Sound Pure's Take

Another stunning dreadnought from our friends at Preston Thompson, both aesthetically and sonically. This guitar is steeped in pre-war guitar building tradition that yields breathtaking tone, familar and fresh all at once. Lightweight and extremely resonant. Balanced, nuanced, and clear as a bell. Strum an open E chord and you might suddenly understand the meaning of life.  Folks, it truly doesn't get much better than this. 

From Preston Thompson Guitars

Preston Thompson dreadnought models are all crafted to produce the tone and volume that the dreadnought guitar was originally designed to achieve. These are powerful instruments that, when needed, stand up to the volume of a mandolin, fiddle, and banjo. They have the bass response that provides an almost full orchestral backing to vocals. Their mid-range response and bright trebles take flatpicking and lead playing to new levels of achievement.

These are traditional instruments and all models are based on the famous 1937 Herringbone Dreadnought, owned by the late, great Charles Sawtelle of the award-winning bluegrass band, Hot Rize. All feature red spruce (Adirondack) tops chosen for tap tone and stiffness, advanced X-brace placement, hand graduated top thickness, pre-war hand carved scalloped braces, nitrocellulose lacquer finishes and time-tested design features such as dovetail neck joints.

It’s all about sound, and that is what the Thompson dreadnought specializes in. Regardless of the model – mahogany, East Indian rosewood, Honduran rosewood or Brazilian rosewood, Thompson dreadnoughts are built with the finest woods, materials, and craftsmanship to deliver that sought after pre-war sound and playing feel.

Model
D-MA
Serial
1639
Top
Adirondack Spruce
Back/Sides
Honduran Mahogany
Binding
Tortoise Celluloid
Top Purfling
BWBW
Back Purfling
None
Side Purfling
None
Soundhole
4"
Rosette
18 Style 3 Ring
Back Strip
Ebony Strip
Tail Wedge
Tortoise
Top Bracing Pattern
Advanced X Adirondack
Top Bracing
Pre-War Scalloped
Back Bracing
Adirondack Spruce
Tongue Brace
Yes
Neck Material
Mahogany
Truss Rod
Single Action 14-Fret
Peghead Overlay
Figured Ebony
Peghead Logo
Thompson Logo MOP
Custom Inlay
None
Headstock Binding
None
Headstock Type
Solid
Neck Binding
None
Volute
None
Nut Width
1 23/32"
Width @ 12th Fret
2 1/4"
String Spacing
2 1/4"
Neck Thickness
.860"
Neck Profile
Soft V
Heel Cap
Tortoise
Neck Finish
Vintage Brown Mahogany
Top Finish
Natural Gloss
Back/Sides Finish
Natural Gloss
Fingerboard Material
Ebony
Bridge Material
Ebony
Sunburst
Natural Gloss
Fingerboard Style
Style 18
Fingerboard Bindings
None
Fingerboard Inlay
18 Style Dots
Inlay Material
Awabi Pearl
Scale
25.4"
Side Position Markers
2mm Dots
Side Position Material
White MOP
End/Bridge Pin Type
Ebony
Strap Button
None
Bridge Type
Ebony Belly Bridge
Tuning Machines
Nickel Waverly with Butterbean Buttons
Nut Material
Bone
Saddle Material/Style
Bone Compensated
Pickguard
Dreadnought - Tortoise
Fret Wire
Standard Nickel Silver
Case
Harptone Hardshell

Free 3-Year Warranty

Sound Pure stands behind our products. Free three-year warranty on this item. Coverage exclusions live in Terms & Conditions, Section 27.

Level of support and expertise that simply isn't available at big-box megastores. Read the warranty →

Returns

Try Before You Buy: 48-hour audition. Program details →

Sound Pure Studios Control Room A — Durham, NC

Sound Pure Studios · Durham, NC

Come hear it in our control rooms.

Sound Pure is a working studio in Durham, NC — a 1,000 sq ft live room and two pro control rooms. Book a session to audition gear in a world-class acoustic space before you buy.