For the Collings or Martin fan looking to make the jump into the boutique world, the work of John Slobod could be both your entry and endpoint. He's one of the best luthiers around at combining the magic of pre-war guitars with modern innovation. This Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack spruce cutaway OM has the kind of clean, direct tone you need for ensemble playing, and the headroom required to take a strong pick attack. But when you're ready for some solo fingerstyle, it's got you there, too, with a lovely sparkle in the high end and perfectly balanced registers. We've spotted five very small nicks in the finish on the top, but aside from that, the condition is excellent.