A visit to Sharp Guitars...

[Markkunkel]

Yesterday I had the chance to visit Don Sharp of Sharp Guitars http://sharpguitars.com/ at his shop in Auburn, AL. We're only 100 miles or so from each other and I'm a huge fan of small-shop luthiers, but this was our first opportunity to visit. And I am so glad that it happened!

Don is a dedicated and passionate guy who is well credentialed in other fields as well as lutherie, and at his relatively young age has a long history of guitar building and repair. As soon as I walked into his tidy shop I knew from the smell of the wood and from the panorama of stickered back and sides sets and from guitar bodies in various stages of completion that I was in for a treat. We talked guitars for a while, smelled and tapped and savored top plates and some assembled rims, played and enjoyed the guitars that I brought, and finally got to play Don's most recent builds. First up was this sweet Cocobolo/Engelmann small jumbo with vintage tint on the top:





Don is doing some very very nice work, with cool little construction details (the double purfling lines on the fingerboard, wide and "stealthy" bindings with neat contrasting purflings on the top and back and sides, a very cool Olson-esque but unique volute and back peghead veneer, custom and classy rosettes, and other things). He also shares my sense that the wood should speak for itself.

This guitar sounds as nice as it looks...punchy yet balanced, and a bright yet controlled tone. VERY nice cocobolo fretboard and bridge.

Next was this macassar ebony/engelmann GA. I'd been drooling over the pictures on the website for a while but was unprepared nevertheless for how pretty this guitar is in person:





Again, a very cool and modern yet classy aesthetic, and all the build details so tastefully executed. Don describes himself as a perfectionist, and it shows, indeed.

I have had an engelmann guitar or two and although I enjoyed them for fingerstyle they tended to lack the brightness and crispness of attack that sometimes I enjoy as well. Don does something with his voicing and build that allows Engelmann to sing warmly yet also to have a lot of headroom. This guitar was my favorite...at least until I played this one:





Fully 17" in the lower bout, this gorgeous madagascar/Lutz was nevertheless comfortable and easy to hold (that small waist helps). And WOW! What a booming yet also balanced voice. That guitar just eats up dropped D and also manages to have a bright and clear treble. The D and G strings are wonderful in the mids as well.

Anyway, a word (as a new acquaintance and perhaps some day friend and maybe even future customer of Don's with no other affiliation, of course) of gratitude for people who do their work with passion and care. I have the good fortune of knowing and rubbing shoulders with three or four nearby luthiers, and they are without exception people (as you would expect, given the art that they build) of character and dedication and patience and smarts, people it's nice to call friends.

Thanks again, Don, for taking the time to show me around the shop and to talk guitars. I recommend Don and his work enthusiastically.

Mark

[bleumax]

wow, those guitars are beautiful. i love the wood selection, especially the cocobolo.

[joegator81]

i second every thing you said. i met don at the newport guitar festival and was fortunate enough to spend time w/ 3 of the 4 guitars he brought w/ him including the coco small jumbo and the mad jumbo. i save the space simply say that i echo your sentiments exactly - the mad jumbo can only be described as HUGE sounding, i felt it in my gut. the thing is, it was so responsive, especially in dadgad. btw, i'm still lusting over that cocobolo, easily the most beautiful wood i've ever seen. i'm sure i will be commissioning a guitar from don sometime in the future

[strangeman]

Stunning guitars. I wish I lived closer so I could get my hands on and ears around that jumbo.

Great work!

[theotigno]

Yea, when I visited, that Jumbo was quite an eye opening experience! The low end on that guitar is MASSIVE! It was my second favorite next to my walnut / engelmann!

[Joost Assink]

Wow, absolutely stunning guitars. That's just art!! And the wood is incredible too!

Don, you're an artist

[sharp_custom]

Thanks for the kind words all. And, Thank you Mark for taking the time to visit. It was a true joy to meet Mark. He brought over a few guitars to share and some treats for my dogs (they say thanks, by the way). Not only is Mark a true gentleman he is also a talented and passionate guitarist. It was my honor and privilege to spend some time in his company. I hope we can do it again soon.

If anyone else would like to visit, I'm just an e-mail, PM, or phone call away. this is a standing invitation. I really enjoy meeting AGF members. Just let me know.

[cotten]

Don, I've been making noise about coming to see you on my way to visiting family in Mississippi for a long time. With the price of gas these days, that makes sense, doesn't it? Of course, we're talking fine guitars and guitar nuts here, so making a lot of sense may not be high on the priority list!

Beautiful work, my friend, and Mark's review makes them even more attractive. Thanks to both of you!

Thanks, too, for believing in this forum enough to become a Sponsor. AGFers are just the sort of people who will enjoy your guitars most, and reviews like Mark's are what we thrive on.

cotten

[sharp_custom]

Thanks Cotten. It's a great honor to be a small part of such a great community.

You know, I could always meet you 1/2 way. And, now is the perfect time to check out all four of the models.