Testimonials

Here's what's been said about Bertoncini Guitars...

After a week I'm still exploring my new guitar and finding it continuously delightful. It is amazingly responsive when played softly and sustains forever. It makes my 1968 Martin D28 sound muddy. I played it for a friend of mine and his response was, "I didn't know a guitar could sound like that." It has a life in its sound that I've rarely heard in guitars--except Dave's. That's why I asked him build one for me. Not only is the bass rich and full, but it is wonderfully balanced and tonally precise everywhere on the neck. I have wanted a guitar like this for 35 years. I wake up in the morning and can hardly wait to get my hands on it. It's magical."

~ George Shepard

"You can read all the praise for Bertoncini Guitars on this site and I can personally vouch for every bit of it. See, I just got my Bertoncini and after I picked my jaw up off of the floor and after I had played it for a few days, I couldn't stand it anymore. I had to take it to my favorite guitar shop and show off. Well, it wasn't very long before about five of the teachers who are about 100 times better than I am (and I can hold my own) gathered around to admire the gentle curve of the top binding, the exquisite inlays, the extraordinary woods. And then it happened. One of them asked if he could play it. My heart started to pound and my mouth went dry. Touch my Bertoncini? I composed myself and agreed that if they kept their picks in their pockets, that they could take turns on the guitar. You want to hear how well a guitar is made, take it to people who play them all day, every day, and many nights and ask them. They were stunned. They had never touched a guitar that was set up as perfectly, intonated as perfectly, and sounded as rich and complex from the punchy lows to the delicate highs. Then the custom shop luthier walked into the crowd of now 12 or 14 people and got his turn at it. I'm pretty sure "staggering" was one of the words he used. He sets up all my guitars and advised me to sell the rest of them. (Okay, the Tele stays.)

Anyway, my point is this. I had a wonderful time collaborating one on one with Dave and he is truly a wonderful man and without question a master builder, but you knew that from the other stories. I'm here to let you know that my Bertoncini, "The Aspen", is the finest acoustic guitar that every one of my professional guitarist friends and my personal custom shop builder has ever played or seen. It's really that simple."

~ Chip Chalmers

You could say that Dave Bertoncini of Bertoncini Stringed Instruments makes dreams come true. He did for me. Dave worked with me to build me the guitar I had envisioned. The result is everything I wanted in a guitar -- truly a dream come true. My Bertoncini guitar represents all the advantages of working with a luthier who hand-builds instruments one at a time. I was able to pick out the woods I wanted, and Dave listened patiently to all my ideas and questions. The result is the exact instrument I wanted, down to the smallest detail. Dave’s chief concern is his customer’s satisfaction. He involves the customer throughout the process, and provides frequent updates with e-mail. Dave’s meticulous attention to detail in every aspect of the process of creating a fine instrument is impressive.

My Bertoncini guitar is the most beautiful instrument I’ve ever seen. The sound is amazing; it is very well-balanced and articulate. The highs sparkle; the mids are sweet and clear; the lows are full-bodied and well-defined. The playability is also equally fine. I would highly recommend Dave to anyone who has been searching for a fine, custom-made instrument. He can bring your ideas to fruition -- his instruments are truly the stuff of dreams!"

~ Amos Vranna