Preston Thompson Guitars

Noted for their power and immediate, responsive voice, Preston Thompson Guitars pay tribute to the best American made instruments from the 1930s. Master guitar luthier Preston Thompson and his small team of highly skilled craftsman produce custom acoustic guitars that have the look, playing feel and above all, the sound of the best instruments from that original Golden Era of guitar making.

Thompson Guitars are built strong and light with time tested designs and construction methods, providing a lifetime of enjoyment. Our instruments are handmade every step of the way, from the finest woods available, including Brazilian Rosewood, Honduran Mahogany, Oregon Myrtlewood, Honduran Rosewood, Adirondack Spruce, Lutz Spruce, Sitka Spruce and European Spruce.

It’s no accident that we’re situated in Sisters, Oregon, a town with a national reputation for Americana and roots music. Our shop is located right next door to The Belfry, an iconic music venue that also happens to be a converted church built in 1914. Each fall, the annual Sisters Folk Festival celebrates American music from folk to bluegrass to blues, drawing people from every corner of the country. The Sisters Starry Nights concert series has also put Sisters on the map with recording artists and music lovers from Nashville to Los Angeles. We’re proud to be part of this exciting music scene, so come by for a visit and stop by to say hello.

If you’d like to schedule a tour of our shop, please email us at contact@pktguitars.com.

Visit pktguitars.com to learn more.

Preston Thompson Guitars's Blog

Thompson 00-14SMA A no-frills 00 that meets high expectations. Read More

Thompson Molly Tuttle Signature Model A slightly customized version of the contemporary flatpicking star’s dreadnought. Read More

Preston Thompson OM-GL A wonderful orchestra model built with granadillo back and sides and a Lutz spruce top. Read More

Preston Thompson PKT A limited edition re-creation of a special Thompson dreadnought. Read More

Chris Luquette’s New D-BA Sunburst | Thompson Guitars Thompson Guitars signature artist picks up his latest dreadnought at the Sisters, Oregon workshop. Read More

D-BA Custom | Thompson Guitars Jamey Hampton of Brothers Jam demonstrates his custom dreadnought, which he calls "Hawkfire." Read More

Preston Thompson 0-14 SMM A contemporary take on an all-mahogany classic. Read More

Jordan Tice, “Bachelorette Party” | Thompson Guitars The songwriter and guitarist plays an original fingerstyle tune on a Thompson OM. Read More

Billy Strings, “My Rough And Rowdy Ways” | Preston Thompson Guitars Billy Strings covers the classic Jimmie Rodgers song using a Thompson OM guitar. Read More

Preston Thompson OM Mad/Adi A great Madagascar rosewood OM with some creative additions. Read More

Dale Adkins | Thompson Guitars The flatpicking guitarist demonstrates a custom OM at the Thompson workshop. Read More

Preston Thompson 0000-PRBR Peter Rowan demonstrates his 0000-size Brazilian rosewood Thompson signature model. Read More

The Reptilian | Thompson Guitars Thompson's Simon Haycraft discusses a new custom guitar with a rattlesnake theme. Read More

Thompson D-SBA-42 | Elderly Instruments A great Preston Thompson dreadnought built in 2020. Read More

Thompson Guitars’ Olivia Elia and her Custom Dreadnought Thompson employee Olivia Elia stops by the Peghead Nation studio to show her personal walnut dreadnought and discuss the Thompson building process. Read More

Chris Luquette: City Suite for Two Guitars | Thompson Guitars Flatpicking guitar virtuoso introduces his new album of guitar duets at the Thompson Guitars workshop. Read More

Billy Strings | Thompson Guitars The flatpicking star visits Thompson Guitars' shop in Sisters, Oregon. Read More

Preston Thompson 000-14 SMA A straight-forward 14-fret 000 built with mahogany and spruce. Read More

Preston Thompson 00-12 SMA A great mahogany-and-spruce 12-fret guitar with custom inlay. Read More

Preston Thompson D-SMA A great dreadnought made with “sinker” mahogany and Adirondack spruce and featuring a custom sunburst finish. Read More

Watertower | Thompson Guitars Acoustic quartet performs "Meet Me Where the Crow Don't Fly." Read More

Body Binding | Thompson Guitars Thompson luthier Olivia Elia walks through the process of installing binding on a 0000 guitar. Read More

Sierra Ferrell: “I’d Do It Again” | Thompson Guitars The talented singer-songwriter plays an original song live in the Thompson Guitars shop. Read More

Sierra Ferrell, “Bells of Every Chapel” | Thompson Guitars Americana songwriter performs a song from her brand-new debut album. Read More

Preston Thompson OM-SMA A great orchestra model built with sinker mahogany. Read More

Molly Tuttle: “You Don’t Get Me High Anymore” | Thompson Guitars Molly Tuttle collaborates with Iron and Wine for a high-energy cover of the Phantogram song. Read More

Preston Thompson D-EIA | Trey Hensley The flatpicking master demonstrates his brand new dreadnought from Thompson Guitars. Read More

Preston Thompson Billy Strings Signature Model A Brazilian rosewood dreadnought built for the bluegrass star. Read More

D-Madagascar/Adirondack | Thompson Guitars Thompson setup specialist Ryan Ediger demonstrates a brand-new dreadnought. Read More

Charles Sawtelle’s Dreadnought | Thompson Guitars The late Preston Thompson discussed the Style-42 dreadnought he built in 1986. Read More

Preston Thompson D-MAD-ADI A classic dreadnought built with Madagascar rosewood and Adirondack spruce. Read More

Ray Remington “Texas Rose” | Thompson Guitars The country singer-songwriter plays a stripped-down version of the title track from his current EP. Read More

Preston Thompson OM-MM An all-mahogany Orchestra Model with custom inlay. Read More

Al Petteway’s 000-12BA | Preston Thompson Guitars The fingerstyle guitarist talks about his custom Thompson 12-fret and plays "The Mama Bear Rag." Read More

Molly Tuttle’s Signature Sinker Dreadnought | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist, singer, and songwriter plays and talks about her beautiful new signature model guitar. Read More

Preston Thompson D-EIA A great rosewood dreadnought with a few custom touches. Read More

Thompson Masterpiece Series | Thompson Guitars A look at a koi fish-themed Thompson Masterpiece guitar. Read More

John Cruz Live Performance | Thompson Guitars Slack-key guitarist plays "Missing You" on his Thompson Size 2. Read More

Laurie Lewis Live Performance | Thompson Guitars The songwriter, singer, and guitarist took over the Thompson Guitars Facebook page to play a few songs on her Thompson OM-28. Read More

Preston Thompson 00-14MA Sunburst A custom long-scale 00 built with mahogany and Adirondack spruce. Read More

Trey Hensley Live Performance | Thompson Guitars The flatpicking master recently took over the Thompson Guitars Facebook page to play a song and talk about his Thompson dreadnought. Read More

Lindsay Lou: Preston Thompson Guitars Facebook Live The songwriter, singer, and multi-instrumentalist plays a live set from her home in Nashville, Tennessee. Read More

Allen Shadd and Glen Alexander: Preston Thompson Guitars Facebook Live The 2019 Winfield Flatpicking champion plays his Thompson guitar with his friend and owner of The Violin Shoppe in Charlotte, North Carolina. Read More

Chris Luquette: “Red Haired Boy” | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist plays one a traditional favorite with Maddie Whitler and Max Johnson, live in the Peghead Nation studio. Read More

Molly Tuttle Debuts Her Signature Model Preston Thompson Guitar Molly and her band play an original song featuring her powerful clawhammer guitar technique, live at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Read More

Chris Luquette: “Home to You” | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist plays one of his original songs from his debut solo album, “The Way I View the World,” live at the Peghead Nation studio. Read More

Molly Tuttle: “Take The Journey” | Preston Thompson Guitars Molly and her band play an original song featuring her powerful clawhammer guitar technique, live at the Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Short Film from One Sky Films Members of the Thompson Guitar crew talk about the heart and passion that goes into the instruments they make. Read More

Billy Strings Gifts Signature Model Guitar to His Dad | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist and songwriter surprises his father with the first Billy Strings signature model Thompson DBS-EIA. Read More

Preston Thompson D-GA An understated dreadnought built with granadillo and Adirondack spruce. Read More

Preston Thompson D-BA CRL A signature model dreadnought for rising flatpicking star Chris Luquette. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Presented by One Sky Films One Sky Films visited the Preston Thompson Guitars shop to film an upcoming video, and here is a taste of what they filmed, with music by Peter Rowan. Read More

Chris Luquette: “Union Valley” | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist plays an extended version of an original tune from his debut solo album, with mandolinist Maddie Witler and bassist Max Johnson. Read More

Billy Strings and Leftover Salmon: “Aquatic Hitchhiker” | Preston Thompson Guitars An extended jam on the Americana band’s tune, live at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Read More

Molly Tuttle and Billy Strings: “Sittin’ On Top of the World” | Preston Thompson Guitars The two powerhouses play The Mississippi Sheiks song live at the Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Read More

Thompson Guitars | Peter Rowan at RockyGrass 2019 A few minutes from the roots music icon’s set at the venerable festival. Read More

Thompson Guitars | Luke Lovejoy, RockyGrass 2019 Flatpick Champion The winner of the prestigious guitar contest tries out his grand prize guitar, a Thompson D-MA dreadnought. Read More

Molly Tuttle: “Rain and Snow” | Preston Thompson Guitars Watch Molly and her band play the old-time ballad backstage at the Grand Ole Opry. Read More

Peter Rowan Remembers Preston Thompson The songwriter and roots music icon talks about buying the second guitar Preston Thompson built, and plays a few songs on that 000-42 style instrument. Read More

Billy Strings at 4 Peaks Music Festival | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist and songwriter talks about his Thompson D-BA at the 4 Peaks Music Festival in Bend, Oregon. Read More

Billy Strings: “Dust in a Baggie” | Preston Thompson Guitars The songwriter and guitarist plays an original song during his debut on the Grand Ole Opry. Read More

Molly Tuttle: “Take The Journey” | Preston Thompson Guitars Watch the official video for this original song from Molly’s latest album “When You’re Ready,” featuring her powerful clawhammer guitar technique. Read More

Billy Strings and Peter Rowan | Wintergrass Hotel Sessions | Thompson Guitars Watch an informal picking session with two of the most influential pickers of their respective generations, live at Wintergrass 2019. Read More

Chris Luquette and Trey Hensley: “Big Sciota” | Thompson Guitars Flatpickers take two Thompson guitars for a fun spin during the Sisters Folk Festival Concert. Read More

Thompson Guitars Tasting Workshop at Wintergrass Guitarists Steve Blanchard, Don Share, Tim Stafford, Dale Adkins, Billy Strings, and Josh Rinkel talk about and play their Preston Thompson guitars for a live audience at Wintergrass 2019. Read More

Billy Strings: “Me and My Uncle” | Preston Thompson Guitars The songwriter and guitarist plays a Grateful Dead favorite with his band at YarmonyGrass. Read More

Eric Bibb | Preston Thompson 12-Fret 000 The blues guitarist and songwriter discusses and plays his Preston Thompson during a stop in Seattle, Washington. Read More

Preston Thompson D-SMA A powerful sounding style-18 dreadnought made with “sinker” mahogany and Adirondack spruce. Read More

Laurie Lewis: “Sailing Boat” | Preston Thompson Guitars The Grammy Award winning songwriter plays an original song with Tom Rozum and Nina Gerber, live at the Preston Thompson shop. Read More

Molly Tuttle: “High Road” | Preston Thompson Guitars The guitarist and songwriter plays an original song at Sisters High School in Oregon. Read More

Billy Strings and His Father’s Martin D-93 The songwriter and guitarist talks with Preston Thompson Guitars about tracking down the Martin guitar his father had to sell because the family was short on money. Read More

Molly Tuttle and Adam Chowning: “Gold Rush” | Preston Thompson Guitars The two flatpickers play the traditional tune “Gold Rush” on their Preston Thompson dreadnoughts, at Carter Vintage Guitars in Nashville. Read More

Charles Sawtelle’s Preston Thompson Dreadnought Model 42 Luthier Preston Thompson shows the guitar he built for the great flatpicker in 1986, modeled after Sawtelle’s 1937 Martin. Read More

Peter Rowan | “Panama Red” & ”Freight Train” | Preston Thompson Guitars The singer-songwriter plays his popular song “Panama Red,” with an interlude of the classic Elizabeth Cotten song, “Freight Train.” Read More

Molly Tuttle | Preston Thompson Guitars Guitarist, songwriter, and singer Molly Tuttle plays her brand new Preston Thompson dreadnought. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Sunbursts A look at the beautiful sunburst finishes created in the Thompson Guitars shop. Read More

Molly Tuttle and Preston Thompson | At Carter Vintage Guitars Luthier Preston Thompson talks about the new Thompson dreadnought built for guitarist, songwriter, and singer Molly Tuttle. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Brazilian Rosewood Binding Luthier Kaleb Klein shows the process of binding a custom Preston Thompson Guitar with Brazilian rosewood for Dream Guitars. Read More

Jake Workman Model | Preston Thompson Guitars Bluegrass guitarist Jake Workman talks about his guitar playing path, gig with Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder, and his signature model Thompson Guitar. Read More

Trey Helsley | Preston Thompson Dreadnought Guitarist Trey Hensley takes a Thompson dreadnought for a backstage spin. Read More

Peter Rowan at Preston Thompson Guitars The great guitarist and songwriter plays a song he wrote about Charles Sawtelle and talks about Charles introducing him to Preston Thompson. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Chris Luquette Performance Guitarist Chris Luquette plays with Nick Dumas and Connor Hutteball at the Thompson Guitars workshop. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Spraying a Sunburst Take a look at luthier Simon Haycraft adding a sunburst in the Preston Thompson Guitars workshop. Read More

Billy Strings: “Turmoil and Tinfoil” | Preston Thompson Guitars Music City Roots presents Billy Strings playing the title track to his latest album on his Thompson Mahogany Dreadnought. Read More

Billy Strings | Preston Thompson Brazilian Dreadnought Billy Strings stops by Preston Thompson Guitars in Sisters, Oregon, to pick up his second Thompson Guitar. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars | Workshop Tour Take a behind-the-scenes tour of the Thompson Guitars shop in Sisters, Oregon, with Preston Thompson, Peter Rowan, and members of the Thompson Guitars team. Read More

Al Petteway’s Preston Thompson 12-Fret 000 Grammy Award-winning guitarist reviews his new Preston Thompson Sunburst 12-Fret 000 guitar. Read More

Preston Thompson Guitars Master guitar luthier Preston Thompson and his small team of highly skilled craftsman produce custom acoustic guitars that have the look, playing feel and above all, the sound of the best instruments from that original Golden Era of guitar making. Read More