CONNECT WITH THE WORLD’S GREATEST GUITAR MAKERS AND TAKE HOME YOUR NEW FAVORITE GEAR

The greatest and best-known guitar makers on the planet (acoustic & electric) will be showcasing their creations just for our Chicago event. We've assembled a once-in-a-lifetime showcase featuring some of the world's finest luthiers, electronics wizards, and world-famous brands at Fretboard Summit 2023.

Use this guide to find your favorite Fretboard Summit exhibitors, sponsors, and friends across the two Old Town School of Folk Music buildings below.

ExhibitorLocation
3 Bender GuitarsWest - 102
Baranik GuitarsWest - 102
Bashkin GuitarsWest - 102
Bernie LehmannEast - E330
Big Hollow GuitarsEast - E326
Black BobbinWest - 102
The Blue GuitarsWest - 211 & 212
Bourgeois GuitarsEast - E124
Bruce GuitarsEast - E324
Cardinal InstrumentsWest - 102
Cedar Creek Custom Case ShoppeEast - E330
Cedar Mountain MandolinsEast - E326
Chicago Luthiers WorkshopWest - Music Store
Collings GuitarsEast - E221
Dammann Custom InstrumentsEast - E326
Duneland LabsEast - E328
Dr. HerringboneEast - E324
FE Tellier GuitarsEast - E328
Flammang GuitarsEast - E328
Gallagher GuitarsEast - E330
Galloup School Of Guitar Building & RepairEast - Lobby
Grez GuitarsWest - 102
H GuitarsEast - E330
Henriksen Amplifiers Listening RoomEast - E320
Hoffee CasesEast - E326
Humphrey AmpsEast - E320
Huss & DaltonEast - E330
Hybrid GuitarsEast - E324
J. Rieck LutherieEast - E330
Iris Guitar CompanyEast - E328
Jason Kostal GuitarsWest - 102
JHS PedalsWest - 102
Lane GuitarsEast - E326
Lattanze GuitarsEast - E326
Leavitt Stringed InstrumentsEast - E328
Lockhorn InstrumentsEast - E328
Lyon and HealyEast - E328
M-Tone GuitarsEast - E330
Maegen Wells Guitars & MandolinsEast - E326
Martin GuitarEast - E220
Michael Kennedy GuitarsEast - E326
MojotoneWest - 102
Motander GuitarsEast - E330
Music City BridgeEast - E330
Noemi GuitarsEast - E326
Northfield InstrumentsWest - Music Store
North Woods LuthiersEast - E324
Old Town School Music StoreWest - Music Store
Old Town School of Folk Music Resource CenterWest - Basement
Pacific Rim TonewoodsEast - E324
Phoenix GuitarsEast - E330
Pre-War Guitars Co.East - E324
Preston Thompson GuitarsEast - E226
R. Robinson GuitarsEast - E326
Reywas GuitarsEast - E328
RØDE MicrophonesEast - E126
Saers GuitarsEast - E328
Santa Cruz Guitar CompanyEast - E123
Shock the FoxEast - E328
Shure ProductsEast - E328
StewMacEast – E330
Taylor GuitarsWest - 101
T. Drew Heinonen GuitarsEast - E326
The Truth About Vintage Amps Podcast LoungeWest - B6
Tony's Acoustic Challenge (Tony Polecastro)East - E226
Treehouse GuitarsEast - E326
Tyson Soth Guitar Co.West - 102
UberfrankWest - 102
Widman Custom ElectricsEast - E330
YamahaEast - E322
ZVEX EffectsWest - 102

Note: Most of the luthiers will have guitars available for purchase. Most of these brands are showcasing never-before-seen and new instruments, as well. Nearly all of them will have their head designers/builders present (ie Bob Taylor himself will be attending for Taylor; Steve McCreary will be attending for Collings, etc). We will have quiet rooms and amp rooms available for demos.

Sealed Bid Auction Guitars

Pre War Guitars Co. '34-Style Bar Fret Dreadnought

"This guitar represents the next step in the Pre-War Guitars Co.'s quest for vintage tone. It's the first guitar to feature our new '34 Style upgrade package, featuring a non-adjustable ebony reinforced neck, and bar frets- a true compression fretted instrument.

Along with all our standard elements- torrefied red spruce top and bracing, hot hide glue construction, hand carved neck, top and back bracing, super thin nitrocellulose lacquer finish, and hand fit dovetail neck joint; the result is a 3.5lb tone monster.

We're excited to put the things we learned building the Blake guitars to work on our full slate of 14 fret guitars, and this one is the first. We're also proud to support the Fretboard Summit, and to be a part of such a great event.

Opening bid: $3,000

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Santa Cruz Fingerstyle Cutaway

For the Fretboard Summit we are presenting a Fingerstyle Cutaway featuring Indian Rosewood back and sides, Cedar top, 1-13/16" nut width, 2-3/16" bridge spacing, tapered bracing, Brazilian Rosewood binding on the body with black/Maple/black side purfle, black binding on the fingerboard, Brazilian Rosewood back strip, blue purfle combo rosette and top border, Brazilian Rosewood overlay, no fingerboard inlay, Brazilian Rosewood peghead overlay with SCGC mini logo inlay, gold Gotoh 510 tuners with black buttons, Sunburst top.

Opening bid: $5,000

Fretboard Journal Guitar Pick Logo

Fretboard summit is brought to you by

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Sponsors

HenriksenMartin&CoSanta Cruz
Collings GuitarYamaha
BourgeorsRodeGalloupTaylorPre WarLake and Pine
Bruce Guitars.pngAcoustic Coffee CoD'AddarioThompsonPacific Rim TonewoodAcoustic Tuesday

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