❌SOLD❌ Huss and Dalton TD-M Custom Adirondack and Sinker Mahogany Dreadnought, 2014

The Huss and Dalton TD-M Custom is, as the name suggests, and buyer-customized version of the ‘Traditional Dreadnought-Mahogany’ model, in this case with Adirondack Spruce top and Sinker Mahogany back and sides.

The ‘Traditional Dreadnought’ dates back to around 1911, when C F Martin built a number of large bodied guitars for the Ditson company. In 1931, with the need for ever-increasing volume, Martin re-launched the design with then now-classic ‘D’ series guitars. This design has been the basis for many other guitar models by many other builders.

The Huss and Dalton TD-M Custom follows the traditional pattern and delivers it with very high levels of build and finish quality. These are some of the finest production guitars available.

This example dates to 2014, built at the Huss and Dalton shop in Staunton, virginia. It is in very good, clean and original condition, and its custom features include a torrefied Adirondack Spruce top – which can deliver a cleaner sound than other Spruce variants when played very hard, as in a bluegrass context – and Sinker Mahogany for the sides, back and neck.   The fingerboard and bridge are Ebony, with an Indian Rosewood head plate.  The small dot position markers are Mother of Pearl. Completing the appearance, the pickguard and binding are faux-tortoise, and Waverly oval-button open gear tuners.  

Sinker Mahogany is reputed to be similar in tone to vintage Mahoganies. The sets used in these Huss and Dalton models are apparently from Belize, and were recovered from river bottoms. At the time of their original harvest, over a century ago, the British cut a lot of Mahogany from Belize and other Central American sources, and used the rivers for transport – not with boats, but with logs rafted together. However, some of the densest logs would sink rather than float, and were left where they were. These are all old-growth timber.

The Adirondack Spruce top on this guitar is ‘torrefied’, an aging technique involving careful control of moisture and oxygen levels and is recognised as helping produce ‘authentic’ aged tone and responsiveness.

The original Tweed hard shell case is included.

Here’s Huss and Dalton on their ‘Traditional Dreadnought Mahogany’ TD-M model:

“Our TD-M has the understated look of a traditional mahogany guitar, but has a sound that is anything but understated. Flat-top construction, a Sitka spruce top and mahogany back and sides are standard, subtly decorated with tortoise-style binding and four-line top purfling.

The TD-M combines the power of the rosewood TD-R with a warmer, more balanced tonal spectrum that may leave you breathless.”