Dan MacArthur Guitars

I build a variety of flat-top steel-stringed instruments using only woods which grow in Vermont. We have here the finest tonewoods available, capable of making instruments as fine as any, ranging from Eastern Red (Adirondack) Spruce to Sugar Maple to Cherry to Black Walnut. My instruments include acoustic basses in either fretted or fretless, and twelve- and fourteen-fret acoustic guitars in all sizes. They are simple in design, without much inlay or fancy purfling, but they are built to sound and play with the best.

Fingerboards and Bridges
In place of ebony or rosewood for fingerboards and bridges I use our local hop-hornbeam, which is creamy brown in color and as dense as ebony.

Top Wood
Each instrument has a top of local spruce which is picked out for tone quality as well as for interesting grain patterns. Red spruce typically does not have the even fine grain of the western woods but instead has grain patterns that vary across the top of the instrument, allowing the builder to use this variation to improve the sound.

Backs and Sides
I often use different woods for the backs and the sides. I believe that each wood has its own tonal qualities and that using different woods gives me another method to fine-tune the sound of the instrument. Plus, sides and backs look gorgeous in contrast. Walnut sides with Curly Maple back, or Curly Maple sides with Cherry back, you get the idea. I always pick out some ourageous figure for the backs and we have some outrageous wood in Vermont!

Necks and String Spacing
As mentioned, I build both twelve- and fourteen-fret guitar necks, with a standard scale of 25.4 inches but I will custom build anything. My own preference is for a neck width of about 1 13/16 inches and a string width at the bridge of about 2 3/8 inches, but I try to work with each owner to make sure that they get the size they want. The basses have a scale between 32.5 inches and 34 inches, and the fretless models are great fun to play! (There are dots inlaid along the side of the neck indicating frets for those of us who tend to get lost). Neck wood is usually light and stable, such as walnut, cherry, or curly soft maple.

Pricing
These instruments sell for around $1000, with good hardshell case, depending on actual appointments. Since I custom build (mostly) and the winter is the best time to build, there is a lag between ordering and getting delivery, but I will work to make these guitars available as needed. All instruments are guaranteed, send them or bring them back and I will fix them. This offer expires when I do.

Contact:
Dan MacArthur Guitars
P.O.Box 30,
Marlboro, VT 05344
dmacarthur@igc.org