News and Updates
03/07/08 - Brazilian Rosewood Guitar in Progress
For this grand concert guitar, I have selected a beautiful set of Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides. There will be striking sap wood accents and ebony binding. The top of this guitar is Adirondack spruce, known more for its stiffness and favorable tone quality rather than its appearance.
This guitar is being built in loving memory of Danielle (Urlacher) Hosterman, 1974 - 2008.
01/26/08 - Koa Parlor Guitar Completed!
This golden colored sitka spruce top has been seasoned for over 70 years which contributes to the sweet tone of this guitar. Matching nicely are Hawaiian Curly Koa back and sides. One of the most sought after tonewoods available, Koa has become scarce making it quite expensive and harder to obtain in recent years.
Here is a clip of guitarist Larry Pattis playing this 12 fret koa
guitar. Please visit Larry's
website to learn more about his inspiring music.
Download Link
10/28/07 - Urlacher Guitar Played at Mississippi Studios
Here's my little ol' guitar hanging out on the stage of Mississippi Studios in Portland, Oregon. Catie Curtis was in town for two shows and this Urlacher Parlor Guitar filled in for Catie's vintage Gibson that did not make the west coast tour this time. Big fun!
Mississippi Studios is a charming venue that features live bands, full bar and a recording studio. This venue provides an opportunity to hear established musicians play in an intimate setting.
10/19/07 - Urlacher Guitar played by Tracy Grammer
Tracy Grammer's forthcoming EP Book of Sparrows, includes the song "Travis John" which was recorded with her Urlacher Parlor Guitar. Please visit Tracy Grammer for more information and visit Tracy's myspace page to hear this powerful peace-movement song.
05/06/07 - Instrument Exhibit … From My View
The 31st annual handmade instrument exhibit held in Portland, OR, was yet another great show.
Thanks to all who made the show happen and especially to those who came out and played the guitars!
04/01/07 - 2007 Handmade Instrument Exhibit
On Saturday and Sunday, April 28th and 29th, the 31st Annual Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit will be held on the lovely campus of Marylhurst University near Portland, Oregon. The exhibition features instrument makers and performers of the Pacific Northwest. For a list of exhibitors and directions, visit their site: Northwest Handmade Musical Instrument Exhibit. I am busy this month preparing for the show and also in the midst of making a very special parlor guitar. More details to come!
11/16/06 - Catie Curtis in Town
Here's Catie Curtis playing my myrtlewood guitar at the Aladdin Theater in Portland, OR. Catie is an incredibly gifted, soulful Boston-based singer-songwriter. I've been a long time fan of Catie's music - I highly recommend checking it out!
10/22/06 - Guitar in Progress
Here are the starts to the Grand Concert guitar that I am currently working on. The top is another stunning example of bearclaw sitka spruce. The back and sides are Honduran Rosewood which is a tonewood that has become hard to obtain. Honduran Rosewood is well known for its bright tap tone, producing instruments with great projection and strong highs and lows. The body of this guitar will be bound with Snakewood, the most rare exotic hardwood in the world. This is a combination that I am excited to see and hear!
09/08/06 - Sisters Folk Festival with Ellis Paul
Today I had the good fortune to meet Ellis Paul (amazing Boston-based singer-songwriter) at the Sisters Folk Festival. Ellis played my parlor guitar before his set and liked it enough that he took it up on stage and played several songs with it. Ellis was impressed with the tone of this sweet little guitar and had a hard time putting it down. What a treat to hear songs I love and listen to all the time played with one of my guitars. - Thanks Ellis!!
* Ellis Paul plays Michael Kelly Guitars
09/01/06 - Parlor Guitar Based - Martin O Style
Last week I finished my first parlor guitar (12 frets to body), based off the Martin O style. This model is known for its intimate size and ease of playing. It has surprising volume for its size and is a good choice for fingerstyle players. This parlor guitar has a richness of tone which is hard to find in other style guitars.
08/17/06 - Featured Oregon Myrtlewood Guitar
The Myrtlewood used for this guitar is a great example of how this wood can produce a guitar that stands out from the crowd. Myrtlewood, indigenous to the Pacific Northwest, is becoming a popular tonewood because of its inherent properties and beauty. Tonally it is similar to Maple, but it is much easier to bend and has more variation in color and figure.