Rockbridge Guitar Company

Rockbridge Guitar 1 If you've been to a flatpicking jam, contest, or workshop lately, I'm sure you noticed that there seems to be only three kinds of people in the world: people who've never heard of Rockbridge guitars, happy owners of Rockbridge instruments, and people who now have one on order. The buzz surrounding luthiers Brian Calhoun and Randall Ray's expert craftsmanship could hardly be any louder.

Why so much excitement? Simple, really. A new guitar company rarely enjoys the meteoric rise to prominence that Rockbridge has experienced. Consider this...the first handmade guitar collaboration between Randall and Brian was completed in 2002. Three years later, at the 2005 national flatpicking championship in Winfield, KS, two out of the five finalists were playing Rockbridge guitars. The list of satisfied customers reads like a who's who of bluegrass music. There's Jim Hurst, 2 time IBMA guitarist of the year, Steve Kaufman, the only 3 time Winfield winner and the most prolific and respected teacher of the flatpicking style of guitar, Roy Curry, 2 time Winfield flatpicking winner, Rockbridge Guitar 2 Keith Sewell, guitarist for the Dixie Chicks, Cody Kilby, the hot young picker from Ricky Skaggs' Kentucky Thunder band. Not to mention Rolly Brown, 1985 Winfield fingerstyle champion, Larry Keel... You get the point. The latest news from Rockbridge is more of the same: bluegrass artist Rhonda Vincent and famed South African singer Vusi Mahlasela recently received their Rockbridge guitars!

But how did it happen so fast? A glowing review in Flatpick Guitar Magazine contributed. Outstanding players regularly playing their Rockbridge guitars in concert helped spread the word. Rockbridge owners bragging about their instruments to anyone within earshot certainly played a significant part. Yet all of that really boils down to one simple explanation: Brian Calhoun and Randall Ray make fantastic guitars.

Inspired by the classic design of pre-war Gibson and Martin acoustics but incorporating modern improvements and techniques, Rockbridge guitars are known for their beautiful, balanced tone reminiscent of instruments from the golden era of guitar making but ideally suited to today's many styles of acoustic music. Along with the red spruce topped mahogany or Brazilian rosewood dreadnoughts that made the company famous, Rockbridge now Rockbridge Guitar 3 offers several body styles and intriguing tonewood combinations that will satisfy demanding fingerstyle players as well as flatpickers. Brian's extraordinary custom inlays can help to make your Rockbridge guitar unique and a perfect match for you.

While Rockbridge guitars are still surprisingly affordable, it's unlikely that the opportunity to get an instrument of this quality for a price this low will last long. Used Rockbridges are nearly impossible to find, and Brian and Randall's current waiting list is over 14 months long and growing. All signs point to right now as the ideal time for purchasing an heirloom quality instrument that's likely to appreciate as time goes on and demand for Rockbridge guitars outstrips the supply that a two man shop can provide.

GuitarMatch.com offers you two compelling options for obtaining your own Rockbridge guitar. The first is to purchase one of our in-stock instruments at current Rockbridge prices. The second option is to customize a "coming soon" Rockbridge guitar. Check out our Tonewood Reserve and contact us to find out how to end up with the Rockbridge guitar of your dreams!

Questions? Ready to purchase? Call us at 317-509-4247 or email us at guitarmatch@gmail.com