Discovering The Soul of a Handmade Guitar: My Todd Johnston Experience

by Shambhu

Every now and then, you come across a guitar that feels like more than just a well-made instrument. It feels alive. It responds in a way that draws music out of you. That was my experience buying a custom guitar from custom luthier Todd Johnston, founder of Oracle Guitars.

Shambhu trying guitars made by custom luthier Todd Johnston.

I recently bought an 0-14 size acoustic guitar from Todd, built with a 1960s Sitka spruce top, Swiss pear back and sides, Micarta bridge and saddle, and an ebony fretboard. Those specs tell part of the story, but not the most important part. The real story begins when you sit down and play it.

Before choosing this one, I played six or seven of Todd’s handmade guitars. What struck me right away was how consistent they were. The workmanship was excellent across the board. Each guitar felt carefully made, balanced, and musically alive. That kind of consistency tells you a lot. It means you’re not looking at a one-off success. You’re seeing the work of someone who really knows what he’s doing.

The tone of the guitar I bought is beautiful and even. That matters to me. Some guitars have one strong area and another that falls off. This one doesn’t. The voice feels balanced across the strings, with clarity, warmth, and a natural sense of bloom. Chords ring clearly. Single notes sing. Nothing feels forced.

Shambhu with his new guitar.

The intonation is also phenomenal. I do not say that lightly. It is one of the first things that really got my attention. The notes line up so well that the guitar just feels settled. Relaxed. You are not compensating. You are not working around little inconsistencies. You just play, and the instrument is right there with you. I have never heard intonation this perfect on a factory-made guitar.

That may sound technical, but the effect is actually very musical. When intonation is this good, everything opens up. Chords shimmer the way they should. Melody lines feel grounded. The guitar gets out of the way and lets the music come through.

That is one of the things I think deserves more attention when talking about Todd Johnston’s work. In a world where people often lead with polished images and big claims, Todd seems to come from a different tradition, the builder who lets the guitar speak for itself. His strengths are rooted in substance. Precision. Listening. Restraint. Musical intelligence. Soul. These guitars reveal themselves not through marketing language, but note by note.

I was also impressed by Todd’s path. He told me he apprenticed with a Martin guitar builder, and that it took three years of training before he sold his first guitar. I love that. It says a lot about his respect for the craft. He did not rush. He learned deeply before putting his work out into the world.

I asked him what his goal is when building a guitar, and his answer told me a lot. First, it’s about the tone. Then it’s about playability. Then it’s aesthetics.

He has that in the right order.

Who really cares about aesthetics if the guitar does not play beautifully? Of course visual beauty matters, but for me it has to begin with sound and feel. Todd clearly understands that. You can sense it immediately in his guitars.

Custom luthier Todd Johnston creating guitar magic.

He also said something else that stayed with me. Every piece of wood is picked out for the guitar. If you have a stiff top, you do not necessarily want a stiff brace. It is about how you match all the parts. The top, the bracing, the binding, all of it. There are so many variables in making a guitar, and hearing him talk about that gave me even more respect for what he does. A great guitar is not just a collection of fine materials. It is the result of judgment, sensitivity, and experience.

That creates trust. And trust matters when you are buying a custom instrument. You are putting your musical needs in someone else’s hands. After playing several of Todd’s guitars, I felt that trust growing naturally. His instruments showed not only craftsmanship, but a real understanding of what players listen for and respond to.

0-14 size. 1960's Sitka top. Back and sides are Swiss Pear. With Micarta ridge and saddle ebony fretboard.

I also love the wood choices in this guitar. The older Sitka top has a special character, and the Swiss pear gives the instrument a voice and personality that feel elegant and distinct. Together with the ebony fretboard, it all comes together in a way that feels beautifully refined and deeply musical.

Spending time in Todd’s studio added another dimension to a fantastic visit. Seeing where he works, hearing him talk, and standing there with the finished guitar made the whole process more meaningful. You could feel that this instrument came from a real place, from a year of work, listening, and care.

The photos with this post capture some of that journey: Todd in his studio, Todd and me holding the guitar, and me playing it. For me, those images are part of the story. They show not just the instrument, but the masterful luthier who built it.

I should also say that I come to this purely as a player. I have no idea how to build a guitar, or really understand all the technical knowledge that goes into creating one at this level. That is not my world. I just know how to play them. And I know what it feels like when a guitar feels right, and when it inspires you and sounds amazing, because that is often when a song starts to emerge. When an instrument responds with beauty, balance, and depth, it opens a door for me. This guitar did it while I was playing it.

What stayed with me most was not just that I found a wonderful custom instrument. It was that I came away feeling I had met a truly gifted luthier and artist. Todd's work has care, insight, and soul in it. I feel that in the hands and hear it note by note.

And I've also had the pleasure of being interviewed by Todd and John Luttrell on The Morning Breeze. Thanks for the many spins of my songs over so many years.