Since 1995, luthiers Jeff Huss and Mark Dalton have produced intriguing custom acoustic guitars—by hand, one at a time—demonstrating that meticulous attention to detail delivers inspiring results. From their small shop in Staunton, Va., the Huss & Dalton Guitar Co. builds ~250 guitars each year, prioritizing quality and integrity over quantity of the product. Built from the finest tonewoods available, Huss & Dalton guitars are steeped in tradition and capable of pushing your music to a new level.
This 12-fret OO was made in 2000, and the label on the neck block designates it as "Model OO Prototype #2." Its body measures 19-3/8" long and 14-1/8" across the lower bout. At the end pin, the body is 4" deep. It features an Engelmann Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood back and sides. The scale length is 24-7/8", and the bone nut measures 1-3/4" wide. It is a stylish guitar, but with understated details—Herringbone rosette, Rosewood body binding, Herringbone back strip, and Ivoroid buttons for the Waverly tuners.
According to Huss and Dalton, what makes this one a prototype is the bracing. It is voiced to sound huge and have a responsive feel, and oh man does it deliver! This guitar has impressive resonance and sustain for such a small body. The tone is touch-sensitive to your picking dynamics. It produces a complex, lush sounds that make it an excellent choice for fingerpicking, especially old-time or fingerstyle blues. With a pick, it sounds big and full with more bass than we expect from a 00.
Cosmetically, this Huss & Dalton is very clean. It shows some scant playwear, but nothing too offensive (see photos, the worst are scuffs on the back edge of the headstock). We believe the neck has been reset, and thanks to that, the action is nice and low. The saddle may also be a replacement. This OO is an excellent player—the neck carve is a soft C with a hint of a V running down the middle of the neck. It's a more approachable neck than you find on a lot of vintage-inspired boutique builds. The previous owner installed a strap button on the neck heel.
This 2000 Huss & Dalton OO Prototype includes its a tweed H&D-branded hardshell case.