Schwartz Guitars Custom Acoustic

At the time I ordered this guitar, there was only one size body available, and I ordered it with cutaway. I chose bear-claw Sitka Spruce top, Indian Rosewood back/sides, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard. Custom appointments included blue Paua trim, (ala D45 - a LOT of it!), and custom fretboard/headstock/bridge wing inlays. If you go to the Schwartz Guitars web site, the guitar of which I am reviewing is the "Mermaid Guitar". I worked very closely with Sheldon Schwartz, and many custom touches were added that I did not specify. I submitted sketches for many of the inlays, and Sheldon brought them all to life. Visually, it is a STUNNING guitar. I ordered a custom Calton case through Sheldon Schwartz, which I highly recommend for protecting an instrument of this quality and value.

The sound of this guitar is incredible. The projected volume, tone balance, and note definition is as good as any guitar out there. It does not compress when played hard, and is equally suited to finger style or strumming. I also own a custom built Larrivee jumbo and recently played some music for some non-musician friends using the Schwartz, Larrivee, two different Ovations, and a Ibanez set up for slide. After the "concert" was over, one of the folks commented about the guitars and said "the one with the mermaid was sonically superior to all the others".

I discussed my playing style with Sheldon a number of times, and sent him a demo tape of some of my music so he could get an idea of the musician who was ordering a guitar. Not only was this guitar custom built to my physical requests, but it was custom built for my playing style sonically.

This guitar is absolutely perfect. It plays like butter squeezing through your fingers - smooth and slippery. The workmanship is flawless - no glue, no dust, no feathered wood on any edges, no gaps, the gloss finish is like a mirror, the inlay work is breath taking. You can tell at first glance, and affirm with close inspection, that the luthier, Sheldon Schwartz, who built this guitar not only is a master of the craft, but puts every bit of his heart and soul into the instrument.

I have had this guitar in my possesion for almost two years now, and the setup has not changed any that I can tell. This is as fine a guitar as ever has been built and I would think it will just get beeter with age. I have played "live", though with a guitar of this quality and value, I would not let it out of my sight!

Sheldon Schwartz is very friendly and will work with you as closely as you require to get the instrument you desire. Besides, he needs the work!! Seriously, every detail concerning your future instrument will be discussed in great detail, and Sheldon ALWAYS discusses any deviations from previously agreed on specifications prior to implimentation. Schwartz Guitars is truly a CUSTOM shop, and you deal directly with the luthier that will make your acoutic guitar dream come true.

Should your instrument need work in the future, depending on what the problem is, Sheldon assured me that either he will take care of it, or if it is a minor adjustment, he will recommend a luthier in your local area.

Since this guitar is truly custom built, many factors went into its creation. Before I chose Schwartz, I contacted many luthiers, sent sketches of my desired inlay work, etc. Few had the talent to execute the inlay work, yet were perfectlr capable of building the basic guitar - some even suggested inlay artists that could do the work during/after guitar construction. I felt it best to have one luthier do the entire build. I visted previously made Schwartz guitars, called out-of-state owners, and went to as many guitar shops as I could to play instrument by other custom builders. It is a very personal choice when commissioning a custom acoustic guitar, and I chose Schwartz after much research and discussions. I would not change a thing on this guitar, and I can only tell you that it surpassed ALL of my hopes and expectations. As Sheldon's classified ad in Guitar Player magazine states - this is one WORLD CLASS guitar!

MINE IS A SCHWARTZ CUSTOM WHICH WAS HANDCRAFTED IN AUGUST 1999.THIS GUITAR WAS HANDMADE IN CANADA BY SHELDON SCHWARTZ.YOU CAN GO TO THE WEBSITE @ WWW.SCHWARTZGUITARS.COM FOR ALL THE DETAILS.IT WILL REALLY MAKE YOU WANT ONE OF THESE FINE INSTRUMENTS.MINE WAS CUSTOM HANDCRAFTED FOR THE GUITAR GALLERY AND HAS A BEARCLAW SITKA SPRUCE TOP,BODY IS MADE OF EAST INDIAN ROSEWOOD,IT USES MACASAR EBONY AND HONDURAS MAHOGANY, ALL SELECT WOODS.TUNERS MADE IN GERMANY WITH A LETTER S ON THEM.MINE HAS DOUBLE RINGS ON THE 12TH FRET AND IS A BEAUTIFUL PLAYING AND SOUNDING INSTRUMENT.

THE SIZE REMINDS ME OF A LARGE OM SIZE AND IS A UNIQUE SHELDON SCHWARTZ DESIGN.MY CUSTOM HAS IT ALL, DEEP BASS AND VERY RESPONSIVE UP AND DOWN THE NECK.MAKES YOU WANT TO JUST SIT DOWN AND PLAY FOR HOURS.

THIS IS A VERY WELL BUILT INSTRUMENT AND SHELDON HAS A GREAT EYE FOR WOOD CHOICE.I UNDERSTAND THAT HE IS ALSO AN ARTIST AND DRAWS HIS INLAY DESIGNS AND CREATES THEM OUT OF ABALONE.I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF SOME OF HIS INLAYS AND THEY ARE THE FINEST I HAVE SEEN.SHELDON USES A SOLID MATERIAL TO BIND THE SIDES TO THE TOP AND BACK WHICH ADDS RIGIDITY AND STRENGTH AND HELPS THE SOUND TO RESONATE EVEN BETTER THAN OTHER GUITARS.

ALTHOUGH THIS IS A WORK OF ART,THE SCHWARTZ IS BUILT FOR THE MUSICIAN TO PLAY.IT SEEMS TO BE BUILT TOUGH ENOUGH FOR CONCERT TOURS OR FOR THE STUDIO USE.JUST YOUR NORMAL EXTRA SET OF STRINGS IS ALL YOU NEED IF YOU WERE OUT GIGGING.

SHEDON SCHWARTA REALLY EXCELS HERE.I SENT MY GUITAR TO SHELDON SCHWARTZ GUITARS IN CANADA TO MAKE SURE THAT EVERYTHING WAS UP TO SPECS.SHELDON HIMSELF TOOK THE ENTIRE DAY TO BRING THE GUITAR UP TO ORIGINAL SPECS AND THEN EMAILED AND CALLED ME TO MAKE SURE OF ANYTHING THAT I WANTED HIM TO ADJUST WHILE IT WAS THERE.ALL AT NO CHARGE TO ME!YOU CAN TELL THAT SHELDON IS A TRUE LUTHIER AND LOVES HIS CREATIONS.HE IS MOST HELPFUL AND VERY CONCERNED FOR HIS CUSTOMERS!

I HAVE PLAYED AND OWNED SEVERAL HIGH END GUITARS IN THE LAST 38 YEARS AND HAVE ENJOYED THEM ALL TO AN EXTENT.THIS SHELDON HAS MANY OF THE THINGS THAT I LOOK FOR IN A HIGH END INSTRUMENT.ALTHOUGH NO ONE GUITAR CAN BE ALL THINGS, THIS SCHWARTZ CUSTOM COMES THE CLOSEST!A REAL JEWEL OF AN INSTRUMENT AND ONE THAT YOU NEED TO HOPE THAT YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HOLD IN YOUR HANDS AND EVEN BETTER, TO PLAY ONE!THANKS SHELDON FOR EVERYTHING!