From their small shop in Hillsborough, NC, Pre-War Guitars construct aged reproductions of iconic American-made models from the '30s and '40s. Described as the "new old guitars of the future," Pre-War guitars are not the same as other vintage-inspired guitars. They are designed to have the sound, the feel, and the look to match. Pre-War produces perfectly setup, old-sounding, and old/beat-up looking guitars.
The Pre-War 12 Fret Dreadnought captures the sweetness and power you only get from this design. The 12-fret neck subtly changes the position of the bridge on the massive slope-shoulder dreadnought body. The result is articulate response balanced with endless headroom. When you build this design by hand and use only the finest materials available, the results are impressive. Each Pre-War guitar lives up to the hype.
This 12 Fret Dreadnought was completed in 2021. It features a Shade Top amber sunburst on finish, and the herringbone trim looks just right. This one was made with a "1.5" distress level, so it has the feel and vibe of a played-in—but well cared for—vintage relic.
Built with an Adirondack top and Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, this Pre-War packs a big, bold sound that is articulate and detailed across the register. It has treble that cuts and shimmers, but there's plenty of warmth and low-end content as well. Chords are sweet, and single notes shine. It has a wide dynamic range—with a soft touch, it is sweet and pretty, but when you dig in, it comes alive. Perfect balance of clarity and sweetness with raw power.
This 2021 Pre-War Herringbone is gently used. Because of the 1.5 distress level, it's hard to tell what is authentic wear and what was done by Pre-War. Most importantly, the frets are clean and it plays nicely. It has a 1-3/4" nut width and a sizable V neck profile. The previous owner installed a strap button on the neck heel. Pre-Wars are known to be bluegrass cannons, and this one absolutely fits that description. But to be fair, it has a much wider range than just the bluegrass genre. Like a good old D-28, it is a versatile guitar that seems to do everything well.
Pre-War Guitars advertises a build time of 24-30 months, but this 2021 12 Fret Dreadnought is ready to ship to your door! It includes its original Geib-style hardshell case.