2009 Mike Davis Parlor Guitar

This is a pretty, extremely-lightly-built, great-sounding guitar made in Savannah, Georgia. As I recall, the owner told me the builder was working at Randy Wood's shop at the time. Internally, it's built a lot like an old Martin with thin, scalloped bracing that has -- just like an old Martin -- let the top distort like crazy as it's aged. This is what gives it such a warm, full sound despite its size, however.

The owner sent it in for a neck reset, fret level/dress, saddle, and bridge work -- all of which it got, thanks to Ancel. It's now playing well and is living a fair-bit more stable than when it arrived.

There's a ton to talk a bout in terms of its trim -- from the classical-style rosette, to the Martin-style half-herringbone purfling, to the pyramid bridge, to the "darted" fretboard end, to the Larson-esque headstock inlay -- and right on to the eye-catching tortoise binding. It's a looker!

We made some compromises during repair to keep it from becoming a spiraling-budget instrument, but despite that I am happy with the way it's turned-out.