Joshia de Jonge, 2020

Built to commemorate her 100th instrument, this extraordinary 2020 Joshia de Jonge is a landmark work from one of Canada’s foremost luthiers. Created during the early days of the pandemic, de Jonge shared that “with nowhere to go I was able to really take my time and try out some new designs I had been dreaming of.” The result is a guitar that perfectly captures both her artistic maturity and a moment of deep creative reflection.

Every material in this guitar carries meaning and connection. The fingerboard is crafted from Ironwood harvested on her husband Pat’s family farm, which has been in the family for seven generations. The Swiss “moon” spruce double top, laminated with Eastern white cedar, combines with European maple back and sides to create a voice that is at once luminous, warm, and effortlessly clear.

Tonally, it is capable of remarkable flexibility, subtlety, and power of expression. The sound is warm yet transparent, with a wide palette of colors and attack. Each note feels like a polished jewel. The sustain is long and even, and the dynamic range is vast. The maple body imparts openness and clarity, while the double top construction adds immediacy and projection. Trebles shimmer with brilliance, the basses are deep yet quick to respond, and the balance across all registers is exceptional.

Playability is equally impressive, with one of the most comfortable neck contours and lowest actions you will encounter in a modern concert guitar. The raised fingerboard design allows easy access to upper positions, and the overall feel is fluid and responsive.

Visually, this instrument radiates understated elegance. The pale glow of maple, delicate mosaic detailing around the rosette and headstock, and custom engraved Rodgers tuners complete a picture of minimalist perfectionism. It is both innovative and intimate, a deeply personal expression of artistry that stands apart among the finest contemporary instruments.

• Year: 2020 (#100 Anniversary Guitar)

• Top: Swiss “moon” spruce double top with Eastern white cedar core

• Back & Sides: European maple (flamed)

• Neck: Maple with raised fingerboard

• Fingerboard: Ironwood from de Jonge family farm (7th generation)

• Bridge: Flamed maple

• Bracing: Open lattice pattern with shallow tornavoz

• Tuners: Custom engraved Rodgers

• Soundport: Magnetic maple cover

A once-in-a-lifetime piece by one of the world’s most respected modern luthiers, combining innovation, intimacy, and acoustic brilliance in equal measure.