2020 Josh Howell "Steel Orchestra" - Acoustic Guitar

Handbuilt 2020 Josh Howell SF Model, made in Oakland, CA. A refined, boutique steel-string with excellent balance, sustain and clarity.

Specs

• Sitka spruce top
• Mahogany back & sides
• Mahogany neck
• Ebony fingerboard & bridge
• Bone nut & saddle
• Grover 18:1 Sta-Tite tuners
• 645mm scale (25.4")
• 45mm nut width

Clear fundamentals, strong midrange, and excellent craftsmanship. Condition is excellent with little to no play wear. Exceptional sustain and clarity; rarely found in steel string instruments due the neck through body construction mostly used on classical guitars. This causes the greater resonance you will not find in bolt on neck guitars.

Josh Howell is a respected Bay Area luthier who began building guitars in 2000 as the first employee in Kenny Hill’s U.S. production shop, where he built over 100 classical guitars and helped lead workshops. In 2004 he co-founded Howell & Forsyth Guitars, developing boutique steel-string instruments that combine traditional Spanish construction with modern acoustic design.

A performing musician as well as a builder, Howell’s guitars are known for their balance, responsiveness, and clarity. Over his career he has built more than 140 instruments, and today focuses on restoration, repair, and occasional custom builds from his workshop in Northern California.