Schwartz Guitars Grand Concert Cutaway

2002 made in Canada by Luthier Sheldon Schwartz.
Grand Concert cutaway.Bear claw sitka top with highly figured brazilian rosewood sides and back,birdseye maple binding and back strip,green paua top trim, clear tear drop pickguard,ebony fingerboard with celtnic knot in lay by Larry Robinson, brazilian headstock veneer on front and birdseye maple on back, ebony knobs, Schaler tuners, neck 1 3/4 at nut, thin (Taylor like) neck depth, Calton case, Highlander IP2 pickup system(piezzo and sound hole mic)

I play fingerstyle guitar exclusively. There are only a couple of songs that I use a pick on and I wear acrylic nails. This guitar sounded incredible right out of the box unamplified. Very alive deep end and more than adequate treble contribution. Amplified it also sound great with just the piezzo pickup. I haven't yet found the "hot spot" for the soundhole mic. This usually takes ample experimentation. I'm using true medium Nutone strings and most often the guitar is in DADGAD or something similiar.

The action on this guitar is inordinately low since it is played in alternate tunings full time and just fingerstyle. It doesn't buzz its perfect. The guitar is kept in a room which keeps the temperature between 67-72 with the humidity at about 45 percent so I think that has a lot to do with its consistency.We needed to have the action readjusted once after delivery due to break in, etc. The pickups also required one adjustment but are now working fine.
The quality and workmanship of this guitar are at the very top of the food chain. I am an owner of 12 custom made guitars of similar price points and this one is definitely in the top 3 that I own. Great care was taken by the luthier to make this exactly to my specifications and to make sure every detail was perfect - before and after the sale.
The only criticism I have - and its a minor one - is that the finish on the back and sides seems to scratch up a little quicker than the others. Here I mean those little itty bitty "wear and tear" type abrasions one gets by playing it all the time. Maybe I'm playing it too much?

Are you kidding?
This guitar is rock solid.

I don't recall what the warranty is on a guitar like this but I believe the luthier would make any repairs necessary without a hassle. I had a number of adjustment issues post purchase which were all made by the luthier himself.

I've been playing 25 years and own many similar custom made acoustic guitars. This guitar is one of my favorite three (the others being a Klein M-43 and a Lowden O-25C 25th anniversary model).If you order a commissioned guitar from Sheldon be prepared to wait as it normally takes 18-24 months. But, it is well worth it. If this guitar were lost, replacing it would be futile as it is a one of a kind piece of art, so another would have to be commissioned. The only thing I would change on this guitar would be to go with a wider neck (1 13/16) instead of the standard 1 3/4. For the type of music I play this is where I'm ending up. Other than that there is nothing I would change about any other aspect of this guitar. It is truly one that I will cherish forever. In terms of value - I don't think that is relevent at this price level. I never went into this expecting "value" but wanted a very special guitar with unparelleled woods made to my exact specifications - which is exactly what I got. Sheldon was a true gentlemen to work with and was able to successfully navigate my obsessive compulsive behavior as a client. Hats off!