2017 Greenfield G5

Peghead Nation Celtic Guitar instructor Tony McManus demonstrates his miniature steel-string built by Michael Greenfield.

July 3, 2025

Peghead Nation instructor Tony McManus is among the most highly regarded guitarists in traditional Irish and Celtic music. Tony is also a serious guitar aficionado, and while he is best known for touring with his PRS Private Stock Signature Model, he also owns many guitars by some of the finest luthiers on the scene. Among his collection is a pair of guitars built by Michael Greenfield of Montreal, Canada. Tony had both of his Greenfields in tow when he recently stopped by the Peghead Nation studio while on tour in California. He used his full-size Greenfield G1 to record a beautiful tribute to the late Breton guitarist Soïg Siberill (check out the video of “Teolena”/“Sleep, Deary, Sleep”), and his miniature G5 model is featured in this clip.

Michael Greenfield has a well-deserved reputation as one of the top builders of fingerstyle guitars. Often using innovative elements such as multi-scale fingerboards, armrest-bevels, etc., he is also known for his exquisite craftsmanship. While Tony’s Greenfield G1 is slightly larger than a typical OM, the G5 is a miniature guitar that was inspired by Martin’s size 5 “terz” guitars. With a short 20-inch scale, it is designed to be tuned A-to-A, like a standard guitar capoed at the fifth fret. The G5’s small body only measures 11.5 inches across the lower bout, and a 12-fret neck further contributes to the instrument’s compact design. Tony’s G5 is built with Indian rosewood back and sides and a Sitka spruce top. Despite being a tribute to a vintage design, the G5 has the modern aesthetic that has become Greenfield’s signature: a spalted wood rosette, an original bridge shape with a wide saddle, and a distinctively carved heel are all traits that it shares with other Greenfields.

Tony keeps the guitar in the high-tuned (GDGCDG) equivalent of DADGAD tuning, and he has found it to be an excellent second guitar when touring, as it offers a different voice during his solo show while being easier to travel with than another full-size instrument. He has also used the guitar in his duo with Julia Toaspern (check out this medley of “Rolling Waves”/”Martin Wynne’s, shot at the Greenfield workshop!).

In this video, Tony talks about the guitar and uses it to play a couple of tunes, including “The Mornings at Bonnie Doon.”

To study with Tony, sign up for his Celtic Guitar course!