contact us

Use the form on the right to contact us.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your instrument, repairs, any instruments we have for sale, ordering an instrument, or any instrument you wish to sell.

1000 North Rand Road No. 224
Wauconda, IL, 60084
United States

847-864-7730

I began making guitars in 1966 in Dayton Ohio, where I worked out of my house. From 1968-1970 I lived in Mexico City, returning during the summers to build instruments at the Dayton location. 

During this time I was studying Anthropology and playing flamenco guitar professionally in various troupes in Mexico and around the U.S. In 1972 I moved to Chicago and worked briefly out of the back of a music store before moving to my present location in 1973. 

At that point I gave up any pretensions of being a professional guitarist and dedicated myself full time to lutherie.

 


My 800 Greenwood Street shop has undergone several renovations and changes over the years, the most recent being the 1995 massive renovation I did of the outside and inside of the building. 

As a result, my building is now climate controlled throughout the entire 4,000 square feet, and it has now acquired a nicer facade, with more interior showroom space than was previously available. 

Consequently, we are better able to serve those who prefer to visit the shop to select an instrument from our extensive inventory, which is housed in glass fronted rosewood cabinets. Being able to play many instruments side by side is very helpful in making a final selection, and we have full repair/restoration facilities on the premises for minor action adjustments to major restorations of valuable collector instruments.

Hill Reyes Prototype

2007 Kenny Hill “Reyes” Model prototype, No. 2549, (USA) 650 mm scale, 52 mm nut, spruce top cypress sides and back, original French polish.  In the flamenco community the guitars of Manuel Reyes of Córdoba are legendary and command top dollar among players and collectors.  This instrument is the prototype built personally by Kenny Hill in anticipation of offering this model through his New World Guitar production company.  It is initialed by Kenny on the label and a letter to the previous owner verifies that Kenny made this guitar personally in his shop.  If the label were to be removed and a Manuel Reyes label inserted it would fool 99% of the guitar experts in the trade, its THAT close, a very slavish copy right down to the head, label, internal bracing, and even French polishing.  The strings are very low to the top and the action is VERY flamenco as is the sound, which is percussive, bombastic and lyrical, a perfect solo or accompaniment instrument for the most discriminating flamenco.  We have no doubt that someday this guitar will again pass though our shop sporting a lifted authentic Manuel Reyes label and accompanied by a tale of “my father’s beloved guitar which he died playing in the Zambra tablao…”  Near mint condition.  $5000