Paul Jacobson, 2002

This 2002 guitar by celebrated American luthier Paul Jacobson is a beautiful reflection of everything that made his work so deeply admired. Jacobson instruments are famously hard to part with, and it is common to hear owners describe their Jacobson as the one guitar they would never sell. That reputation is well earned.

Paul passed just under two years ago, but his legacy lives on through his instruments and the generosity with which he shared his knowledge as a luthier. In his later years, nearing retirement, he built only a handful of guitars annually, making examples like this increasingly scarce.

What strikes you immediately about this particular instrument is how balanced it is: rich, authoritative basses that you would expect from a great cedar guitar, paired with trebles that are quick, chimey, and genuinely exciting.

Specifications

Luthier: Paul Jacobson
Year: 2002
Number: 255
Top: Cedar
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood
Construction: Traditional (6-fan bracing with extra bass-side fan)
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut Width: 52.5 mm
Fingerboard: Raised
Tuners: Gilbert
Strings: D'Addario XTC45 with carbon G, nylon B and first strings
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Condition: Excellent overall, with cosmetic finish checking

Sound & Playability

The defining quality of this guitar is its balance. The basses carry real authority, sustaining longer than you might expect from a fan-braced instrument, and the trebles match them step for step without getting dark or muddy. They are quick and chimey, with a sparkle that makes the instrument feel alive and responsive. The basses are rich and vibrant enough that you might stop to double-check whether the guitar is lattice-braced. It is not: underneath is a six-fan bracing pattern, traditional in every sense.

Playing string by string reveals the character of each voice. The first string has a darker quality alongside real sparkle, almost reminiscent of the way a great Spanish instrument can be driven. The B string sustains beautifully even in nylon, with a warm, open voice. The G string, set up with carbon, has a powerful, almost bass-like quality that is quite distinctive. The fourth and fifth strings deliver authoritative, responsive bass immediately, with a touchiness and sensitivity that rewards expressive playing. The sixth string feels like it carries a very deep main air resonance, though the actual resonance is G: it simply has that much richness to it. Lyrical, too.

The neck is mostly C-shaped and fairly thin, with a comfortable profile and very low action. Taller fret work makes the touch feel effortless, and the slightly raised fingerboard adds comfort in the upper positions. This is a guitar that invites expressive playing and rewards everything you put into it.

Construction & Design

The plantilla of this guitar is quite distinctive: the rounded lower bout is one of those shapes you recognize from across the room as unmistakably Jacobson. The cedar top carries a matte finish at the bridge, low-profile with a simple tie block and plenty of break angle. The rosette uses reds and blacks in a muted, understated combination. Clean purfling runs along the outside of the body.

Underneath, you will find a six-fan bracing pattern with the extra fan positioned on the bass side, and an overall lightweight build that contributes to the guitar's openness and resonance.

The headstock is Jacobson's most instantly recognizable signature. Carved along the sides, with lighter-color woods set against a darker veneered face, it creates a kind of glow when you look directly into it. The Gilbert tuners, with their gold edges, fit this distinctive design perfectly and further highlight the intentional elegance of the whole instrument.

Excellent overall. The top shows some finish checking, which is purely cosmetic and not structural, along with a few small marks consistent with careful use over time. The guitar has been well cared for and remains structurally sound and highly resonant.