Most of what I play these days is done on a nylon-stringed guitar. The Takamini 132CE that I'm pictured with on my home page is an acoustic classical guitar with a solid cedar top. It diverges from a conventional classical guitar by having a cut-away on the lower bout that gives me better access to the upper fets--indespensible to me for the jazz tunes I play. It's the guitar I probably practice on the most.

Nylon-stringed guitars present significant challenges for amplification, and while I love the feel, look, and acoustic sound of my Takamini, I found the amplified sound to be lacking. For performance I generally use this Godin electric nylon-stringed guitar (to the left), their Multiac Grand Concert model (it's called this because it has a full 2" wide neck as does a conventional classical guitar). This guitar plays very easily and amplifies well with an even volume balance across all the strings, something which my Takamini lacks.

Though I rarely play it anymore, my pride and joy is this beautifull hand-made archtop guitar by Oregon luthier, Stephen Holst. I wish this picture did it justice, but believe me, in person this guitar is breath-taking, and the mahogony red to tangerine burst is much more subtle and luscious than this graphic represents. Stephen's craftsmanship is remarkable. Hand-carved spruce archtop, mahogony back and sides, birch purfling (including around the fingerboard) and ebony tailpiece, finger rest, bridge, tuning knobs, volume & control knobs, and fingerboard. Gorgeous!