Why I Love Flammang Guitars

Why I Love Flammang Guitars
by Catfish Keith

I first heard of luthier David Flammang maybe a decade or so ago. I was over at Greg Brown's house in Iowa City one day, and he said "Have you ever played one of these?" He handed me the guitar. It reminded me of a 30's Gibson, only it was new. I played it, and the sound was hair-raising. It had the world and all in it. I was transfixed. Trumpet blasts and Dulceola harmonics tumbled out of it. Everything an acoustic guitar could possibly do, and more, was in there. The guitar was built by David Flammang.

Nowadays I tour and record using a couple of guitars built by David Flammang: an EL and a Parlor. Man these instruments knock me out! He takes the classic guitar styles inspired by old Gibsons and Martins and brings them up several notches with special attention to detail especially in bracing and voicing the instruments coupled with clean and tasty craftsmanship.

David Flammang lives with his wife and children in Greene, Iowa, a small town in north central Iowa. He's been making a living primarily building and selling guitars in his one-man shop. His instruments have been played and raved about by myself and others including Iris DeMent, Greg Brown, Pieta Brown, Howard Emerson and Brooks Williams. Gayla Drake Paul wrote a wonderful review of one of David's guitars in Premier Guitar magazine. His guitars are carried by some of the world's best-known boutique high end guitar shops, including Mandolin Bros, AcousticMusic.org, Dream Guitars, and Guitar Gallery.

Usually, his guitars are made to order, to each player's specifications. But there are a few listed below all ready to go, available for immediate shipping.

Contact him at: Flammang Guitars Website

Phone: 641-823-5625

Email David

~ Buy Your New Flammang from Catfish ~

The OM30, RS30, P30, OM60, GC30-12, EL35 and L35-13 Fret Flammang Guitars below are immediately available. These guitars are so beautiful, take a look and please do email or call me at 319-338-3614, I'm more than happy to guide you through, get you more pictures, and answer any questions.

Every Flammang I've played is fantastic! Check out the new YouTube videos below to see and hear several different models in action.

All guitars come with deluxe hard case. Price does not include shipping. You can buy any of these great guitars David has now, or, he can custom make you your dream guitar with the exact specifications you want.

(The guitars pictured here with Catfish Keith & David Flammang, from left to right are: J35 Slope Shouldered Dreadnaught, OM30 Orchestra Model OM30 NOW AVAILABLE, Catfish's EL35 another EL35 NOW AVAILABLE see below, P30 Mahogany Parlor a spruce topped P30 NOW AVAILABLE below, Catfish's P35 Parlor, L35-13 Fret another L35-13 Fret NOW AVAILABLE see below, RS30 Roy Smeck Model RS30 NOW AVAILABLE.)

This Page Updated Jan. 18, 2012.

THESE 7 FLAMMANG GUITARS BELOW ARE IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE:

New! Flammang P30 Parlor Guitar $4900

David Flammang has done it again with this sublime natural Red Spruce-topped, Mahogany-bodied beauty.

This guitar features 12 frets to the neck, a 24.9" scale length, Ebony fretboard, bridge and headstock overlay, and slotted headstock. It measures 1 3/4" at the bone nut, 2 3/8" at the bone saddle, with matching bone bridge pins. Beautiful fine checker purfling and Waverly tuners.

My favorite touring and recording guitar is this model, mine is a sunburst one and is one of the world's absolute greatest guitars ever. If you want a deep, clear, rich, well balanced tone with a focused brightness and warmth, this is it. Harmonics fly out this guitar!

The world's most perfect fingerpicking guitar, I don't think I could live without mine. It's cute, curvy small size gives an unexpectedly huge tone.

Don't pass this one up, it is fantastic.

Now Available.

New! Flammang GC30-12 Grand Concert 12 String Guitar $5600

Wow. I love this beautiful 12 String!

It is so sweet...It has a Sitka Spruce top, honey colored African Mahogany back and sides, Curly Walnut binding, Curly Walnut & Pearl rosette, mitered side binding. The solid headstock has a Curly Walnut overlay and is bound with mitered purfling. Schaller tuners with Ebony buttons. 25.4" scale length, a comfortable 1 7/8" inches wide at the nut. Bone nut & saddle.

David's super-tasty workmanship shows off the breathtaking natural glow of the woods used to make this guitar. And the sound. The angels can lay me away now...

Now Available.

Flammang OM60

New! Flammang OM60 Orchestra Model Guitar $6800

Hard to beat this one!

Classic body shape after the Martins of old, with rare Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and headstock overlay,with a Red Spruce top, 14 frets to the neck. 25.4" scale. 1 3/4" wide at the nut, 2 3/8" at the saddle. Ebony fretboard and bridge. Bone nut, saddle & pins. Herringbone rostette & top edge purfling. Ivoroid binding. Waverly tuners.

Everything about this says Superguitar.

Now Available.

Flammang EL35

New! Flammang EL35 Guitar $4900

Whew, would you just look at this thing?

If you like fetching curves on a vintage-sounding masterpiece, here is your guitar. The Burgundy burst top is Red Spruce, with Honduran Mahogany back and sides. 14 frets to the neck and a string twanging 24.9" scale. A fine rope rosette and top edge purfling, ivoroid bound Ebony fingerboard, Ebony bridge and Ebony headstock overlay, Waverly tuners, bone nut, saddle & pins. 1 3/4" at the nut, 2 5/16" at the saddle.

I have a Flammang EL35 myself, it was my first Flammang. To me it reminds me of my 1926 Gibson Nick Lucas Special, but it's a much better guitar. It has a lot of that old time spirit, but a richer tone with better balance. And, such a sexy shape!

Now Available.

Flammang L35 13 fret

New! Flammang L35 13 Fret $5400

Now, if there is a guitar in this world that I truly hanker for, this one might be it.

My wife Penny and I have both pined away for this model ever since David made the last one (see below). I can't get it out of my head, it was so responsive, perhaps the perfect guitar.

It starts with Tobacco burst on a Red Spruce top, Honduran Mahogany back and sides. Something about 13 frets to the neck puts the soundhole in the ultimate spot for nirvana-type vibrations. The fingerboard is a bit wider (which I love): 1 13/16" and 2 3/8" at the saddle. Bone nut, saddle, pins. Ivoroid bound Ebony fingerboard with unique vintage styled inlays. Ivoroid bound headstock with Ebony overlay, fine rope rosette and top edge purfling. Cute pickguard. To top everything off, it's got the short scale of 24.75".

Somebody better get this before I do!

Now Available.

Flammang L35 - 13 Fret

This stunning dark sunburst top L-OO shaped guitar has a Red Spruce top, Honduran Mahogany back and sides, and a Madagascar fretboard and bridge. It measures 1 3/4" at the bone nut, has a 2 5/16" bone saddle, and matching bone bridge pins.

Flammang's secret double tapered Red Spruce bracing give it unrivalled tone. I love the ivoroid, fine black and white checker binding on body, soundhole and fretboard. It has a very playable 24 3/4" scale length. Wonderful Waverly tuners with ivoroid tuning knobs.

I found this instrument hard to put down. It's an awe-inspiring guitar, unique with 13 frets to the neck and the shorter scale length. A fingerpicker's delight. I'd love to have this guitar myself. It's lightweight, feels wonderful, and is very responsive to the touch. It reminds me of the rare old Gibson 13 fret Nick Lucas guitars of the 30's, with a trancendant voice, and great curves too. Perfect!

This guitar was completed and sold in 2011.

SOLD

New! Flammang OM30 Orchestra Model $4800

Inspired by the 1930's Martin OM18, this one sports a Red Spruce top, Honduran Mahogany back and sides, matching ebony fretboard, bridge and unslotted bridge pins. 1 3/4" bone nut, 2 5/16" bone saddle spacing, scalloped red spruce advanced bracing, tortoise binding, with a "v" neck with Brazilian Rosewood headplate. It has a 25.4" scale, and Waverly tuners w/oval nickel buttons.

All of these understated features bring the attention right to the hands, ears, eyes and heart; this is a fantastic guitar. The OM guitars have been known for decades for their wonderful balance and richness, and David Flammang brought all this together, and more, with his special bracing and expert luthier's skill. Dynamite!

Playing this guitar reminds me of the best of the best old Martins, but better; harp-like clear voicings, great feel with the V neck, super, well-balanced chords and notes, all ringing true. I Love This Guitar!

Now Available!

Flammang RS30

New! Flammang RS30 Roy Smeck $4800

This great new guitar was inspired by the 1930's Gibson Roy Smeck Model. It has a Red Spruce top, Honduran Mahogany back and sides, with an Ebony fretboard, bridge and headplate. It measures 1 3/4" at the nut, has a 2 5/16" saddle spacing, with bone bridge pins, special tapered Red Spruce bracing, clean ivoroid binding on body, fretboard and soundhole. I really like the shorter 24.75" scale, and the best tuners: Waverly with ivoroid buttons.

The 12 frets to the neck, shorter scale and the big slope shouldered dreadnought body give the guitar a power and ease of playability seldom heard or seen in this century.

When I played this one, the tone was full and rich, sonorous lows, mids and highs unexpectedly focused for a big bodied guitar. David told me that the slightly smaller soundhole amplifies these qualities. The top is eye-catchingly beautiful with nicely grained Spruce and a pretty tortoisey-striped pickguard. A honey of a guitar.

Now Available.

Flammang P30 Parlor Guitar

This beautiful, mind-blowing parlor guitar is a vintage-style masterpiece. It has an all Mahogany body, with Madagascar Rosewood body binding, fretboard and headstock overlay, a Brazilian Rosewood bridge, scalloped Red Spruce bracing, smooth satin finish, bone nut and saddle. 12 frets to the neck with 1 3/4" nut, 2 5/16" saddle, and a 24.9" scale, perfect for parlor guitars. And, my favorite Waverly tuners with nickel oval buttons.

The tone is warm and bright, well balanced and very focused, perfect especially for fingerstyle playing. This gem of a guitar is heartbreakingly sweet and snappy, versatile and light as a feather. Harmonics and rich voicings fly out of this gorgeous instrument. Just look at that wood. This guitar sets the standard for the Golden Age of the Luthier. When I played this one, it was hard to put down. It is anti-gravity light and sits very intimately cradled in your arms. All of the details add up to a brown beauty that you can't let go. The sound is so sublime, focused, balanced...and likes it if you really dig in and snap and twang the strings, or just caress it lightly. I love this guitar!

Completed and sold in 2011.

SOLD

Flammang J35 Slope Shoulder Dreadnought

This guitar takes the great qualities of a vintage J35 to new heights. It has Mahogany back and sides and a Red Spruce top with a dramatic dark to small amber sunburst. Inside, it has tapered Red Spruce bracing. Ivoroid binding on the body, soundhole, and fretboard. Madagascar Rosewood fretboard (this looks darker when you see it in person and matches the guitar nicely. The picture doesn't quite do it justice.), Brazilian Rosewood bridge, Ebony headstock overlay.Very cool checker purfling on top edge and soundhole. Bone nut, saddle and pins.14 frets to the neck, 1 3/4" nut, 2 5/16" saddle, and the secret old Gibsonesque J35's 24.75" scale length. Complete with the world's best tuners: Waverly - ivoroid oval buttons.

When I played this one, I was impressed by it's punchy, ballsy, rich clear voice, perfect for flatpicking, swing rhythm, string snapping blues, lead guitar lines...a versatile instrument that can be played with a lot of fire. It has a clarity that a lot of dreadnought-shaped guitars do not have. The depth and warmth and sparkle of this guitar's voice makes this the guitar of a lifetime.

Completed and sold in 2011.

SOLD