Kinnaird 000-12 2011, African Blackwood & Bearclaw Sitka Spruce

North Carolina luthier John Kinnaird's intriguing aesthetics, tonally and visually, are on full display on this African blackwood and bearclaw Sitka spruce 000-12! Fingerstylists, especially those of the Celtic-inspired, alternate tuning persuasion, will love the rich, dark and ringing voice of this guitar. The tonal advantages of the 12-fret design combined with a cutaway to give full fretboard access give the player the best of both worlds, and a side soundport allows for easy self-monitoring. This guitar is resplendent with inlay, from the 45-style abalone purfling from top to bottom, to the music notation across the fretboard (The Beatles' "When I"m Sixty-Four") and the blind dogs on the headstock. One of a kind, to be sure!

The condition of this guitar is excellent. You can feel a line between the fretboard and neck where the finish has settled a bit, but it is nothing of concern. It comes in a Guardian hardshell case.