Guitars

The Maxey Archtops Half Note is a 17” jazz guitar. Each hand carved spruce top is individually crafted for acoustic quality. The process creates a complex tone that will respond to your playing, while surrounding the fundamental pitch with overtones and beautiful sustain.

The back wood is hand carved book matched flame maple, shaped to resonate. The sides are bent matching flame maple. The guitar has a 3” depth in the tradition of some of the most important guitars in jazz history.

Construction method is at the center of the Maxey Archtops approach. Hand crafted instruments are one of a kind and made specifically to order. Our luthiers shape the materials to emphasize the strengths of the woods, making each guitar’s tone vibrant, and finished with nitrocellulose lacquer. The Half Note is as unique as the musician who plays it. A responsive and inspiring guitar becomes a part of your voice and approach to your music. It is an extension of the guitarist’s creativity and helps the player to tell their own story.

Maxey Archtops is the collaborative archtop division of Phred Instruments. Our guitars are hand crafted by a master lutheir shop overseas. Our makers are artisan builders in a long and historic line of finely crafted Chinese arts and bring a timeless and unique quality to each masterfully built instrument. They are responsible for the woodwork, gluing and Nitro finish of the Half Note. The design, electronics assembly, fretwork, hardware and setup is done in Los Angeles, CA, USA. 

Josh Maxey is based in Denver, CO. You can make an appointment to play a MA guitar locally. Josh is a jazz guitarist. You’ll find 10+ albums under his name and on NYC jazz label, Miles High Records. His music has been played around the world on jazz radio. Josh teaches full time online private lessons and group classes as a part of his Guitar Heads School as well as being the creator of Phish Guitar Heads, an online guitar study community with 2700+ members.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on a Half Note pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

Introducing the Maxey Archtops Night Owl by Phred Instruments, a hand carved, small body,  double cutaway guitar. The classic pairing of spruce top and flame maple back/sides is complemented by construction methods used by historic archtop makers: all solid wood selection, parallel bracing, kerfing, mahogany binding, nitro finish, ebony fingerboard, tailpiece and floating bone saddle bridge. It’s 24 fret neck with 25.5” scale is designed for easy access to the entire fretboard. Night Owl will be equipped with SD59 humbuckers in series, parallel and split functions. The wooden volume/tone and switches will be positioned by the bridge and f-hole for easy control of a wide range of tones. 

Hand carved small body archtops are known for their blooming notes. They are rich in acoustic quality, harmonics and responsive to the touch. With hand made instruments, the woods are carefully crafted individually to bring the most out of the particular materials. We are happy to offer a new luthier made option to small body archtop enthusiasts. Night Owl offers a new tool for our creative musical community that nods to the lineage but spreads its own wings.

Maxey Archtops is the collaborative archtop division of Phred Instruments. Our guitars are hand crafted by a master lutheir shop overseas. Our makers are artisan builders in a long and historic line of finely crafted Chinese arts and bring a timeless and unique quality to each masterfully built instrument. They are responsible for the woodwork, gluing and Nitro finish of the Half Note. The design, electronics assembly, fretwork, hardware and setup is done in Los Angeles, CA, USA.

Josh Maxey is based in Denver, CO. You can make an appointment to play a MA guitar locally. Josh is a jazz guitarist. You’ll find 10+ albums under his name and on NYC jazz label, Miles High Records. His music has been played around the world on jazz radio. Josh teaches full time online private lessons and group classes as a part of his Guitar Heads School as well as being the creator of Phish Guitar Heads, an online guitar study community with 2700+ members.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on a Half Note pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments R2 is a small body archtop guitar Hand Made in California: carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow. No details were spared in the making of R2.

Features a hand carved flame maple top, back, and padauk sides.

Additional features include a high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, 14" radius, 1 11/16" nut width.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

R2 is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well.

The first production run will begin around July/August 2021.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an R2 pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments R2 is a small body archtop guitar Hand Made in California: carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow. No details were spared in the making of R2.

Features a hand carved flame maple top, padauk back, and padauk sides.

Additional features include a high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, 14" radius, 1 11/16" nut width.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

R2 is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an R2 pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments R2 is a small body archtop guitar Hand Made in California: carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow. No details were spared in the making of R2.

Featuring a hand carved koa top, back, and sides.

The body, f-holes, neck and headstock are bound.

Additional features include a high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, 14" radius, 1 11/16" nut width.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

R2 is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an R2 pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments R2 is a small body archtop guitar Hand Made in California: carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow. No details were spared in the making of R2.

Featuring a hand carved figured claro walnut top, back, and side.

Neck: Curly eastern maple with padauk center lamination.

Adironadack spruce top braces.

The body, f-holes, neck and headstock are bound.

Additional features include a high gloss nitrocellulose lacquer finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, 14" radius, 1 11/16" nut width.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

R2 is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an R2 pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments Reprise is a small body archtop guitar: hand built, carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow.

Featuring a hand carved flame maple top, spruce back, and mahogany sides, the body is bound in mahogany on the top, back, and sides.

The flame maple neck with an ebony fingerboard is also bound by mahogany, and the mahogany binding goes all the way around the headstock.

Additional features include a nitro glossy finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, and a arch top style neck joint.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

Our small team of expert luthiers overseas build jazz arch top guitars and every detail of Reprise is drawn from that tradition.

Reprise is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an Reprise pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments Reprise is a small body archtop guitar: hand built, carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow.

Featuring a hand carved flame maple top, spruce back, and mahogany sides, the body is bound in mahogany on the top, back, and sides.

The flame maple neck with an ebony fingerboard is also bound by mahogany, and the mahogany binding goes all the way around the headstock.

Additional features include a nitro glossy finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, and a arch top style neck joint.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

Our small team of expert luthiers overseas build jazz arch top guitars and every detail of Reprise is drawn from that tradition.

Reprise is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well.

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an Reprise pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The Phred Instruments Reprise Koa is a small body archtop guitar: hand built, carved top and back, sides moulded and shaped to form, all solid woods, parallel bracing, kerfing, and fully hollow.

Featuring a hand carved koa top, koa back, and mahogany sides, the body is bound in maple on the top, back, and sides.

The flame maple neck with an ebony fingerboard is also bound by maple, and the maple binding goes all the way around the headstock.

Additional features include a nitro glossy finish, 24 frets, 25.5” scale length, and a arch top style neck joint.

Electronics include a dual humbucker setup with Seymour Duncan '59 pickups, discrete humbucker/split coil/parallel switches per pickup, and a 3-way pickup toggle. One main volume, and one tone control.

Our small team of expert luthiers overseas build jazz arch top guitars and every detail of Reprise Koa is drawn from that tradition.

Reprise Koa is professionally setup in California with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings. The frets are leveled, dressed and milled for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Hardware and Electronics are installed in California as well. 

Note: Reprise Koa photos represent one particular Reprise Koa from the production run. 

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on an Reprise pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The PHRED instruments Ace guitar is a neck through double cut-away guitar that gets its inspiration from Bob Weir's Cowboy Fancy guitar. The body features a humbucker-single-humbucker setup, with discrete split coil switches and discrete on-off toggles for each pickup. Our Ace guitar is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. 

NEW for 2022!  The PHRED instruments Ashbury is a neck through construction guitar with a layered body cosisting of ash and dark walnut.  Featuring a triple-humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for many different tone combinations! Our Ashbury guitar is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments Blue Wolph gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Wolf guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a triple humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 14 different tone combinations! Our Blue Wolph is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.
 

The photos show the Blue Wolph with Chrome Cover pickups and Chrome pH Tailpiece.  The stock Blue Wolph comes with Black Humbuckers, a Black Plastic Pickup Mounting Plate, and a Standard Chrome Stop Tailpiece Bar.

The PHRED instruments DC39 guitar gets its inspiration from the traditional double cut-away semi-hollow body, which features a dual humbucker setup, with discrete volume and tone knobs per pickup and a 3-way pickup toggle. Our DC39 guitar is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments DC39 guitar gets its inspiration from the traditional double cut-away semi-hollow body, which features a dual humbucker setup, with discrete volume and tone knobs per pickup and a 3-way pickup toggle. Our DC39 guitar is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments DeadBolt gets its inspiration from Steve Cripe's Lightning Bolt, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia in the 1990s. The body features a triple humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 14 different tone combinations! DeadBolt is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments Dire Wolph gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Wolf guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a triple humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 14 different tone combinations! The Dire Wolph is finsihed with a nitrocellulose cocoburst finish in Los Angeles, CA, professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

Please contact us if you are interested in the Dire Wolph as it is a custom build. 

Use Coupon Code 50PercentDown at checkout to make a 50% down payment on a Dire Wolph pre-order. The remaining balance will be due when your order goes into our Setup Queue.

The PHRED instruments DockStar Koa gets its inspiration from Trey Anastasio's Languedoc guitar. The fully hollow body features a dual humbucker setup, with discrete split coil switches and a 3-way pickup toggle for 8 different tone combinations! Our DockStar Koa is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments DockStar K2 gets its inspiration from Trey Anastasio's Languedoc guitar. The fully hollow body features a dual humbucker setup, with discrete split coil switches and a 3-way pickup toggle for 8 different tone combinations! Our DockStar K2 is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The DockStar K2 features Taiwan Koa (Formosan Koa, Acacia Confusa) wood veneers on the top and back of the body.  Taiwan Koa is a cousin of Hawaiian Koa (Acacia Koa), and has a slightly darker and heavier sound than Hawaiian Koa.  As a wood veneer, however, Taiwan Koa's contribution to the DockStar K2 is more visual than as a tone wood.

More photos will be added soon from the 2022 production runs.

The PHRED instruments DockStar Koa gets its inspiration from Trey Anastasio's Languedoc guitar. The fully hollow body features a dual humbucker setup, with discrete split coil switches and a 3-way pickup toggle for 8 different tone combinations! Our DockStar Koa is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. 

The PHRED instruments Liger gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Tiger guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a triple humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 14 different tone combinations! Liger is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments Liger 3.0 gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Tiger guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The Liger 3.0 is more than just a fully upgraded Liger.  Liger 3.0 features a three layer body, with a Kluson JG Tailpiece and Kluson Harmonica Bridge.  Also included are Schaller Locking Tuners, Brass Nut, DiMarzio Super 2 and SDS-1 pickups, custom brass plates, our cusom USA Wiring with Copper Foil shieldeing inside the electronics and pickup cavity, a pre-amp bypass toggle switch, D'Addario 10-46 strings, and a Hard Shell Case. Liger 3.0 is professionally setup with smooth and level frets and low action for a smooth and clean feel all around.

4/22/2022
Note: The current Liger 3.0 production run will have an three layer Ash/Maple/Ash body.  The finish and color will have a similar appearance, but with  different wood grain than what's pictured.

You can make a 50% down payment on a Liger 3.0 by using the discount code 50PercentDown at checkout.

The PHRED instruments Micro DeadBolt gets its inspiration from Steve Cripe's Lightning Bolt, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia in the 1990s. The body features a dual humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 3-way pickup toggle for 8 different tone combinations! Micro DeadBolt is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Micro DeadBolt has a 22.75" scale length and can be tuned to Standard E with 10-46 gauge strings.

The PHRED instruments Phusion 2.0 gets its inspiration from the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a triple humbucker setup with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle, for 14 different tone combinations! Phusion 2.0 is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.  Phusion 2.0 will be replaced with the Ashbury model in 2022.

The PHRED instruments Project Gator gets its inspiration from a classic guitar design, and one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a triple single coil setup with a 5-way pickup toggle, main volume, main tone, and a blaster knob. Project Gator is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. Scroll down to the full description and specs for more information.

The PHRED instruments SB500 guitar is a set neck, double cut-away guitar that gets its inspiration from Jerry Garcia's Travis Bean TB500 guitar. The body features three P90 pickups by Artec Sound with Alnico magnets, discrete on/off switches, On Board Effects Loop, and our built-in pre-amp/buffer.  A P90 pickup upgrade option will become available soon and can be added prior to shipping. 

Our SB500 guitar is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around. 

Pre-order now at $689!  The price will go up to $789 when the SB500 arrives into our shop.

The PHRED instruments Scarlet Wolph gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Wolf guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a triple humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 14 different tone combinations! Our Scarlet Wolph is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments Wolph gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Wolf guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a single-humbucker-humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 12 different tone combinations! Our Wolph is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments Wolph NT (Neck-Through) gets its inspiration from Doug Irwin's Wolf guitar, one of the iconic guitars played by Jerry Garcia. The body features a single-humbucker-humbucker setup mounted in a custom pickup plate, with discrete split coil switches and a 5-way pickup toggle for 12 different tone combinations! Our Wolph NT is professionally setup with low action and D'Addario 10-46 strings, and the frets are leveled and milled here at our shop in California for a nice smooth and clean feel all around.

The PHRED instruments Blade guitar is a neck through laminate maple neck with laminate body wings. The body features three single coil pickups stacked near a tremolo style bridge, discrete on/off mini toggles for each pickup, volume and tone.  Also included is our built-in pre-amp and 9V battery providing a low impedance output to preserve clarity and high frequencies.  Our Blade guitar is inspired by the Modulus Blackknife guitar, minus the graphite neck.  Blade is not currently available for pre-order, and pricing may change, but if you'd like to be notified when it will be available for pre-order, click on the Notify button and we'll send you an email as soon as it's available for pre-ordering.  More details, specs and options coming soon.