Kauer

Long before a player straps on a guitar built at a one-of-kind, handcrafted shops, some musician/craftsman thought long and hard about the combination of woods, the choices in hardware and electronics, the feel, the tone, and ultimately, the statement his or her brand will eventually make once it goes to market. With the days of planning, thinking, rethinking, construction, testing, painting, finishing and setup all said and done, it's the player's first few moments with the instrument that leave the biggest impression. Strapping on the Kauer Guitars Daylighter Standard, three things hit me immediately—its tonal liveliness and depth, its very comfortable weight in spite of being on the large side, and, “Man, this guitar smells nice!” Those three attributes come down to one unique element to the Kauer line—the primary wood in their guitars is Spanish cedar. In the realm of acoustic guitars, especially classical acoustics, Spanish cedar has long been popular as a highly resonant tonewood. It is, however, far from standard material in the world of solidbody electrics. A bold choice by Kauer to be sure, and, overall, a smart one.