Ted Thompson T-1C

Peghead Nation Fingerstyle course instructor Stevie Coyle demonstrates his favorite gigging flattop.

In this video, Peghead Nation Fingerstyle Guitar teacher Stevie Coyle demonstrates his Thompson T-1C, built by Ted Thompson of Vernon, British Columbia. Coyle purchased the guitar while working at Gryphon Stringed Instruments in Palo Alto, California, during the late 1990s, and it has been his main touring guitar ever since. Coyle values the instrument for its tone, feel, and reliability, regardless of conditions, such as climate, humidity, etc. To amplify the guitar onstage, Coyle has outfitted the guitar with a Sunrise soundhole pickup (sunrisepickups.com), which he typically uses in tandem with an external microphone.

Also check out Coyle’s Fingerstyle Guitar course on Peghead Nation, where he teaches the foundations of fingerstyle techniques, including picking patterns, fretting-hand approaches, and repertoire.

SPECS: Concert-size body with 14-fret neck. Solid Sitka spruce top. Solid Indian rosewood back and sides. Mahogany neck. Ebony fingerboard and bridge. 25½-inch scale. Sperzel tuning machines. Made in Canada.

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