Gerald Anderson Dreadnaught #74

Though there is minimal information out there on Anderson guitars, these fine instruments are well known in the traditional music circles in Virginia and North Carolina. 

His handmade Anderson mandolins were owned by top professional musicians well beyond the southeastern states. He also built fine flat top guitars, and worked on all sorts of stringed and fretted instruments.

In addition to building and repairing, Gerald was also a first rate musician, playing all of the bluegrass instruments, though would primarily be seen playing mandolin, guitar, or bass. He is featured on more than two dozen recordings, and has collected a stash of 200 ribbons at the various conventions and contests in his part of the country. His most prized trophy was for first place guitar at the Galax Old Fiddlers Convention in 2003.

Anderson is part of a long line of high quality luthiers in southwestern Virginia. He started out learning from the great Wayne Henderson, the most celebrated guitar and mandolin builder the region has ever known. Gerald both worked in Henderson’s shop and performed with him all over the country for many years. There he began building his Loar-inspired mandolins, and he remained in Wayne’s shop until setting up his own in 2005. Since then he has shared his knowledge and skills with his own apprentice, Spencer Strickland, who has embarked on a career as a builder himself.

Like his mentor, Gerald also worked as a mail carrier in Grayson County.

This beautiful D-18 style dreadnaught features a Spruce top with Mahogany back and sides. Rosewood fingerboard and Brazilian Rosewood bridge, Mahogany neck with a super comfortable 25 and 5/16th's scale, 1 and 11/16th's nut, and Grover open-geared tuners. A Reunion Blues Continental case is included. 

This fine guitar is feather-light, with a loud, crisp, and articulate attack that only a spruce and mahogany dreadnaught can deliver. Truly an incredible instrument.