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Use the form on the right to contact us.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your instrument, repairs, any instruments we have for sale, ordering an instrument, or any instrument you wish to sell.

1000 North Rand Road No. 224
Wauconda, IL, 60084
United States

847-864-7730

I began making guitars in 1966 in Dayton Ohio, where I worked out of my house. From 1968-1970 I lived in Mexico City, returning during the summers to build instruments at the Dayton location. 

During this time I was studying Anthropology and playing flamenco guitar professionally in various troupes in Mexico and around the U.S. In 1972 I moved to Chicago and worked briefly out of the back of a music store before moving to my present location in 1973. 

At that point I gave up any pretensions of being a professional guitarist and dedicated myself full time to lutherie.

 


My 800 Greenwood Street shop has undergone several renovations and changes over the years, the most recent being the 1995 massive renovation I did of the outside and inside of the building. 

As a result, my building is now climate controlled throughout the entire 4,000 square feet, and it has now acquired a nicer facade, with more interior showroom space than was previously available. 

Consequently, we are better able to serve those who prefer to visit the shop to select an instrument from our extensive inventory, which is housed in glass fronted rosewood cabinets. Being able to play many instruments side by side is very helpful in making a final selection, and we have full repair/restoration facilities on the premises for minor action adjustments to major restorations of valuable collector instruments.

Bruné Custom Concert

Bruné Custom Concert Model (U.S.A.) No. 731, 650 mm, 51 mm nut, spruce top, Indian rosewood sides and back, Genuine Honduras mahogany neck (left matte on the back side) with black ebony fingerboard.  Original french polish of Siam seedlac shellac, Hauser style David Rodgers tuning machines.  Originally made with 22 frets, we have since cut down the fingerboard overhang to carry 20 frets.  This custom instrument was originally made for the Puerto Rican concert artist Carlos Rodriguez Quiros who owns several other of my guitars.  As per the wishes of Carlos, we installed two clear plates on the face to protect the top french polish from nail wear, and these should be considered permanent.  They do not affect the sound at all.  Externally it has a custom carved head, Artist model bridge inlaid with two strips of abalone, and a copy of the Ignacio Fleta rosette inlaid on the top.  Internally, it is braced like a Robert Bouchet guitar, which has become the model preferred in Granada today, so the instrument is an interesting mixture of well established historical models.  Tonally, it is an exceptionally bright and loud instrument, with excellent carrying power, and firm incisive basses, very well balanced, and very easy to play.  It is colorful and responds instantly to color shadings and volume demands.  Aside from the 25 “25th Anniversary” models I made with carved heads, this instrument is one of only a handful which I have made with a carved head veneer.  The all-Indian rosewood contents are also a plus for those traveling internationally.  A very special instrument which is available immediately without wait.  $14,000