03 Jun Twenty Five
The concept of building guitars for a living began in the Rockfish Valley of Virginia probably in the winter of ’94 folding in to Spring/Summer ’95. It’s hard to remember the exact moment in time it formed. Two guys with ideas, skill, passion, determination…and music came together.
Now, twenty-five years later, the business is strong, the instruments superb, and we’re looking forward to the next twenty-five years!
To commemorate this exciting anniversary, we wanted to build something really special and so, after we were contacted by Walter Lipton in the summer of 2019, we knew the direction we would go.
Here is an excerpt from our Authorized Dealer email from October 1 2020…
Today we take a moment to celebrate twenty-five years in business! On October 1, 1995, it all began in the Huss garage in Staunton, VA. After a year or so, we moved into a building 10 miles south in Stuarts Draft, VA, and occupied it for 3 years. In 1999, we purchased our current location in Staunton, VA, and we added the 416 building in 2008. The tides have ebbed and flowed over the years but we are honored our guitars hang alongside some of the most respected builders today. Our thanks go out to each of you that continue to support us and help to make the world better through music. Thank you.
Last June 2019, we procured Master grade Brazilian Rosewood back and side sets from the personal collection of Walter Lipton, founder of Euphonon Co. We bought supplies from him over the years. Walter reached out to us offering his collection and we were thrilled he did. The ideas for our 25th Anniversary began with this wood.
In Walter’s words, from his email, ” These are from my personal stock, and have been seasoning in my loft for about 40 years. Very hard and dense, with glasslike tap-tone. The backs are cut the full width of a small tree, so include the tree center. Because the tree is small, the center flat sawed section is also small and most of the wood has ~vertical grain. The sides are vertical grain. The wood is very stable and lies nice and flat. This wood is gorgeous.”
The 25th Anniversary Model will be limited to 8 in either a TD-R or TOM-R body.
Specs may not be changed and are as follows:
TD-R Custom or TOM-R Custom
Master-grade thermo-cured Red Spruce top
Master-grade Brazilian Rosewood back and sides – “Lipton collection”
Hide glue top bracing
Koa body bindings, Koa fretboard bindings, Koa peghead bindings
’45-style PAUA Trim package
PAUA back strip
MOP side dots
Ebony peghead veneer
Bone bridge pins w/AB dot
un-Dyed Bone nut and saddle
un-Dyed Bone end pin
Custom designed Floral Grace Vine fretboard inlay by Jodie Davis
Custom designed Floral Grace Vine peghead inlay by Jodie Davis
Bridge Wing inlay
Jescar Gold fret wire
Waverly 4062-G engraved tuning machines
25 @ the 12th fret
TKL Tweed case w/H&D logo
Happy Anniversary HDGC…cheers!