REVIEWS
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Over the years, we have watched Brian emerge as one of America’s foremost luthiers and we are grateful to be able to offer his exquisite instruments. Every guitar Brian builds is a masterpiece of fit and finish and his instruments represent the pinnacle of quality and craftsmanship as well as tone, employing a variety of body shapes as well as a wide selection of tone woods. We are proud to have grown along with Brian and we are very pleased that he has achieved a level of success that is extremely well deserved.
JON & SHARON GARON,
MY FAVORITE GUITARS
I love this Applegate guitar. I bought another which will arrive shortly. Brian is patient, kind, and very professional. He is not trivial, a bit intense, which I love and explains his remarkable craftsmanship. There is more to building an acoustic than making it look beautiful, which most of the luthiers these days have in com.mon. Applegate guitars are stunning in their sound which is the bottom line for me. I have not found a better guitar, and would say that his recent guitars are in a league all of their own... There is more to building an acoustic than making it look beautiful, which most of the luthiers these days have in common. Applegate guitars are stunning in their sound which is the bottom line for me. Given the price point, it is the best deal in acoustic guitars presently, I think.
ONLINE CUSTOMER REVIEW
Applegate Guitars featured in the Art of the Guitar, A Luthier's Rennaisance Exhibit.
PLAINS ART MUSEUM
FEBRUARY - JULY 2009
Well, the guitar came in on Friday and I've spent about 6 hours playing it over the weekend. The tone is very thick and rich sounding but it's also very balanced for a large instrument! It's crazy responsive for a big guitar. For a jumbo this guitar is a straight pure fingerstyle guitar in every way. The reverb in the box is very special. I'm quite thankful I bought this fine instrument and I look forward to a lot more great tone for years to come!!!
ONLINE CUSTOMER REVIEW
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I’m not a collector, but a player. Brian’s guitars are my go-to acoustic for gigs. Sure, they look great and oth.er guitar players fawn over them but it’s their tone, stability, and playability that keeps me reaching for my Applegate guitars.
PETER B.,
APPLEGATE OWNER/ CUSTOMER REVIEW
Brian Applegate is a most accomplished luthier. The tone of his guitars is true, or, another way to say it would be pure. Piano-like is another word that comes to mind. The tidiness of his workmanship is remarkable, as is his dedication to the craft. An example of this is his trips to Brazil to buy wood directly from a reputable source there. Not many go to these lengths to insure the best of the best woods are used in their guitars, He builds a wide range-- from classicals to baritones to more mainstream steel string models. As a dealer, I am always happily confident to offer Brian Applegate's guitars to our discerning customers.*
ROBIN WEBER
GUITAR GALLERY
I always wanted an all-Koa guitar after playing a few on a trip to Hawaii in 2007. I had heard great things about Brian Applegate's guitars, and after talking to him for a few minutes, we both agreed this would be a great "experiment." This guitar was the first all-Koa Brian built; all the of wood that's not Koa is Brazillian rosewood (fretboard, rosette etc). Another highlight of the guitar is the full-neck inlay. I told Brian I wanted this to be my "dream guitar" and it has exceeded all of my expectations. It has a bright clear but pleasantly mellow sound, and it plays so effortlessly. I cannot recommend Brian and his guitars highly enough--from start to finish my experience was stellar.
ONLINE CUSTOMER REVIEW
Brian’s guitars are beautifully, awesomely, wonderfully articulate! That’s what sets his guitars apart from others: clear articulation with crisp tones and well-tempered balance. They have voice. Brian is an artisan: he selects perfectly aged wood by tapping and listening, and meticulously scallops bracings to reveal beautiful tones. Each of his guitars have a magic implicit in them. You play them and they start to sing a melody. That’s how I write my songs! I love his guitars, play them all the time - and profoundly recommend them.
MIKE S.,
APPLEGATE OWNER/ CUSTOMER REVIEW
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Paul (Heumiller) and I conversed regularly leading up to the sessions. I would have ideas about what I wanted to record that would suggest a type of instrument, and, conversely, Paul would tell me about a guitar he had in stock that would suggest some repertoire. That process continued in Compass Records’ studio in Nashville, where I recorded some tunes I had no plan to even arrange, but a particular guitar would “speak” to me—if I can be so pretentious. The second track, “Donal Óg/The Lea Rig,” came about just like that when I picked up an Applegate SJ guitar.
TONY McMANUS,
"GUITAR PLAYER" INTERVIEW ON RECORDING "THE MAKER'S MARK" ALBUM
I own three Applegate Guitars. They are beautiful to look at and inspiring to play. Each one has a distinctive voice that encourages a different style of playing. The best part is picking out the wood, body shape, neck and size while having Brian guide your selection based on your preferred playing style and the voice you are hoping to get from the guitar. The cutaway, arm bevel and side hole are added features that enrich the playing comfort and listening experience. Brian's guitars are light weight, superbly crafted, easy to play, and have become family heirlooms. Brian is not afraid to honor special requests. His latest fanned fret, multi scale SJ is a delightful and inspiring instrument. My greatest pleasure is seeing how these very different guitars inspire my sons to play and progress beyond our expectations.
DAVE C.,
APPLEGATE OWNER/ CUSTOMER REVIEW
Thank you for blessing me with your wonderful and beautiful guitar. The beautiful sound touches my heart and soul. I will always be grateful for owning and Applegate Guitar built by you.
BUCKY F.,
APPLEGATE OWNER/ CUSTOMER REVIEW
Great craftsmanship. Beautiful, smooth tone. Trebles are clear across the board. The bass is not overpowering -- it is beautifully balanced with lovely mids. Amazing, stunning guitar.