Handmade Guitars by Bob Gramann



The Rappahannock
The Rappahannock River is a mid-sized river in Virginia and my home town stream.  The Rappahannock Guitar is mid-sized (about the size of an 000) and an excellent compromise between ergonomics and sound.  I used a Rappahannock in my gigs--the sound and size fit me just right.  All of these have a big voice and a full tone.  They have a 24.9 scale length allowing the top to be lightly braced  providing easy fingering and the loudest notes possible.



The Rappahannock






 

"Black, Black"
146 - Back, sides, fingerboard, bridge - Black Locust. Neck and trim - Black Walnut  Alaska Sitka top.  EVO frets.  1 13/16" nut. All North American woods.

This is one of the named art series.  It has a strong, balanced voice and, like all of my guitars, is easy to play.  The Black Locust has a pretty grain pattern and a good sound.  Black Locust is hard to obtain in pieces large enough to make a two-piece guitar back.  I have enough to make one more guitar.  There won't be many of these.

$3150

See it at The House of Musical Traditions 		"Korina, Korina"
163- Back, sides, neck, rosette - Black Limba. Top - Alaska Sitka. Fingerboard - Macassar Ebony, Bridge, bindings, and peghead veneer - East Indian Rosewood. 1 3/4" nut

Another in the named art series (look up "Korina").  Black Limba is a light wood with strong markings and some big, hard to fill pores. This is a very responsive guitar.

$3450
   "Rappahannock 7"
165 - A seven string guitar.  The extra is a low B.  Why do drop D when you can have a whole other string for bass?  Yes, the body is thinner on the bass side than the treble.  It's called a "Manzer Wedge" after the popularizer of this style, Linda Manzer.  This design feature allows easy playing while retaining body volume.

Back, sides, and neck - Sapele, Top - Alaska Sitka, Fingerboard, bridge, binding, and headplate -  East Indian Rosewood. 
2 1/8" nut.  The rosette is made of Sapele, Sycamore, and dyed fiber veneers.

$5299


 "Stone Wenge"
169 - Back and sides - Wenge.  Top - Ultralight Alaska Sitka.
Neck and trim  - Maple.  Fingerboard - Macassar Ebony.  Bridge - East Indian Rosewood. 

This is one of the named art series.  Other luthiers have commented on Wenge being an unappreciated but big-sounding tonewood, so I got some.  Its tap tone rings. My Sitka supplier came across a log of Sitka Spruce that was as stiff as normal Sitka but weighed 2/3  of what you'd expect.  I expected that this would be a loud guitar.  It exceeds all expectations.  Aside from being loud, it's well-balanced and has a strong tone.

$4950





Bob Gramann
122 Laurel Avenue
Fredericksburg, VA 22408

(540) 898-0611
bob@bobgramann.com

1/17/26