In the early 1980’s, Mark took one of his guitars into a local music shop to have some minor adjustments done and was shocked at how much he was charged. When Mark questioned the owner about the cost, the man told him “If you don’t like what I charge, do it yourself next time.”
Mark left the shop and went straight to the library where he checked out every book he could find on guitar building and repair. During months of studying, he would pick up old, inexpensive, and damaged guitars at garage sales, pawn shops or wherever he could find them and with some basic hand tools and a bunch of desire, he began taking the guitars apart and putting them back together. Over time and with hard work and diligence, he was eventually able to bring instruments that had been broken, unplayable, and worthless, back to life.
Word got out in the local music community about the work Mark was doing on guitars, and soon guitar players from all over began bringing their guitars to him for adjustments and repairs which he did out of his house. Without trying or even knowing about it, Mark had slowly taken almost all the music store owner’s repair business from him. So much so that one day the owner of the music store called Mark and offered to sell him his shop.
Mark bought the shop lock, stock, and barrel for $2500 and in the process, inherited an entire shop full of actual lutherie tools. After a couple years, he found himself not only doing adjustments and repairs, but he had also started building his own guitars and other stringed instruments.
Mark eventually stepped away from his guitar work and began ranching and working horses full time, something he had also done since he was thirteen.
Fast forward 40 years…When the pandemic hit, Mark found himself with some time on his hands and decided to build himself a guitar using wood he had stored away in his garage from his old lutherie days. One guitar turned into two, two turned into building a couple for friends, and that eventually evolved into Longs Peak Guitars.!
Having been a working musician for most of his life, Mark understands how difficult it can be for musicians, whether professionals or not, to find quality instruments at prices they can afford. It is for that reason that Mark’s primary goal is to build great sounding and playing handmade instruments while keeping his prices reasonable. This is achieved due to Longs Peak Guitars being a one-man, low overhead shop with the handmade instruments produced here often costing a fraction of the price of similar quality instruments.
D-18 style Dreadnought, 000-18, OM-18 3A Mahogany/Sitka spruce w/hard shell case | $1999 |
D-28 style Dreadnought, 000-28, OM-28 3A Indian Rosewood/Sitka Spruce w/hard shell case | $2199 |
Tops: 4 and 5A German Spruce, 4A Tunnel Redwood, 5A and Master Grade Adirondack Spruce, 3 and 4A torrified and non torrified Sitka Spruce
Back/sides: Koa, Bubinga, Madagascar Rosewood (limited supply), Bloodwood, Granadillo, Black Limba, Curly Cherry, Canary Wood, Fiddleback Hackberry, Bocote, Pau Ferro, Purple Heartwood, Goncalo Alves, Figured Ovangkol, Figured Black Walnut, Curly Maple, Figured Cocobolo.Personalization, pickups and custom inlay are also available. Please email us for prices and estimates.
Base Price, Mahogany back, sides and top with hardshell case | $425 |
Standard Model | $1599 |
Delux Model | $1799 |
Classic | $1199 |
Modern | $1299 |
Email us for specs or to customize your future instrument.
longspeakguitars@gmail.com