Wechter Pathmaker Elite

Walnut Back and Sides
Spruce Top
All solid
24 3/4 scale
Not sure the year it was made. Late 90s? It's the 337th one.
I bought it new.
Fishman pickup system (not the real good one with the microphone though).
Unique double cutaway. I've had electrics that had worse access to high frets than this. I have played songs capoed on the 12th fret before!

I use it with a Yamaha AG Stomp direct to the board. It has a great balanced full sound. I find this instrument GREAT for finger-picking. I give it a 9 because it would be perfect with one of the systems that mixes a Mic, but it doesn't have it.

Setup just great. I lowered the action a little. I find I need to tweak the neck every 2 or 3 years. Fretting, setup, finish, everything is great on this guitar. I use 11s on it (Elixer Polyweb - I like the sound of them on THIS guitar better than nanoweb)

This guitar has been through HELL! It's been dropped (not by me), it's had stuff fall on it. It still looks good, but there's nicks and dings all over the place. It still plays and sounds fantastic. I can't use it without a backup, because I use NOTHING without a backup, and anyway, since I got my Anderson Crowdster, I don't use this plugged in anymore.

Can I go to 11 on this one!?!?

Never had to use their support. They have a great reputation. I emailed and asked a question one time, got a response in a couple days. I'm sure they're fine.

I've been playing for well over 20 years (closer to 30 now maybe), I would get a new one in a heartbeat, even though they're basically triple the price as when I bought mine. I wish it had the prefix PLUS instead of the regular prefix, but my AG Stomp overcomes this nicely.

I don't use it plugged in anymore since I got my Anderson Crowdster, but it plugs in really well!

1997 Handmade in the U.S.A. 22 frets, 25.5 scale, double cutaway body, less volume and depth than a dread.

Spruce top, Rosewood sides and back, Mahogany neck w/ Rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

Rather than a neck brace, it uses a laminate insid of the cutaways, very cool.

Gloss finish body, satin neck and headstock. The fret dots are where you can actually see them at the left of the neck, so they actually can do you some good.

Fishman electronics Prefix Plus (very nice preamp).

You have access to the 19th fret; just like a strat. Lightweight & comfortable to play. Carefull tweaking w/good amplification and it sounds natural w/no quack plugged in. Extremely useful innovations.

First of all, what it's not: It's not a jumbo or a dreadnaught. It's not overly bright, bassy, loud, stuff like that.
That being said, the 1st time I picked it up at a local store it was 11 am. The next time I noticed anyone else in the place it was 4. We've been together ever since.
Now for what it is: The Pathmaker is a lovely blend. Very articulate, which really lends itself to mixing notes all over the neck, using alt tunings, vibrato, & string bending. This guitar loves a capo. It is not overly harmonic, which for this guitar is very good, as you can ring the guitar w/open strings and work over 1.5 octaves remaining defined and expressive. Expressive because of the blend. A little woody, a lovely ringing high (you can easily play what you normally would on a strat reach wise), fat mids, responsive to touch, you can make it mellow but never muddy, at touch of dread ring low on the neck and back toward the bridge...
Tweak the fishman right and it just sounds the same, only louder. Notch and phase first, brilliance next, the rest after...
I would go on, but the best thing I can say about this guitar is it changed the way I play and think. I trust it to speak for me and I take more chances now, think "wider". I'll grab a bunch of strings and pull. Beautiful, like I just invented a new chord. My Wechter's sound was closer to a classic acoustic tone when I bought it. After 9 years I think this instrument now reflects me more than itself now. What more could you ask for? You just don't want to suck then.
I don't give it a 10 because it isn't the best at any one thing, and if it truly does reflect me, than a 10 is ludicrous. :) This guitar needs light D'Addarios, which it comes with. Tried others, heavier guages, never found a better match.

Think Strat set up w/12s. This is the finest playing acoustic I have ever touched. The factory setting was nearly flawless. I was jamming with one of the sales guys and doing lead work on it. They lowered it a little too much for me before I picked it up. Easy to adjust back though. Fantastic finger picking action.
The satin finish and contour make the neck a joy to play. No adjusting to it or break in needed.
The guitar is, like, trophy wife beautiful. Gorgeous chocolate Rosewood sides and back, the Spruce is becoming a red undertoned amber, the non-concentric inlay around the f-hole, the deepening wood binding, the flawless finish... Excuse me. I need a moment alone. :0

I have come to use only my fingers with this guitar in the last year or so, but there is no pick wear on the finish from the past, which is unique for me. I put some real divots in my 1974 Yairi. I see no wear on the hardware.
This is wonderfully made guitar, and I have no trouble taking it on stage. That said, it is an acoustic guitar that needs to be respected as such. It is not a boat oar.
It is definitely THE guitar I depend on, acoustically. But, always have a backup. ;)

All I know is from rep. The guy I dealt with at the music store had gotten one, just sold his Taylor to get a nylon string model, and raved about how great Abe and the company was.

I've been playing for 38 years. I've had guitars that are famous, '51, '54 teles, '64 strat, '68 lp custom, '78 Ricky 360/12, blah, blah, blah. Too dumb to have them now. My favorite acoustic guitar was my DY85 Yairi I got in '74 as an intro special to the US. I forgot about it after this guitar.
Now let me say this. I played other Pathmakers I liked a lot, loved, but this guitar was it. I call them lucky guitars, the ones for some reason that are just better than the same model, materials, craftsmen. Every Wechter I play is a fine guitar. This one is MY guitar. I knew when I played it, and it truly changed the way I play guitar in a way no guitar has.
The one thing I wish I'd asked is where do you put the top button on the guitar. Check the website newsletter.
If it were stolen or lost: Lord. Are you trying to make me worry? Not cool.
I've pretty much covered the things I love about it. Nothing I even am mildly perturbed about, much less hate. One other thing about it: it plays so well I just do everything like it was an electric to practice. With the acoustic guage, when I switch over to an electric for me I just fly, and my bends, vibrato, and touch are off the hook. I keep stiffening up my electrics to keep from just shmooshing them.

This is my favorite all time guitar. Like any relationship though, it's who you're suited for, and timing. Every one I've played are fine, excellent.. but they are very personaly instruments.

acoustic-electric, 15-1/2" lower bout, cedar top, walnut sides & back, unique double cutaway body - neck meets body at 19th fret, 3-piece walnut neck, 22-fret rosewood fingerboard with offset dot inlays, 1-23/32" nut width, 25-1/2" scale, walnut bridge, maple-bound body, abalone soundhole rosette, gold tuners, factory Fishman Prefix Plus pickup / preamp system, built in the U.S.A., with black wooden OHSC. ALL wood used is solid, NOT laminate.

This is equivqlent to an auditorium sized guitar; because of the unique cutaways it is not as robust or "full" as a dreadnought. The sound on this is amazing! It has a "velety", very smooth sound that is rich and not overy bright, but still "bluesy". Good mids and ample bottom without being muddy or mushy. As I'll be playing mostly blues based material, this suits me fine. Also, it is loud enough for playing at home and in a small venue (unplugged). I have not tried it amped up yet. I will however be changing the strings that came on it and replace them with Black Diamond, Black Coated acoustics.

I bought this used from Elderly, a reputable dealer. That being said, for a four year old instrument, this guitar is in pristine condition. No player wear is apparent anywhere. Frets are perfect. The maple binding is perfect; very well executed! The 3 piece maple neck is low profile, no imperfections in execution or finish. Fretboard is beautiful rosewood with old style dot inlays. Very smooth and fast. Bracing (scalloped) is clean with no glue showing and no shavings or splinters. The Cedar top looks and sounds great. Tuners are fine but are not Grovers. The nut and saddle are REAL bone and nicely done. The action was perfect once I tightened and tuned the strings (guitar was shipped with strings loosened). Just a really well made instrument.

This is a handmade guitar, all wood. As such it is subject to the same hazards as any other quality wooden instrument; climate changes, knuckleheads knocking it over, etc.. With care I expect that this guitar would last a lifetime and then some. It is well built, especially the unique neck joint (interior block on the inside of the body is joined to the set-in neck by four dowels running into the neck itself). Finish is an extremely THIN layer of polyurethane that has no sappy spots, pooling or over-run and should last if not abused. Strap bottons are solid, with the endpin containing the output jack for the electronics. I would never gig without a backup, regardless of what my primary guitar was.

Before buying this guitar from Elderly Instrumants I emailed Abe Wechter and asked him if he would go to Eldery's site and check this guitar out and tell me what he thought. Now mind you, he is NOT affiliated with Elderly in ANY way. He emailed me back within 12 hours and gave me personal and intelligent input. Can you imagine that? I was amazed. When I received the guitar from Elderly, they had done something REALLY silly: They had put product ID stickers right on the guitar finish; one on the top and one on the side. As I did not want to damage the finish removing them, I called Mr. Wechter who answered the phone and spent about 15 minutes presenting various options to safely remove these stickers. This gentleman takes pride in the products he builds and sells, and will help you in any way he can. He is patient and extremely knowledgeable. For this, Wechter gets a 10+ for support.

Didn't touch a guitar for 15 years; just started back again. (Like starting over from scratch.) Have owned Teles, Gibsons and currently own a 15 year old Ovation, a Samick SG type electric and this Wechter. I looked at Martins and Taylors. Martins: If you are not buying vintage or spending $5000+, the quality is really not there anymore. One new one I looked at recently had shavings hanging off the bracing ($1800 list). Taylors are way overpriced. I got this Wechter because it has the sound I wanted, is well built, great price and the customer support from Abe Wechter is unbeatable. In the future, I expect I will purchase another hand built concert guitar from him.

I got the 85th pathmaker baby! I got it about 6 years ago in California, solid spruce top, rose woood sides I think(I called to ask what wood my guitar was made of, but my guitar was one of the way early ones that they didn't have it on record) rosewood fretboard, mahogany neck(I think). Fishman pickups, sound good probably, but my amp is kinda lame so that's why it sounds bad amped, Satin finish that is feels so great. Came with a gorgeous case with beautiful plush inside. I feel very safe about my guitar in this case

The guitar sounds wonderful.

Plays beautifully, everything is gorgeous

6 yrs, no problems yet.

This is actually why I came to write a review. I've spoken to them on the phone twice. They've alwyas been very enthusiastic about the guitar. they know the store I bought it from even though that store doesn't deal wechters and is in california, when they're in MI. They answer all my questions, and are willing to spend time to make sure you're satisfied.

playing for 9 yrs.. the only think I wish this guitar had was the fishamn pickup that has the built in mic that you can fade in and out.

Note sure when made. Walnut back, sides, neck, rosewood fretboard, cedar top. Gold hardware. Acoustic-electric with nylon strings. Has the distinctive double cutaway.

Beautiful tone, highly balanced.

Fine workmanship, flawless in every way. The action is almost like an electric guitar. The neck is very much like that of an electric. For a nylon string guitar, this leads for easy, fluid motion up and down the fretboard.

Very well made--but like most acoustic guitars, attention to humidity is a good idea.

They answer the phone. They answer questions. They are engaged and concerned.

I've been playing since I was a kid. I have had a number of classical guitars, plus 12-strings, electrics, etc. This is the finest acoustic I've ever owned, and tonally, represents everything I could want in an acoustic-electric. Abraham Wechter is a gifted luthier.

Yout just can't beat handmade guitars! The quality really does have to be seen in person to be appreciated. The beauty of the wood, grain, and the Spartan yet elegant accents make this as beautifull to look at as it is to play. The case shows seams where the "leather-like" material ends and is glued. The nice thing about the case is the fit *SNUG* so there won't be any rattling aroung in the case. They could have used a little more abalone in the inlays or for the fret markers (I think they're bone). The preamp isn't a blender but you can order one. John (one of the owners/luthiers) said the installed preamp was chosen because it doesn't feedback as bad as a blender. He did offer to retrofit the blender for $60 though. I am going to stick with the Prefix Pro. It is a beautiful guitar. Hand numbered and signed by the prez himself.

I don't care what other reviews say; this sounds very full. It isn't a 12 string or a jumbo but it sounds as good as any cutaway I have played and I compared it to Taylors, Guilds, Takamines, Ovation Adamas, Martins, and Larrivees. The amplified sound is EXACTLY like the unamplified sound, only louder. I have the rosewood and spruce model and there really is a great deal of difference between the models. I would say that the rosewood has the fullest sound, sasafrass is the mellow one of the bunch, and the maple has the most note seperation (although a little quiet). I bought the rosewood because I think it sounds the best!

The other reviews give the picture that the action is unbeatable... and it is! I compared the action to a custom Taylor that was specially made for a friend and this action is as good toward the nut and it blows it away the further up the neck you go. The finish was really nice although I can feel some raised gains on the soundboard. I'm giving it a 10 for action and fit and a 9 for finish.

This is a lifelong guitar and I plan on leaving it to my kids when I die (not for a while I'm only 25). I would definitely gig without a backup, unless it was another model of a Wechter.

These guys will actually return phone calls! I had some questions and the president of the company actually answered my question. How many companies can you say that about. This guy makes guitars for Al DiMe, BB King, and me. What a company. They even offered to retrofit my preamp for minimal cost.

Where else can you get a hand made guitar that is made by the same guy, using the same exacting standards that makes guitars for Days of the New and other touring artists, hand numbered and signed, for under $2000?

Not sure of the year, but the serial number is in the low 500's. 25.5 inch scale. Fishman Prefix Plus piezo system. Gold tuners, walnut back, sides, and neck, Brazilian Rosewood fretboard--19 free frets, Cedar top, curly maple binding, abalone soundhole ring. Elixer Nylon Strings. Has signature Wechter Pathmaker double cutaway body. Nice hardshell case.

I got it to play Jazz, and that it does. I prefer the sound amplified, with reverb and compression, but its natural sound is nice. The amplified tone is incredible. To me amplifying a nylon string guitar produces a unique tone that one never expects to hear based upon the unamplified sound. Adding electronic effects produces a fascinating palette of timbres. I got interested in this guitar after hearing John Mclaughlin play one on his Que Alegria CD.

The craftsmanship is precision, attention to detail. The neck is the smoothest, fastest neck I have ever seen on a guitar. The fretboard merges seamlessly witht the neck

Its as dependable as you would expect a well made instrument to be. It requires the typical care any wood guitar needs.

I sent em a note with some question, didn't get a reply, but they did call the store I got it from--didn't answer my questions, though.

Got my first spanish guitar in 64, at the age of 11, when my father came back from spain. Played on and off ever since. I had not been looking for a Nylon String Guitar, but after I played this one in the shop, I had to have it. I was skeptical of the walnut aspect of it until I played it. The neck and the tone were exactly what I wanted, the sound evenly balanced across the strings, clarity, definition, complexity. I also have a modified PRS. They each have their domain.