Glenn Canin, 2023

This 2023 Glenn Canin spruce double top represents the very best of contemporary American luthiery. Canin is renowned as one of the leading double top makers in the United States, with a reputation for unmatched playability, tuning precision, and tonal balance. His guitars are played by top concert artists and professors worldwide, most notably Celil Refik Kaya.

While I have had several of Glenn’s cedar double tops in my shop, this is the first recent spruce/balsa model to come through — and it is simply exceptional. Open, relaxed, and lyrical in character, it combines the sparkle and clarity of spruce with the warmth and depth of a perfectly executed double top.

Key Features

• Top: Spruce, double top with balsa core (chevron pattern visible under light)

• Back & Sides: Madagascar rosewood, striking figure with dark accents

• Neck: Slim C-shape, highly comfortable and thin profile

• Action: Low setup (3mm / 2.2mm approx.) with room for adjustment

• Rosette: Torres-inspired with green highlights and wheat motif

• Fingerboard: Elevated for ease of access to upper frets

• Soundport: Adds openness and projection for player and audience

• Tuners: Barnett (smooth and precise)

• Condition: Excellent, only light signs of play

Sound and Playability

The first and second strings of this guitar are simply breathtaking — immediate, singing, and deeply responsive. Melodies emerge effortlessly, requiring little effort to project, and the trebles remain round and lyrical even under the lightest touch.

The basses are muscular and full of presence, balancing beautifully with the trebles without overshadowing them. The sustain is remarkable, among the very best of any double top I have played, and the intonation is flawless across the entire fingerboard — something Canin’s guitars are especially known for.

Colors are abundant and wide-ranging, from metallic brilliance to sweet, sultry tones reminiscent of Torres and Simplicio. Whether played pianissimo with nuance or pushed to its full dynamic power, the guitar remains stable, balanced, and inspiring.

Playability

Glenn Canin’s guitars are consistently praised as some of the most comfortable instruments available today. This example is no exception, with a slim, thin C-shaped neck and a very low action that still allows for aggressive playing without buzzing. The elevated fingerboard further enhances accessibility, making upper-register playing effortless.

Aesthetic Highlights

• Bearclaw figuring in the spruce top

• Subtle balsa chevroning visible in the right light

• Refined rosette and tie block design with green accents

• Madagascar rosewood back and sides with elegant grain

• Elevated fingerboard and soundport for modern playability

• Barnett tuners for smooth, precise adjustment

Closing Thoughts

This 2023 Glenn Canin spruce double top is one of the most satisfying modern guitars I could offer. It offers the clarity and sparkle of spruce, the depth and projection of a balsa double top, and the comfort and precision that have made Glenn’s instruments so sought after.

If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com