Pre-War Guitars Co. Dreadnought w/ Speed Neck Distress Level 1 – New

This Mahogany Dreadnought is the Pre-War Guitar Company’s take on a circa 1937, well, mahogany dreadnought. When you play it we think you’ll agree they’ve nailed both the feel and the sound of what many of us consider to be the ultimate flatpicking guitar. The materials list is essentially the same as an 80-year-old D-18, with Adirondack top, mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck, etc. but with two critical differences. One is that this guitar has a modern adjustable truss rod in the neck, and the other is that the Adirondack spruce top and bracing has been torrefied, a critical part of achieving that “old guitar” sound.

The finish is very thin nitrocellulose lacquer, and the builders use hot animal hide glue throughout. This example has what Pre-War Guitar Co. describes as their “Level One” distressing to the finish, so the lacquer has very light checking and a hand-rubbed, low-gloss sheen throughout. This guitar has the bare wood, “speed neck” treatment.