August 15, 2003

TNG

TRUE NORTH GUITARS™“ Your guitar radiates light ” — Alicia (Carter) Adams

D E N N I S S C A N N E L L • G U I T A R M A K E R175 PERRY LEA SIDE ROAD • WATERBURY VT 05676 • 802.244.6488

WWW.TRUENORTHGUITARS.COM • DENNIS@TRUENORTHGUITARS.COM

two hands, one heart ™

copyright © 2003 True North Guitars

LS Redwood SoundboardsWhile I build in a full variety of qualitytonewoods, I am ver y for tunate tohave a quantity of outstanding Masterand AAAA grade sets available from aremark able sa lvaged redwood logknown as the “LS” (for Lucky Strike).This truly exceptional material offers awarm, clear, ar t iculate tone with asimply stunning classic appearance.

Graphite Neck ReinforcementL ightweight and inc re d ib ly s t i f f,double graphite neck reinforcementrails (in addition to a fully adjustabletruss rod) provide dual benefits: 1)tonal sustain is substantially increased,and 2) the neck is both strengthenedand stabilized—a feature especiallyappreciated when making frequentchanges between open tunings.

Compound Side-Tapered BodyThis des ign innovat io n hasextraordinary ergonomic and tonalbenefits. It is incredibly comfortable toplay, allowing the player’s picking armto rest close to the torso, and anglingthe soundboard and fingerboard backs l ight ly to provid e e asy v isu a lreference to the strings. Meanwhile,the enhanced depth at the lower sideof the bout allows for a very robusttone, and the side-taper contributestowards a smo oth, e ve n re sp o nsethroughout the to nal sp e c tru m .

Semi-Hemispherical FretsFrets don’t get any better than this.The s tate-of - the-a r t “se m i-he m i-spherical” fret treatment results in thesmoothest possible, perfectly radiusedfret ends with a to ta l ly c le an ,unblemished f ingerboard. This in-process photo shows a fingerboardinvisibly bound with ebony offcutsfrom the same fingerboard blank.

Greetings! I am an MIT graduate and master woodworker who has played andworked on guitars since the early 1970s. In 1994 I established my lutheriebusiness, focusing on high quality steel-string guitars for fingerstyle playersfavoring altered tunings. My work has now evolved to encompass all styles ofplaying, both flatpick and fingerstyle, in standard and open tunings. I have beena member of the Association of String Instrument Artisans (ASIA) since 1994 andthe Guild of American Luthiers (GAL) since 1995, the same year I studied underCharles Fox at the American School of Lutherie. Since then I have attendednumerous ASIA Symposia and GAL Conventions, refined my technique throughfurther study of individual aspects of guitar making, developed my inventory ofmaster quality tonewoods and materials, and established my lutherie studio innorthern Vermont. I introduced my True North Guitars at the 1999 HealdsburgGuitar Festival and displayed at the 2003 Healdsburg Festival as well as the 2000and 2001 ASIA Symposia in Nashville. My work is featured in Custom Guitars: AComplete Guide to Contemporary Handcrafted Guitars, published by the StringLetter Press. My instruments feature graceful, elegant, mathematically pure lineswith a unified design sensibility exhibited throughout. I would be honored towork closely with you to design and build your dream instrument.