Dreadnought
A pre-war-voiced dreadnought modeled on the 1937 Herringbone Dreadnought once owned by Charles Sawtelle, built for the volume and balance to stand up to a full bluegrass band.
About this guitar
Preston Thompson’s Dreadnought recreates the tone and projection of the pre-war design it’s based on, with enough bass response and volume to sit comfortably alongside a mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. Every soundboard is hand-graduated and paired with hand-carved, scalloped Advanced-X bracing, and the neck joins the body with a traditional dovetail joint finished in nitrocellulose lacquer. Offered in Mahogany, East Indian Rosewood, Madagascar Rosewood, and 5A Brazilian Rosewood back/sides over a standard Adirondack Spruce top, with an extensive menu of custom torch, inlay, binding, and finish options.
Specs
| Body Shape | Dreadnought, based on the 1937 Herringbone Dreadnought |
|---|---|
| Top | Adirondack Spruce standard; Sitka, Lutz, Engleman, European Spruce, Mahogany, Port Orford Cedar, or Koa available |
| Back & Sides | Mahogany, East Indian Rosewood, Madagascar Rosewood, or 5A Brazilian Rosewood (Cuban Mahogany available, price on request) |
| Scale Length | 25.4 in |
| Bracing | Hand-carved, scalloped, forward-shifted (Advanced X) bracing |
| Neck Joint | Dovetail |
| Finish | Nitrocellulose lacquer |
| Build Options | Slotted headstock +$200, Florentine cutaway +$900, custom torch/inlay, binding, rosette, tuner, and pickguard options |
| Tonewood Pricing | Mahogany $6,900; East Indian Rosewood $7,600; Madagascar Rosewood $9,500; 5A Brazilian Rosewood $15,500 (limited availability) |
Quick answers
- How much does the Dreadnought cost?
- Preston Thompson Guitars lists it at $6,900 to $15,500 (USD), depending on options. Dealer and used prices vary.
- Is the Dreadnought still available?
- Yes. Preston Thompson Guitars lists it as a current model that's available to order.
- Who makes the Dreadnought?
- Preston Thompson Guitars. Where it's built: Handbuilt by a small crew at the Thompson shop in Sisters, Oregon. It's listed here as an acoustic guitar.
- What warranty does Preston Thompson Guitars offer?
- "Thompson Guitars are warranted to be free from defects in materials and workmanship, to the original purchaser for as long as they own the instrument. The warranty is non-transferable." Coverage is repair or replacement of defective parts. It excludes normal wear, misuse, unauthorized modifications, accidents, improper maintenance, climate damage and finish checking or cracking. Owners pay shipping and insurance both ways for authorized repairs.