We've done a lot of custom guitars for customers in the last 39+ years, but this most recent one, built by the Santa Cruz Guitar Co., is exceptional for a number of reasons. The ornate inlay on the fretboard and headstock is what catches the eye, but it's not the only special feature. For one thing, this guitar is a presentation model in the true sense of the word, although the intended recipient in Stuttgart, Germany, Dr. Bodo Rasch, won't see it for several more weeks.

Since long before music was recorded or amplified in any way, the guitar has enjoyed top ranking as the ideal instrument to accompany the human voice. No matter if it's the soulful style of Neil Young or the contemporary likes of Avril Lavigne, the sight of a singer songwriter with an acoustic guitar is an image that is forever burned into our guitar-playing culture.

One of the most successful niche markets in the world of acoustic guitars in recent years has been very small guitars. Some of these have been pitched as ideal for travel, while others have been marketed as guitars for very young players. It shouldn't be too surprising that a good number of them have the word "baby" in the model code, and this includes two of our favorites here at Gryphon. Ironically, these two "baby" models are at opposite ends of the price scale, but both were early entries in the small guitars market.