Custom Clients
What our Custom Clients are saying:
“My Batson Parlor model is one incredibly sweet guitar. I have owned many high-end acoustics (major names and handmade by top luthiers) and archtops in the 47 years I’ve been playing guitar and this one is right up there with the very best of them.The workmanship is absolutely impeccable and the innovations that the Batsons have pioneered are not only practical, but advance the evolution of the construction and the sound of the instrument in very aesthetic ways. The tone directed straight toward the player’s ears is wonderful and intimate.
The cantilevered neck extension and tailpiece truly let the top sing just as advertised. The use of an incredibly designed tailpiece routing the strings into holes that bring the strings up over the bone in a traditional fixed bridge is a brilliant hybrid of the archtop design and traditional flattop design. It creates a string pull that is very responsive to the fingers but fights back just enough to allow the player to “dig in” if he wants to without creating a bunch of undesirable sounds. The Carpathian spruce top sings like an angel and the bearclaw woven into the grain is super cool. This is a truly beautiful, consummately playable tone machine.”
- Steve H. (Texas) – this said of his Ziricote and Carpathian Spruce Parlor model
and of his Brazilian and Adirondack Grand Concert Batson, he said:
“Well, I finally got a chance to sit down with my new guitar for a couple of hours and I have to tell you – I couldn’t be happier, man. I won’t take up your time tonight by calling up and going on and on about every single little thing, but I will tomorrow.
You and Cory are The Men Amongst Men. It was immediately my favorite out of the 15 guitars I own. Please let Cory know how grateful I am for the effort and workmanship of the two of you. I’m the president of your fan club.”
“Grant, I’ve had about an hour with her, and you totally exceeded my expectations.
It has the sound of a jumbo in a couch sized body! It was hard to pull myself away to write the email…
Thanks again for making my dream guitar. It was totally worth the wait!”
“Grant, I want to thank you, again, so much for this wonderful guitar. This guitar has all the tone and playability I expected from a fine handmade instrument and it’s turned out to be my all time favorite. I am recommending a Batson to anyone who wants the best. Sometimes when the weather is nice I like to play outside. I think my Batson may even be helping the fruit trees in my yard, as I seem to have a good crop of peaches and pears this year. Cory and Grant, keep up the good work!”
“Grant, I love this guitar so much, we’ll be getting married in April. I’ll be sending out invitations soon. You can give the bride away if you like.
I don’t know anything about their dealers, but you are not going to get any better treatment, or service, than you will from the Batson brothers themselves. I absolutely love my Batson and would recomend these guitars to anyone who wants a high quality, wonderful sounding instrument.”
- Win M. (SanFrancisco Bay Area)
“Style meets function. Art and craft coming together to form an instrument that becomes another voice for the player. An instrument that makes you want to play just to hear the depth, complexity and nuance that surrounds you. That’s how I describe my Batson experience each time I pick it up. The playing experience is matched by the interaction with the builders. There is a genuine sense of commitment and integrity in the way the Batsons listen to and support their clients. That matters. Batson Guitars – amazing instruments, world class people.”
- Michael C. (Connecticut)
“Working with the Batson brothers was a unique experience for me. Grant emailed me pictures of wood until I found the perfect ones for my guitar. He helped me select binding and neck woods that complimented my choices and, despite my pickyness, was always helpful and patient. We developed a rapport and a friendship over the time my guitar was being built. He sent pictures of the construction process to keep me up to date. Their online way of communicating was easy to do through their website. Anytime I wanted to check progress, all I had to do was go to the website and punch in my password and there it was… everything about my guitar. But the payoff is this stunning guitar that I get to keep.
- Bill T. (Los Angeles, CA)
“The Batson projects like mad. It definitely spoils the player, which is a good thing, as I’m my most important audience. But the guitar is incredibly responsive, clear & loud. I actually have a McPherson, as well, and the Batson takes the innovations to the next level. It’s bloody amazing and I am going to be listing my McPherson for sale soon (if that adds any credence to my review).
I think the tone is fantastic. Inspiring really. Such amazing clarity and brilliance. My Larrivee sounds like a nylon string guitar in comparison. The separation from string-to-string is amazing. It almost seems as if the sound from each string is emanating from a different part of the sound-board. The harmonics and sustain are incomparable, as well. The bracing, etc., “free” soundboard design seems to energize the sympathy notes. By that I mean if you hit one note another string with that same base and all others with the same note in harmonic begin to ring. Very musical. The Projection is heads and shoulders over other guitars and not just when you’ve got your ears above the sound-port, out in front as well. And this one has so much character and warmth to the tone. Responsiveness – another winning factor. Very subtle, delicate fingerstyle is easily audible – again, great projection with no effort. In fact it takes effort to “underplay”, which is good. This means there is room for exploration. Aggressive strumming? It’s handling it with aplomb – sounds great, ROCKS! I don’t know what I’d have to do to overdrive the soundboard but I can attest, so far, it seems it’s not in my repertoire.”
- Scott D. (Portland, OR)
“My new Batson and McPherson arrived on the same UPS truck. I chose to open the McPherson first and groove on it for a day or two first before opening the Batson; I know Mcpherson Guitars, and I chose to delay the excitement of getting to what I perceived to be a really incredible instrument for a few extra days. Kinda like waiting for the right moment for the big event.
I was not disappointed at all; in fact, the Batson has exceeded expectations. What an amazing instrument. I’ve now been playing it for two days, getting familiar with it’s nuances and feel and tone and it is indeed a very special and unique instrument. The craftsmanship and artisanship are impeccable. The overall shape and appearance are unique and highly sophisticated. The bridge system is incredibly cool, just as the bracing.
What blows me away is the side port. It goes way beyond just allowing me to hear myself. I can see the bracing and soundboard and tone-woods from a completely new perspective. My first reaction was that the port was so large ( it’s bigger and shaped differently than others I’ve had) that it might take away from the sound (I’m not really knowledgeable about the physics and that kind of stuff), but its’ size has done just the opposite. The sound comes right at me with such clarity, and by doing so it serves as a wonderful creative tool that allows me to manipulate my playing tones like I’ve never been able to before. This is where the best parts come for me.
While I am an ok guitar player, I am primarily a songwriter, and I look for inspiration and subject material from the instruments I play. When I play the right guitar for me (in my case meaning the feel, look, and most importantly the tone and tonal qualities – resonance, ability to play different volumes, etc) hitting a single note can trigger my imagination and give me a new song idea. And this is where
the Batson shines brightest for me. This guitar sings as if it is “powered by angels.” It’s tone is incredible. Double-thumping along playing fingerstyle, I don’t think I’ve ever heard bass tones like these – punch, woody, clear, like an upright bass. Tuning down to Open D, I hear a bell-like ring that sounds like a grand piano. And the harmonics are just downright scary, crystaline and bell like (not just any bell, but a silver bell!).
When I open the case, upon first glance this guitar commands respect and reverence; it is clearly not just another high quality boutique-like instrument. It’s different in a way that one can instantly feel. The shape and top almost appear carved (maybe it’s the flamed redwood). I don’t know violins, but I get the feeling that maybe this is the same type of reaction that David Bromberg gets upon opening a Stradivarius. This Batson guitar is unique and amazing.
Most importantly, the guitar immediately inspires me to elevate my playing and creative process. With such an instrument, one must rise to the occasion. For me, this is the perfect tool to get the creative juices flowing, and I’m just getting started. I connected with the Batson on an emotional level (after all, this is all about emotion). And to think this is a new instrument that will continue to open up is beyond my comprehension.”
- Ave T. (Delaware)
“I’ve been fortunate to play a few Batson’s. I have to say they are exquisite guitars in tone, feel, and looks. One aspect I really got into during one of my test drives was how big the guitar sounded tuned down a whole step. If you ever play one, give it a try tuned down and do some fingerstyle piece on it. The feel of the neck while playing is another characteristic which really stands out. With medium gauge strings, the neck felt like a well set up electric strung up with 0.10s. Just real easy to play.
- Dave D. (Nashville, TN)
ABSOLUTELY AWESOME instrument! It fretted very, very easily – almost like a well set up arch top – and had very distinctive balance and clarity across the bass – treble spectrum. Plus, it doesn’t look so bad either.”
- Anonymous (Nashville, TN)
“Great guitars, very responsive and open sounding, often with a huge bass response, not muddy, just huge. The design is an amalgamation of various features, the un-interrupted top, cantilevered neck and tail-piece, Soundport, etc. are all nice touches but the design is based on sound lutherie and good technique, not just gimmicks. One point worth making is that with the tailpiece design information is pushed into the bridge in the same way as on an arch-top guitar.�
The best advice I can give is to get your hands on one and make up your own mind. I think you’ll be as impressed as I have been.”
- Michael W. (Brighton, UK)
“My Batson Auditorium (with Adirondack top and Marbled Rosewood back) is by far my favorite guitar… and I do own several other handmade guitars including Goodall, McPherson, Hoffman, Veillette, Breedlove, etc…
What sets the Batson apart is the tremendous balance and volume. Bass notes are loud and clear without being overpowering. Some guitars become muddy when strummed hard but the Batson keeps its clarity and separation.
All notes are punchy and responsive when finger picked or flat-picked. High notes project wonderfully on lead lines and are clean and crisp. A great all round guitar!!! The sound port gives the player amazing sound yet it has equally good sound when standing in front of the guitar. The sustain goes on and on with piano-like richness. My only reservation is that I don’t own more Batson Guitars… Yet!
-Ron C. (New York)
“… I would say that this is the do-it-all guitar. Writing, Recording, Performing. It is so comfortable to play with the low string tension that I play more. It sounds so great with the upper bout sound hole that it inspires me to write. Put away your vintage archtop and flattop: this guitar covers all bases. It is like owning three guitars in one. Master level craftsmanship and playability that vintage guitars can’t touch.”
-Kirby H. (Chicago, IL)