Sponsored By
 

Preston Thompson D-SMA

 

A powerful sounding style-18 dreadnought made with “sinker” mahogany and Adirondack spruce.

 
December 17, 2018
 

Preston Thompson Guitars builds flattop steel-strings of all sizes, but the company is especially known for its spectacular dreadnoughts. This is in part due to its founder honing his chops on dreadnoughts early in his career, when he became friends with flatpicking virtuoso Charles Sawtelle, for whom he eventually built a style-42 dreadnought (see our demo of that guitar). Today, Preston Thompson Guitars offers dreadnoughts in vintage and more contemporary styles. Peghead Nation banjo instructor Bill Evans recently purchased a mahogany-and-spruce D-SMA model after falling in love with a similar guitar owned by a student. In this video, Bill demonstrates the guitar, along with Peghead Nation Flatpicking Guitar instructor and co-founder Scott Nygaard.

Bill’s guitar is based on Preston Thompson’s standard D-MA model, but instead of conventionally sourced mahogany, the guitar’s back and sides are made of “sinker” mahogany from Belize. The “sinker” designation means that the tree the wood came from was submerged for several decades after being cut. The result is that the wood absorbed various minerals and so is heavier than regular mahogany, even after being cured, and Bill’s D-SMA is slightly darker sounding than most mahogany dreadnoughts. As is standard on Preston Thompson dreadnoughts, the guitar has an Adirondack spruce top, and its appointments stick to the Martin style-18 that is traditional for a mahogany dreadnought.

“What I like about this instrument is that I normally associate more of a trebly sound with a D-18 than a D-28,” Bill explains. “This D-18 [style guitar] that Preston Thompson makes tends to sound halfway between a D-18 and a D-28, and in my conversations with Preston, he told me that this was their goal. I’m hearing a lot of bass, good midrange, and good treble. I’m not much of a lead player, but I bang out rhythm in jam sessions and in my classes, and I just really love this instrument.”

SPECS: 14-fret dreadnought body. Adirondack spruce top with scalloped, advanced-X Adirondack bracing. Sinker mahogany back and sides. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25.4-inch scale. 1¹¹/₁₆-inch nut width. 2³/₁₆-inch string spacing at the saddle. Nickel Waverly tuning machines. Made in the USA. $5,475. pktguitars.com

 

Related Fine Lutherie Posts

Ian Ly playing the Thompson Molly Tuttle Signature Model guitar  

Thompson Molly Tuttle Signature Model

A slightly customized version of the contemporary flatpicking star’s dreadnought.

Read More

Preston Thompson OM-GL demonstration  

Preston Thompson OM-GL

A wonderful orchestra model built with granadillo back and sides and a Lutz spruce top.

Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars PKT review and video demonstration  

Preston Thompson PKT

A limited edition re-creation of a special Thompson dreadnought.

Read More

Preston Thompson 0-14 SMM  

Preston Thompson 0-14 SMM

A contemporary take on an all-mahogany classic.

Read More

Preston Thompson OM Mad/Adi  

Preston Thompson OM Mad/Adi

A great Madagascar rosewood OM with some creative additions.

Read More

Preston Thompson 00-12 SMA  

Preston Thompson 00-12 SMA

A great mahogany-and-spruce 12-fret guitar with custom inlay.

Read More

 

Preston Thompson D-MAD-ADI

A classic dreadnought built with Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack spruce.

Read More

 

Preston Thompson 00-14MA Sunburst

A custom long-scale 00 built with mahogany and Adirondack spruce.

Read More

 

Preston Thompson D-BA CRL

A signature model dreadnought for rising flatpicking star Chris Luquette.

Read More

 

Preston Thompson OM-MM

An all-mahogany Orchestra Model with custom inlay.

Read More

 
Sponsored By
 
 
 

Peghead Partners

 
Peghead Partners feature image
Crossroads 12 | Huss & Dalton
Larry Sogolow plays a great 12-fret blues guitar at Organic Sounds Select Guitars.
 
subscribe sample lessons
 
 
 
 
  Follow Us: facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon  
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
  About Us       Shop         Support         Contact Us         Email Sign up         Advertise         Sitemap         FAQ         Privacy         Terms         Subscribe   Sign In  
 
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com
 
 
spotify icon facebook icon instagram icon twitter icon youtube icon newsletter icon
    ● Courses
    ● Live Workshops
    ● Instructors
    ● Sample Lessons
    ● Notation Guide
    ● For Beginners
 
 
    ● Vintage Vault
    ● New Gear
    ● Fine Lutherie
 
 
    ● Workshops
    ● Advice
    ● Repertoire
 
 
    ● Recordings
    ● Events
    ● Breaking News
 
 
    ● In The Studio
    ● Live Onstage
    ● Backroom
 
 
    ● New Products
    ● Inside Look
    ● Performances
    ● Partner Pages
 
Peghead Nation logo
 
© Copyright 2024 PegheadNation.com