My experience with Ted Corvette’s guitars began some years ago when my friend Ted met Ken Miller a retired master luthier. Back then I played an ‘87 Guild dreadnought and a Martin DCPA4 acoustic electric. Both are mass produced (production) guitars. I played gigs with the Martin for years. It was my standard of quality until Ken and Ted introduced me to custom acoustics.

While Ted was studying with Ken, he let me tag along and discover the custom guitar world. I had no idea where that journey would lead and what I would learn while having a custom guitar built just for me.

My prior experience involved off-the-shelf production guitars bought based on price and brand. I didn’t know how production construction techniques differ. I wanted a Brazilian Rosewood dreadnought knowing Ken and Ted had some Brazilian sets in inventory, I selected a set. Ted recommended a 1937 Martin D18 design. We used a Honduran Mahogany neck, a Gabon ebony fingerboard, and chose a nut, saddle, bridge pins, bracing, rosette, bindings, etc.

Ted’s knowledge and guidance on how the components would work together to affect my guitar’s sound was eye and ear opening. I named my guitar “Burt”, and you can hear Burt on the Ted Corvette Guitars website with Bepe Gambetta (world class player) playing “Memphis Blues”.

The experience exceeded my expectations. So, I had Ted build me a Nick Lucas 00. The 00 has a more “old-time bluesy” sound, but there is a characteristic of Ted’s guitars that balances lows, mid-range, and highs that I rarely find in production guitars regardless of age and price. My knowledge and understanding of how acoustic guitars are designed, play, and sound, have grown to new levels.

Now when I visit a guitar shop and examine a new high-end boutique or vintage guitar, I know what I’m looking at and what to expect. I have a deeper understanding of what’s possible.

To me, the guitars Ted built for me are at the pro-level regarding sound, action, and construction. Ted’s tone woods and components are artisan grade. The instruments’ projection and sustain are wonderful. I call it the “Ring” that I hear when I listen to pros play their guitars. I play them just about every day and they record beautifully. Even if you have one or more production guitars, you’ll enter a new world if Ted builds a custom guitar for you.