Interview with Guitarist Matt Thomas

An inspiring and virtuosic fingerstyle player, Matt Thomas is also deeply knowledgeable and passionate about the world of boutique luthier-built guitars. He may even be considering a move into building himself! All told, he's the perfect non-luthier guest for this luthier series, able to nerd out about music and guitar craft in equal measure.
In our chat, he shares his musical history and inspirations, from his wins at the Walnut Valley International Fingerstyle and Home of the Legends International Thumbpicking competitions; his long-running musical partnership with Dustin Furlow; to sharing the stage with legends like Tommy Emmanuel, Michael Kelsey, Stephen Bennett, among others. Through our discussion of his collaboration with Jeff Jewitt for his signature OM-C, we explore how our relationship to the instruments we play shapes our musical experience, and discuss the value of partnering with a great luthier to create your perfect guitar.
"Matt Thomas impressed me with his musical taste and clever use of dynamics. His knowledge of unorthodox guitar techniques is at the service of music and his arrangements are remarkable and engaging. Bravo Matt!!" -Peppino D'Agostino
Learn more about Matt: themattthomas.com/home
Follow Matt on Instagram: themattthomasmusic
Matt's videos on KZbin: @MattThomasmusic
Matt plays his arrangement of "Ashokan Farewell" on his custom Jewitt OM-C Cocobolo, and his original "Sky's Eyes" on a Skytop Grand Concert Maple.
Jewitt Guitars at CVE: cartervintage.com/shop?keywords=jewitt
Skytop Guitars at CVE: cartervintage.com/shop/skytop-grand-auditorium-cutaway-2022-pernambuco-teredo-sitka-spruce/2IENKhn0NoPXJoJO5SXb2WFtnsg
Interview Hosted and Edited by @LindsayStraw
#mattthomasmusic #acousticguitar #jewittguitars

[@JewittGuitars]

Just to explain a bit of the color science. In the realm of color and color theory, blue (the purfling) is the complementary color to orange/red (the coco). In many cases from a design perspective, complementary colors clash, just like certain notes and frequencies, but they are visually stimulating. From a psychological color perspective, people visually remember complementary colors and they are used all the time in advertising (think Howard Johnson's restaurants, Sunkist, Mountain Dew)

[@realgoodmind]

I love this. This is how amazing of a touch a real luthier adds to a guitar. I will be on the look out for Jewitt guitars now and play one as soon as I can. If color theory is part of the design process (which it should be) and so thoroughly thought out that means that every single part on that guitar is sourced for a purpose and for a particular look and tone. Love it.

[@sasquatchlife8836]

Matt is one of the best guitarists on the planet, hands down. Arguably my favorite. I always think I'm pretty good until I watch Matt, lol.

[@jimthomas1360]

Wow. Matt is a warm and kind soul. Fascinating person. So many interesting tidbits, angles and analogies of thinking about different aspects of acoustic guitars. One that I found quite interesting was his describing the tones of different guitars using vowels or vowel sounds. It's interesting because I do the same thing. I own two Michele Pellerin guitars and I was describing (on a phone call) the first one I purchased (parlor sized ziricote and sitka spruce) to the dealer whom I had purchased my second Pellerin guitar from (Folk C13 wedge/western cedar). I told him the Pellerin parlor guitar has an "Ohhhh" tone to it which I find soothing while the Folk C13 was "oooooo" with a lot of overtones on top. The dealer was silent and seemed to think I was from Pluto. Or, I caught him at a bad time... LOL. Trying to describe guitars is like people trying to describe wines. Individuals develop their own vocabulary/relationships to what they hear and feel. It was quite reassuring to hear Matt talk about vowels tones which I could relate to :-). Nice interview Lindsay. Seems Matt may have been quite easy to interview ;-)

[@JewittGuitars]

Great interview you two!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@hidesertmusic]

Great interview Lindsay! Matt, you are really cool! I’m so jealous of your contact and friendship with Tommy. I’ve admired him since I was given his cd The Journey. By the way, I love your playing. Thank you.

[@ScottyWig]

A Really Great interview with such a Talented, excellent player, , Matt, count me a big fan of your playing, , pretty much drawn from your many Cedar Creek videos. I too obsess about the Acoustic Guitar an KNOW we are living in the “Golden Age” of Luthiery, , unfortunately I’m not a wealthy individual but have had the pleasure of coming to know Great Guitars starting with a McPherson then Bourgeois, Collings, , etc, , (selling the present one to try the next one my “Mind” whispers might be even more wonderful), , and amazingly, , my wife still keeps me! 🙄😬 I too absolutely agree that “upgraded woods” utilized in BRACES make a guitar sound extra special. It’s my pleasure to now own a TWO HANDS Guitar that he used Tunnel 14 Redwood in for the Braces, , Bubinga back and sides, a bevel, Soundport, Bear claw spruce Top, , so yep, , it sounds WONDERFUL especially for Fingerstyle. THANK YOU Lindsay for your passion in your obvious love of the Acoustic Guitar, , love your playing too, , you are a gift in pursuing these interviews, , so much is learned from them.

[@realgoodmind]

Now this is GREAT! I will have to dig into this when I have time. Would love to see Lindsey and others get a chance to do this in person and have a conversation with guitars as well. Well done everyone!