To the naysayers. John’s instruments are works of art. If he wanted to build affordable guitars, he would automate his shop and hire 25 handymen to produce 1000 guitars per year that would probably sound as good as his masterpieces. There’s a price to pay for a unique, handcrafted guitar made by who is considered to be the top luthier on the planet. His concepts, ideas, materials and meticulous workmanship are worth the money he commands to those who appreciate his work for what it is. Unparalleled.

Most of these instruments are owned by rich people who never play them.

Yes! Yes! Yes! Putting my ear next to any guitar, I can hear a magical beauty. I could also hear it on my microphoned acoustic recordings. But for me, I wanted a way to get that close up acoustic archtop sound out to a live audience, something I wasn't able to do on a regular quality PA. I knew it had to be possible because, at the time, CSNY were making ot happen with their Martins. No doubt it takes a great sound system as well as a great guitar. I hope to some day make it happen.

To me the interesting thing about all the luthiers interviewed is that they are perfectionists. Kim Walker, Linda Manzer, and John Monteleone all reacted to the opening up of their long-lost guitars by instantly cleaning off the dust or smudges on them. In every case it reminds me of a Mom cleaning up a messy toddler.

I'm with John - I prefer the sound of an oval hole archtop. Orville Gibson made a bunch of them.

We know that lots of you have had questions about this incredible instrument and in particular the soundport system - hopefully this video will give you what you were looking for!

My dad has a monteleone mandolin. One of his most prized possessions and for good reason.

Gorgeous. I don't build or play, I just listen, but this might be the most beautiful instrument I've ever seen.

I am a MONTELEONE SPIRITUAL BLUES HARMONICA AND 12 STRING GUITAR. DOES A MONTELEONE GET A BREAK ON THE USED GUITAR PRICE?

What an absolute beauty.

I remember being in this legends studio while he was building this or one that looked just like it-Michael

Yeah………..but green?

You know the problem I have with this man is this who the hell has 150,000 to spend on one of his guitars I don't know anybody that would spend that much on it and so these guitars are out of reach of probably 99% of the population now mind you I respect what he's been able to accomplish and do but his guitars are useless kind of reminds me of old men and Corvettes and there's something wrong with that picture and you know what that is is that only the old man have the money to buy the Corvettes a young man unless he's got money or something will never write in a Corvette and I don't know anybody that would buy this man's guitars and you know what these guitars are only going to sell to a select few that have the money to buy them and to me it's a waste I wrote this man a letter and asked him to build me a guitar for $10,000and he never got back to me because that money isn't even enough to pay for the wood that he's probably using on these guitars and that being said I wouldn't buy a guitar from this guy if I had the money why because nobody else could get one he needs to build guitars that are accessible to the common Man and unfortunately it's people like this that keep these guitars out of the hands of people that could really use them that could play them and the fact that he's kept these guitars out of the hands of the the common man tells me that this guy I wouldn't give him two cents for his guitars he could hang on to him and wrote with him these guitars are useless and so is this man