david is one man in a one man shop building guitars that others start at 7500 (not naming any names here). he pretty builds to spec. priced accordingly. as far as i know, no CNC. at $4k to start he's not making a fortune on these, believe me.

i suggest that if anyone has any questions for david, they should email him. if you have questions about the guitars at brian wolfe's shop call him.


if you want to hear what a really good flammang sounds like listen to the mp3 on the dreamguitars.com website. now that's a guitar!

I've owned 3 Flammang's and played a couple others. Sadly (for me) the guitar at Dream Guitars belongs to me - sadly because, as good as it sounds, the neck is just too beefy for me. As good as the recording is, I think the guitar sounds lots (lots!) better in person.

I'd say Flammang's are about as good as I've played, seriously under-priced. Most I've played/owned have been in the Gibson style. I had an L-00 a few years back that was as good a guitar as I've ever had, sold in a moment of insanity. As an owner of two real vintage Gibsons, a 1940 J-35 and a 1934 L-00, I'd say Flammang gets closer than any I've played to the real deal.

I played and Adi/mahogany parlor for a while, wish I'd had a chance to buy it, same with a Braz L-00.

We've spent a lot of time lately talking about Merrill's and B&H, well worth all the praise they are getting (I own one of each). I'd put David Flammang in the same category, one of the best of the best.

FreeBlues, the Hog/Adi Parlor at AcousticMusic has 1 3/4 nut and 2 5/16 bridge, neck was said to be very comfortable, top has Aging toner-- Ambered old look. I have photos in an e-mail, if you want, email me at address in top post and i could forward them to you.
Edit to ask FB, do you mean David builds a L-00 guitar ? There is also that beautiful 00 size Flammang at AcoustiMusic, neither are models listed on his site.
On further looking at his price sheet, he does offer the 'L' model, which is diff than the EL. No pictures of the L model, but the 12fret 00 at AcousticMusic is L. Saw Howard Emersons guitar which must be 14 fret L-00. I mailed David a few days back, no reply yet.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Q714,

http://www.mandobar.com/L45.htm

this is my L45 from david. i also have a black EL that was made for greg brown back in 2002.

the L at brian's is indian and adi.

There may be two L models at Brian's, his website list an L-40 Ebony B&S/Adi. Do you think he would put a Gibson colored sunburst with that half herringbone purfling on one of the Parlors ?

I have little to add but that I played exactly one Flammang at Mandolin Brothers about ten years ago and am still kicking myself for not buying it. I am interested in how his archtops are turning out. If I was looking, and I always am, I'd be looking at that.

714 - I'd love to see whatever pics you have: cef@ix.netcom.com (I've also emailed Brian for info, but nothing yet).

It's been a while since I spoke with David Flammang, so I don't know what he's making these days. Back in the day, as far as I know, most (all?) his smaller guitars were L-00's ("EL" in David's parlance) in various woods and bracing patterns, 12 and 14 fret. I had a 12 fret Adi/mahogany L-1 style (think Robert Johnson) that was about as cool guitar as I've owned. Classic Gibson tone in a very, very good way. Man I miss that guitar!

Like the photos Mary linked, many of his guitars are L-00's with gorgeous sunbursts and various options on woods, trim and finishes. He also did at least two bracing patterns to get a more modern vs. more vintage tone (don't remember which any more).

Hey Mary, don't suppose you'd like to trade a great Corbin D-18 for one of your smaller Flammangs?

charlie, sorry, but no.

the 12 fret 00 is more of a 00 than an L (gibsonesque L-00). there are pics of that on the website. the l-00 that david just brought is a traditional gibson style 00. there was a maple el that was a dark sunburst and it was HOT. howard really liked it. it sold as we were talking to another one of david's frequent customers. that was a Mary Flower guitar for sure. (charlie knows what i mean)

i've just dropped off a 12 fret grand concert flammang in adi and hog to brian wolfe at acousticmusic.org. he will be handling the sale of this as well as an adi and hog parlor (natural top) for me which i will be dropping off next weekend. anyone interested should contact brian directly as i am dealing with some health issues that have impacted my family.

these are not a fire sale. i just am tired of tripping over cases and have finally come to the conclusion that i have way too much "stuff".

Oh no! Now I'm gonna really need to do some thinking...

Mary, is the GC somewhat equivalent to an OM?

The Parlor, how would you broadly describe the tone? If possible, could you compare it to a Collings 01A or a (good) Gibson L-00?

My own personal desire(s) aside, let's be clear that Flammangs are among the very best of the best, these two are certainly worth checking out.

Wonder if Brian would talk trades.

let me be clear, these instruments are consigned. they still belong to me and i have consigned them to sell them.

the gc is indeed like an om. please contact brian for any other info.

I hear you about tripping over cases, and those latches can do some serious damage ; love the few Flammang guitars I have had the opportunity to play, but like you I am full up on guitars