When David set out to build his dream guitar, he had in mind a small body guitar with a clear, bell-like tone, made primarily of North American woods.

Visually clean and simple, with his preferred slotted headstock, the Cavins grand concert is a reverent nod to the work of the Larson Brothers of Chicago, a duo who revolutionized guitar construction in the first four decades of the 20th century.

As an avid player, details like neck profile and finish are at the top of David’s mind. He uses a gentle oil finish on the neck; though perhaps less indestructible than the thick lacquer used in mass-market guitars, it gives great hand feel in a variety of atmospheric conditions (including hot, muggy summer festivals—we checked!).

Small body guitars have numerous advantages in terms of playability over their larger cousins. For one thing, most of us play seated, most of the time. That means that the distance between lap and shoulder and the depth of the body are pretty critical to a comfortable back, shoulder, and arm. A small-body guitar encourages a more natural torso position, meaning less aching after a practice session.

The shorter the guitarist, the more critical this becomes. Smaller people often have difficulty holding a larger guitar without arm or shoulder pain, numbness, or back problems. Women typically have shorter arms and torsos proportionate to their height, so even rather tall women often find smaller body guitars much easier to play.