Start with the player
The conversation begins with the music you play, the response you need and the old guitars that shaped your ear.
Handbuilt in Rock Island, Tennessee
Pre-war inspired.
Built for your hands.
Custom acoustic guitars shaped by traditional construction, a deep understanding of players and the pursuit of an exceptional instrument.
Limited 2028 reservations
56K+Facebook community
3.6Mviews on a single build reel
32instruments completed in 2025
2028limited build reservations
The Young Guitars idea
The familiar soul of an old guitar, without asking you to leave it in the past.
Joshua Young builds pre-war inspired acoustic instruments one at a time. Each one starts with a tonal goal, not a decoration package, and is shaped around the preferences of the player who will live with it.
Red spruce, carefully selected mahogany and rosewood, responsive bracing and traditional details come together in guitars intended to be worked hard, heard clearly and kept for a lifetime.
The instruments
Four starting points.
One unmistakable standard.
Starting prices shown. Final pricing reflects selected woods, appointments and customization confirmed before the build.
01
Young Workhorse
Direct, dry and powerful
A simple, essentials only build with a red spruce top paired most often with Honduran mahogany for a quick, punchy voice that sits beautifully in a mix.
02Young ‘Bone
Depth, color and headroom
A rosewood workhorse with herringbone top trim, ivoroid binding and a volute carved by hand for players who want power without losing nuance.
03Shawn Brock Special
Distinctive in every detail
A limited model with blue purfling, a custom pearl bull, bound heel cap and select old growth West Virginia red spruce reserved for this build.
04Young Showstopper
The full visual statement
Abalone top trim, a bound fingerboard, multicolor backstrip, snowflake inlays and a custom headstock treatment without compromising the instrument underneath.
Inside the Rock Island workshopUnder the surface
The work you cannot see becomes the sound you cannot ignore.
A guitar’s character is decided long before finish and inlay. It lives in the top, the braces, the fit of every joint and the small choices that determine how freely the instrument can move.
- Voiced by hand
- Every top and brace set is treated as its own system.
- Built around tone
- Materials are selected for the response the player wants.
- Traditional details
- Pre-war cues support the instrument instead of disguising it.
From conversation to case
A personal build, clearly understood.
Select the voice
Body shape, red spruce, mahogany or rosewood are chosen as parts of one tonal system, not a list of disconnected upgrades.
Build by hand
Bracing, fit, voicing and ornamentation are handled in the Rock Island workshop with traditional technique and close attention.
Dial in the instrument
The final guitar is set up, played and refined before it leaves the bench, ready to become part of the player’s own story.
Recognition
Heard by millions.
Played by the people who know.
Build videos from the Young Guitars workshop have reached millions of viewers, while finished instruments have found their way into the hands of respected players across country, bluegrass and acoustic music.
“I don’t understand the alchemy of this. It shouldn’t sound like this.”
“You’re onto something with this guitar.”
Brad PaisleyTommy EmmanuelRedd VolkaertTim StaffordShawn Brock
Follow the build journal The builder
Joshua Young
Joshua loves how a great guitar feels in your hands, opens up under a pick and develops a voice of its own over time. That love drives the care he puts into every instrument he builds.
Based in Rock Island, Tennessee, Joshua builds custom acoustic guitars using traditional techniques and lessons learned from respected luthiers. His work pairs deep respect for pre-war instruments with the curiosity to keep refining every detail.
Talk with Joshua about a build
From owners and visitors
The instrument has the final word.
“Excellent attention to detail. It’s a real masterpiece. My guitar is so loud. I love it!”
“The owner and luthier is very talented and makes some amazing instruments.”
“He’s a gifted craftsman making fine instruments that represent tradition and integrity.”
From the workshop
Young Guitars Workshop Tee
The original Young Guitars mark in bright white on workshop blue. Merchandise details and availability are coming soon.
Before the first conversation
Common questions
How do I reserve a build?
Begin with a conversation about the instrument you have in mind. A $1,000 deposit that is not refundable reserves your place on the build list and is applied according to the terms confirmed before the build begins.
When is the next availability?
A limited number of reservations are currently available for the 2028 build year. Availability should be confirmed directly with Joshua before making plans around a specific completion date.
Can body shape, woods and inlay be customized?
Yes. Body shapes, tonewoods, bursts, bindings and inlay work can be discussed. The amount of customization varies by model, and final pricing is confirmed before the order is accepted.
Where are Young Guitars built?
Every instrument is handbuilt by Joshua Young in Rock Island, Tennessee.
Limited 2028 reservations
Let’s talk about the guitar you haven’t found yet.
Share how you play, what you listen for and what you want the instrument to do. The first conversation is simply about whether a Young Guitar is the right fit.