A few shots from my visit to Mike's workshop.

Mike Baranik and Kent Hamblin's visit to TAMCO 16 April 2011. Top photo Kent left, Mike right, I forgot to get any photos with myself in but its not a great loss..

A great time was had by all. Terry Lees (in the pale blue shirt) did a great job of demonstrating Mike and Kent's guitars. He played some fantastic music and discussed their approach to lutherie with them.

Mike and Kent then did a very informative talk about how they got into guitar making and various aspects of their design and construction techniques.

The evening meal at Bom-Banes was a blast. Great food, great company and a couple of Jane's incredible songs.

I think the only conclusion to come to is that it was a great success.

This really is the bee's knees. Its the fifth Parlour Retreaux I've had from Mike - I'm still enjoying my 'Paint it Black' (below) at home. The figured Bubinga is the most spectacular I've seen. The tone is the warmest of the quintet.

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• Italian Spruce top
• Beeswing Figured Bubinga and sides
• 12 3/8” lower bout
• 24.5" scale length
• 1 3/4" Nut
• 2 1/4" string spacing at saddle
• Bone nut and saddle
• Ebony Headstock with Koa purflings
• 13th fret neck joint
• Cream/Red striped Acrylic accents and rosette
• Gold Evo fretwire
• Ebony bound fretboard
• Ebony bridge and bridge pins
• Cosmo Black mini Gotoh 510 Tuners with Black Buttons
• Black Binding with Koa top purflings
• Oval sideport
• Cedar Creek custom case

Similar the the first parlour I had from Mike (this is the fourth counting my own and there's two more on order) the 'Aloha Koa' is a delight.

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• Carpathian Spruce top
• Curly Koa back and sides
• 12 3/8” lower bout
• 24.5" scale length
• 1 3/4" Nut
• 2 1/4" string spacing at saddle
• Bone nut and saddle
• Spanish Cedar neck
• 13th fret neck joint
• Green acrylic rosette, end wedge and heelcap
• Gold Evo fretwire
• Ebony Headcap with Koa purfling
• Ebony bound fretboard
• Ebony bridge and bridge pins
• Gold Gotoh mini tuners with Black buttons
• Black binding with Koa purflings on soundboard
• Oval sideport
• Cedar Creek custom case

I am becoming addicted to Mike Retreaux parlor guitars. This is the biggest fix yet.

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• Sitka Spruce top
• Black and white Ebony back and sides
• Machinga neck
• 12 3/8" lower bout
• 24.5" scale length
• 1 3/4" Nut
• 2 1/4" string spacing at saddle
• Bone nut and saddle
• Ebony Headstock with purpleheart purflings
• 13th fret neck joint
• Indigo acrylic rosette and accents
• Gold Evo fretwire
• Ebony bound fretboard
• Ebony bridge and bridge pins
• Black Schertler tuners with black buttons
• Black Binding with Purpleheart top purflings
• Oval sideport
• Cedar Creek custom case

Another stunning parlour from Mike. This time with fan fret and all Koa. Kula Kika means gold guitar in Hawaiian.

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• Koa top
• Koa back and sides
• 12 3/8” lower bout
• 24.25" - 25" scale length
• 1 3/4" Nut
• 2 1/4" string spacing at saddle
• Black oxhorn nut and saddle
• Spanish cedar neck
• 13th fret neck joint
• Black and brown acrylic rosette, end wedge and heelcap
• Gold Evo fretwire
• Ebony Headcap with Ipe purfling
• Ebony bound fretboard
• Ebony bridge and bridge pins
• Black Schertler tuners with Black buttons
• Black binding with Ipe purfling
• Oval sideport
• Cedar Creek custom case

See the Acoustic Magazine review, this website, central menu, reviews.

This is a truly awesome guitar in every respect. Fantastic looks and sound and you can adjust the action while the strings are under tension!

There is an Allen bolt thru' the strap button so the action can be adjusted between numbers, or even during if you're Tommy Emanuel.

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• Bearclaw Sitka spruce top
• Wenge back and sides
• Soundport
• Venetian cutaway
• 25.6” scale
• 1 25/32" nut width
• 15.5" lower bout
• Ebony, wenge, black palm mosaic headstock veneer
• Spalted hard rock maple body bindings
• Ebony, wenge black palm mosaic rosette
• Black palm accents
• Bone nut and saddle
• Ebony fretboard
• Ebony bridge
• Cosmo black Gotoh 510 tuners
• Striped ebony tuner buttons
• Adjustable neck action!
• Ameritage climate controlled case

Awesome!!

• Bearclaw German spruce top
• Black and white ebony back and sides
• 14 frets to the body
• 25.6” scale
• 1 25/32” nut width
• 2 1/4 “ string spacing at saddle
• 15 ½” lower bout
• Spalted yellow pashaco neck
• Venetian cutaway
• Purple heart top border
• African blackwood bindings
• Blackwood/BW ebony/Purpleheart headstock veneer
• Rear headstock veneer
• Pearl side dots
• Blackwood/BW ebony/Purpleheart rosette
• Striped ebony fretboard
• African blackwood bridge
• Gotoh 510 tuners
• Cosmo black tuner buttons
• Bone nut and saddle
• Ebony bridge pins
• No pickguard
• Custom Hoffee carbon fiber case

I was so inspired by the two parlour guitars I had from Mike earlier this year (as were their owners) that I commissioned this beauty for myself. Mike wanted to add some accents here and there but with some trepidation I insisted as black as possible. I love it and don't care if you don't...

Two more are due in September, one in Koa and Adirondack, one in Honduran rosewood and Italian Spruce, neither in black.

Mike's attention to detail and design skills are second to none, this beautiful guitar is a true work of art. The cedar and rosewood combination give remarkable warmth with great clarity, balance and separation.

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• Western Red Cedar top
• Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
• 25.6" scale length
• 1 25/32" nut
• 2 1/4" saddle
• 15 1/4 lower bout
• Sideport bound with Tulipwood
• Purple Heart Accents
• Tulipwood Binding
• Black/Purpleheart/Black Purfling
• Purpleheart/Tulipwood butt wedge
• Ebony Fretboard
• Ebony/ Rosewood Headstock
• Pinned Rosewood Bridge with ebony pins with Purpleheart dot
• No position markers
• Clear pickguard
• Bone nut and saddle
• Gotoh 510 Cosmo Black tuners with Tulipwood Buttons
• Ameritage climate controlled case

With Madagascar rosewood ( 'the new Brazilian' see Bourgeois pages) back and sides and Western red cedar top this is another beauty with spalted maple rosette and accents and ebony bindings, with striped ebony tuner buttons on Gotoh 510s and gold Evo fret wire. Characteristic cedar warmth across the range, rich, woody and deep bass, complex, round and vibrant mids with clear, mellow trebles. With a 15 1/4" lower bout it has Mike's standard phenomenal playability, it is very responsive with great balance, definition and projection. In fantastic condition, new price would be over six thousand pounds. With Ameritage case with humidity control.

I'm in love! Cute, beautiful and gorgeous, plays like a dream and sounds like heaven.

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• Adirondack Spruce
• Curly Koa
• Copper acrylic rosette, end wedge, heel cap
• Ebony bound fretboard
• Ebony bridge and bridge pins
• Ebony headstock with koa purflings
• 12 3/8” lower bout
• 1 3/4" Nut
• 2 1/4" string spacing
• Bone nut and saddle
• Spanish Cedar neck
• 13th fret neck joint
• 24.5" scale length
• Gold Evo fretwire
• Gold Gotoh mini tuners with Black buttons
• Black binding with Koa purflings on soundboard
• Oval sideport
• Cedar Creek custom case

I like Mike's Coppertone Retreaux so much that I ordered one for myself (in all black finish). If this one is still here when mine arrives it might be a tough call...

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• Italian Spruce
• African Blackwood back and sides
• 24.5" scale length
• 13th fret neck joint
• 12 3/8” lower bout
• 1 3/4" Nut
• 2 1/4" string spacing at saddle
• Ivoroid Binding with Satinwood top purfling
• Gold, cream, black acrylic rosette and accents
• Ebony bound fretboard
• Sideport
• Ebony bridge with bone pins
• Ebony headstock with satinwood purflings and logo
• Fossilized Walrus Ivory nut and saddle
• Gold Evo fretwire
• Black Cosmo Gotoh mini 510 tuners with Ivoroid buttons
• Cedar Creek custom case

Another stunning guitar from Mike with a 16" lower bout this is a very versatile guitar. Mike has moved the treble side waist slightly forward so it sits on the knee very comfortably. It features Sitka spruce, Beeswing Mahogany, Beeswing Mahogany rosette, Rosewood binding with birdseye maple accents, Rosewood tuner buttons and a pinless bridge. It responds brilliantly to being driven hard by the flatpicker but responds equally well to a gentle touch with a very complex and well defined tone, the skilled player can make this guitar do his or her bidding, it looks incredible too. Comes with Cedar Creek case.

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Mad rosewood is said by many to be at least the equal of Brazilian rosewood. I couldn't possibly comment, come and hear for yourself. Mike's aesthetics have always been superlative, the bar is raised now even higher.

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• Madagascar Rosewood Back and Sides
  
• German Spruce top
  
• 1 25/32" nut
  
• 2 1/4" saddle
  
• 25.6" scale length
  
• 15 1/4" Lower Bout
  
• Spalted Maple Accents
  
• Snakewood Binding
  
• Black/Satinwood/Black Purfling
  
• Cosmo Black Gotoh 510 tuners with Madagascar (Boise De Rose) Rosewood Buttons
  
• Ebony Fretboard
  
• Boise De Rose/ Madagascar Rosewood Headstock
  
• Boise De Rose/ Madagascar Rosewood rosette
  
• Pinned Ebony Bridge with Snakewood pins
  
• No pickguard
  
• Custom Ameritage case with logo