Ehlers Guitars / Model: 15C / Guitar
All Ehlers Guitars have the following features:
• Back and sides: Indian Rosewood or Mahogany
• Tops: Adirondack Red Spruce, Redwood, Western Red Cedar, Port Orford Cedar, European Spruce, or Sitka Spruce
• Abalone Rosette (premium Paua)
• Gold (or chrome) Gotoh Tuning Machines
• Ebony Fingerboard, Bridge, Peghead Overlay, & Rear peghead veneer with hand-carved volute
• Bound pegheads and fretboards
• Wooden bindings & purflings are used unless tortoise shell celluloid is preferred
• Scale length: 25.4” or 24.9” on Parlor and “Ladies model”
• Bone nut and saddle
• Neck width at nut: 1-11/16", 1-3/4", or 1-7/8"
• All models have a hand-cut abalone Ehlers peghead inlay.
• Fretboard inlays are sterling silver circles with Paua abalone dots inlaid in the center (slotted squares, slotted diamonds, or Paua dots are available at no extra charge)
• Ebony bridge pins & end pin with Paua Abalone dots.
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-> All parts are manufactured in-shop
-> No CNC machines are used
-> Each and every guitar is individually hand-made
-> Hard Shell Case (See Options)
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BASE PRICE (all body sizes): $4000 (see "Options" section for additional options & pricing)
*When purchasing a guitar in my inventory , or one consigned to a dealer, a 48 hour approval period is allowed with a complete refund . A one week period is allowed for both shipping and approval. If a guitar is not returned , or has not arrived, within 7 days from being shipped the refund policy is not honored. All shipping options and expenses are the responsibility of the purchaser.
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MODELS // BODY SIZE DESCRIPTIONS
MODEL 17: 17” wide at lower bout, length of body 21”, depth of body 4-1/2”
MODEL 16: 16” wide at lower bout, length of body: 20”, depth of body 4-3/4”
MODEL 15: 15-1/2” wide at lower bout, length of body 19-1/2”, depth of body 4-5/8”
PARLOR: 14-1/4” wide at lower bout, length of body 19-3/4”, depth of body 4-1/4”
LADIES MODEL: 11-1/4” wide at lower bout, length of body 17-5/8”,
depth of body 4-1/4” (based on the 1919 Martin-Ditson)
STANDARD DREADNOUGHT and 000: Available On Special Order
PLUS: Two archtop guitar models and F-style mandolins are also offered (inquire)
Note: Depth of body may vary depending on the sound that is trying to be achieved.
Body Options
Cutaway: Rounded, hand-bent cutaway (as opposed to pointed or sharp): $600
Not available on Parlor or Ladies model.
Sharp or pointed cutaways: not offered for reasons of aesthetic repulsivity!
Slotted Peghead (With Waverly Engraved Tuning Machines): $600
The inside surfaces of the slots are lacquered and polished
to the same gloss as the rest of the instrument.
Thin Body (3” depth)
This option may be chosen at no extra cost.
This design is made for guitars that are intended to be electrified or for just plain comfort.
SIX STRING: $0
TWELVE STRING: $500
LEFT HANDED: $200
Top Options: all options below included in base price
Adirondack Red Spruce AAA
Redwood AAA
Port Orford Cedar AAA
Western Red Cedar AAA
European Spruce AAA
Sitka Spruce AAA
Back & Side Options
Curly Koa (Graded according to quantity & strength of curl as well as tonal properties)
AAAA Grade: $900
Master Grade: $1250 (also known as Special Figure, Full Curl, Special Reserve, or the best of the best)
All Curly Koa - Back, Sides, and Top (matched sets all cut from same tree)
AAAA Grade: $1250
Master Grade: $1750
Indian Rosewood Master Grade: $250
Curly European Maple AAAA Grade (includes Maple Neck): $400
Cocobolo Rosewood AAAA Grade: $750
Madagascar Rosewood (four-piece back)
AAA Grade: $800
AAAA Grade: $1200
Brazilian Rosewood (two-piece back): $3000 - $5000
Brazilian Rosewood (three-piece back): $2500 - $3000
Figured Brazilian Lacewood (No cutaway option): $400
Quilted Mahogany AAAA Grade (No cutaway option): $400
Ziricote AAAA Grade: $800
Macassar Ebony AAAA: $800
Curly Walnut AAAA Grade: $600
Bolivian Rosewood AAAA Grade: $300
Honduras Rosewood AAAA Grade: $350
Tuning Machines Options
Nickel Waverly (with or without ebony buttons): $250
Gold Waverly (with or without ebony buttons): $350
Waverly Slothead with ebony buttons: standard on slothead models
Other Waverly models available
Inlays
Troubadour Peghead Inlay: $475
Floral Peghead Inlay: $350
Cloud Fretboard Inlays: $400
Cloud Borders: $800
Full-length Floral Vine Fretboard Inlay: $1200
Smaller sized vines also available
* NOTE: Like so many other guitar makers, we too can send the guitars out and have other people, usually using CNC machines, inlay extremely ornate and very expensive inlays for people who want this kind of thing. Inquire.
Abalone Border Purflings
Abalone Rosette: Standard (Premium Paua)
(Many types of shell may be chosen at no extra charge: Mother of Pearl, Black Lip M.O.P., Gold M.O.P.)
Abalone Peghead Border: $250
Abalone Bridge Border: $325
Abalone Back Center Strip: $300
Abalone Top Border (On cutaway, add $50): $800
Abalone Top Border (42 style, continuing around fretboard extension): $1250
Complete Abalone Borders (Entire Body – “Martin 45” Style): $5000
Special Grade Abalone, Paua Heart, or Green Heart: add 20% to cost
Finish Options
Black Lacquer Top (with tortoise shell bound soundhole): $250
Complete Sunburst (with tortoise shell bound soundhole): $500 (Maple bodies only)
Nut, Saddle, & Bridge Pins
Antique Ivory Nut & Saddle: $200
Fossilized Ivory Bridge Pins & End Pins: $375
Necks
Mahogany: standard
Maple: standard on maple bodies
Koa AAA Grade: $250
Koa AAAA Grade: $350
Bridges: String spacing 2-1/8”, 2-1/4”, or 2-3/8”
Ebony - Original Stairstep Design: $0
Brazilian Rosewood - Stairstep design: $50
Antique Ivory - Stairstep design: $475
Ebony Pyramid Bridge (standard on Parlor and Ladies model): $0
Ivory Pyramid Bridge (hand carved from a block of ivory): $475
Binding Options
Ebony, Extra Curly Koa, Brazilian Lacewood,
Madagascar Rosewood, Cocobolo, Tortoise Shell
Celluloid, Herringbone Purfling: no extra charge
(Side lines optional)
Cases
TKL Hardshell Case - Velour lined w/arched top: $200
Cedar Creek Deluxe (arched top & arched back): $400
Flight cases available
Ehlers Guitars, Mexico 
ABOUT ROBERT EHLERS • GUITAR MAKER
Rob Ehlers began building steel string guitars in 1968 in Santa Monica, Cal with his then partner Ren Ferguson (who later went on to become Vice President of Gibson acoustic guitars). They built Martin style dreadnought and 000 models.
In 1971 Rob moved to Portland OR where he continued building guitars.
In 1973, Bruce Burns came to work for Rob as an apprentice, and later they worked together as partners. At that time most players were using dreadnought , 000, or 00 size guitars. Rob thought that there was a place for a sound that had less bottom end than the dreadnought, but offered more in terms of balance and volume than the 000 size body. The Ehlers and Burns 15 1/2 cutaway model was the result of their joint effort in designing and building such an instrument. This medium size, round bodied, cutaway guitar, with a fingerboard extension that allows 24 frets and was designed primarily for fingerstyle playing, was the first of its kind.
Now, nearly 33 years later, various nearly identical guitars of this style are being made by dozens of guitarmakers.
Rob shows off a dred. Since 1976, most of the guitars that Rob has made have retained that original design work and aesthetic. The 15 1/2 model is still being made, but in 1989 Rob began building a larger version that has a lower bout measurement of 16 inches and consequently a bigger sound.
In 1992, Rob designed his version of the " Jumbo" size body, with a lower bout measurement of 17 inches.
In 2001, Rob decided to build a narrow bodied guitar that could be electrified but would also have an excellent acoustic sound. The 3" deep "Thinbody" is the very successful result.
In 2003 Rob started making his version of the Selmer-Maccaferri style guitar with an oval soundhole and an X braced top that produces a much warmer sound than the originals. This model has recently been retired.
Also in 2003, Rob started making two archtop guitars of his own design, as well as F-style mandolins.
Russ works his magic at the sanding machine.
In 2004, Rob finally designed his Parlor Guitar, with either 12 or 14 frets to the body and an optional slotted peghead. The other guitars that Rob makes are a near reproduction of the 1919 Martin-Ditson "Ladies Model" and an occasional dreadnought.
In 2006 Rob began designing a 12 string guitar in the style of the old Stella "Leadbelly" model.
After 30 years of guitarmaking in the U.S.A., Rob moved to a small town in the mountains of Veracruz, Mexico and continues making his guitars the way he always has--one at a time, by hand. No CNC machines or mass production techniques are used.
In 2005, Rob's brother Russ began working with him as his partner, and, with Miguel "Naco" Hernandes doing the hand rubbed lacquer finishes, they produce 45-50 guitars per year.
They have no plans of increasing their production.
