitar

[@ianatkin7541]

like to meet your friend.

[@gnulen]

it's a shame you pretty much only play bluegrass cowboy chords picking behind the soundhole. You make the guitars sound thin and without character.

[@JeremySheppard]

I'm glad someone finally said it, I've been thinking this for years.

[@CaseyJamesMusicOfficial]

As nice as boutique guitars are…. Can you really beat a Martin?

[@JeremySheppard]

Yes. Most boutiques are better than Martin standards but the modern deluxe versions are remarkable.

[@BillBurnette]

Sorry, but that Showalter does nothing for me- sounds tinny and is butt ugly… different strokes I guess.

[@scottbaxendale323]

Boutique guitars are made by people and some are good luthiers and some are hacks.

[@rafabraga1360]

here in Brazil you can't have a good instrument, it's as if a guitar cost 30,000 dollars and the salary was 1,000 dollars a month. I've been playing for 20 years and I know I'll never have a good guitar.