I’ve been thinking about a smaller guitar for some time, to take my music in different directions and to help move beyond what has been a rather long plateau of musical mediocrity when it comes to playing. But the time was never right, the funds were always tight, and I had other priorities.
A couple of months ago I broke through a personal logjam, and in the process started focusing more on enjoying my music. (I am good enough to know that I’m not that good, but I decided not to worry about it anymore.) Candice and I talked, and I told her my dream of getting a new guitar. She said, “Let’s go for it.”
Of course I had a plan and even discussed it with some friends. I had a builder in mind and even sought out some of their guitars to test drive.
But then I stumbled across a beautiful Running Dog guitar and decided to seize the day.
Two weeks ago we were in New England with our twins for college visits. With a couple of hours before the tour, we saw a nice little sidewalk cafe where we headed for lunch. I noticed a sign for The Fretted Instrument Workshop and mentioned to Candice that I might go up and play a few guitars after eating.
I climbed the stairs to the second floor shop and instantly saw three small O and OO-size Martin guitars with slotted headstocks and 12-fret necks. Just what I was looking for! I played through all three Martins, and while I liked them the necks weren’t feeling exactly right. The shop’s owners were watching carefully, and one headed to another room and came back with this beautiful guitar. He said, “Try this and see if the neck feels better for you.”
Thirty seconds later, I knew I had found my guitar. As I played, it just felt right in my hands. The curly koa back produced a warm sound. It was beautifully balanced. I loved the look of the Parlor guitar, based on an 1896 size O Martin. And as I played I thought about a friend who passed away tragically and suddenly just a few days before, still relatively young and in the prime of enjoying an active retirement. As a friend likes to say, this isn’t a dress rehearsal. It was time to act.
Candice finally came up to find me. She walked in and I could tell by the look on her face that she knew what I was thinking. With a great amount of love and understanding she said, “Let’s do it.”
But before I pulled the trigger, I had a college tour to take. I told Tony and Mario that I’d be back in 90 minutes. And then I quickly emailed a couple of colleagues, including one who is a collector. I said, “I’ve never heard of Running Dog guitars. Can you do some quick research while I walk around learning about student/teacher ratios and the renovation of the historic dormitory?” In less than a minute Carl replied with, “I’m on it!” Within 15 minutes he was emailing me all about the beautiful bracing and craftsmanship of Rick Davis’ work and ended with, “Buy that sucka!”
And here, dear readers, is my new 2001 Running Dog Parlor guitar (pictures courtesy of Claire). The first photo is of the full front, where you can see the beautiful, traditional shape of the size O guitar.
Next is the headstock. We’ve now decided that the running dog going across the headstock is Lilly (yet another reason to buy the guitar!)
The curly koa back, with the matching sides.
Here’s a fun and quirky feature. The original owner of the guitar was a Civil War reenactor. You can see his allegiance by the custom design on the back of the headstock. The owners of the shop heard my Southern accent and asked if I would have a problem with the “Union Forever” sentiment. I laughed and said that 1) I was in historic preservation so I loved the additional connection to history and 2) I was smart enough to know that the right side won the war.
Back at home, the couch has become a familiar spot for me. I have two sessions scheduled tomorrow to play this guitar with friends. I can’t wait.
More to come…
DJB
MORE TO COME... 
What a beauty! So glad you “went for it” David! I’m finding my 50s to be my most creative time yet and looks like you’re discovering even more music inside you. Very cool!
I’m so web-challenged that I rarely google “Running Dog guitars” to see what’s being said about my work. But, waiting for glue to dry, I decided to spend a few minutes online … and found this site.
Thanks for the nice comments! I remember the guitar well: I delivered it to the customer, meeting in a parking lot outside of Saratoga Springs on a cold night with my dying Golden Retriever in the back of the car (I couldn’t leave her alone for the four-five hours it took me to get there and back). I also remember practicing that damn “Union Forever” on a bunch of scrap pearl before attempting it on the guitar!
Enjoy it!
Rick
Rick: Thanks for writing, and I’m glad to know more about the guitar. I am enjoying it every day…I start off each morning with 30 minutes of guitar playing – usually on your Running Dog – and I can’t tell you how much more productive it has made me at the office! Thanks for making such a beautiful instrument. I get up to the Pacific NW every now and then and will try and visit your shop on my next trip.
DJB
Hi David! I’ve got my Running Dog in a shop on consignment, and at one point I must have posted it on Ebay as well. I’d completely forgotten having done that, but someone saw it and wrote to ask if the guitar had a truss rod. And I can’t recall if it does or doesn’t. Could I ask you if your Sprite has a truss rod?
Thanks, and I send best wishes.
Richard
Richard, I don’t recall if my Sprite has a truss rod, but I suspect it does. I’ll poke around and will let you know if I find out anything conclusive. DJB
Hi David, or Richard, or whoever — I’m a bit confused about who’s writing and who’s selling. But yes, all Sprites have a truss rod
Hi Rick . . . great to hear from you. Richard is the one selling, so I’ll make sure he sees this. I still have both my Running Dogs and love them both! Hope you are well.
DJB
Aha! I thought that was the case.
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I bought a 2010 Running Dog Sprite parlor guitar several years ago at a guitar convention in Portland, OR. It is and has been my favorite guitar ever since. And that’s saying a lot for someone with – at the moment – 17 guitars of various types and geographical origins. Sadly, I may soon need to sell it. If so, I will take comfort knowing that someone else will get to enjoy it as much as I have for all this time.
Richard, thanks for your note. Yes, my parlor Running Dog remains a favorite among my rather modest (4 guitar) collection. I think parlor guitars are an underappreciated gem in the full range of acoustic guitars, but I’m so glad that I have one . . . and that it is a beautiful Running Dog with a unique story. Your attitude towards selling it is admirable. Take care, DJB
Nice to hear from you DJB! Until now, I hadn’t personally known anyone else with a Running Dog guitar! A while back, I got in touch with Rick and asked him what he recalled about my Sprite, since the seller didn’t provide any info. (Actually, I probably didn’t even ask the seller. The sound of the guitar was more than enough to convince me to buy it on the spot.) Anyway, here’s what Rick recalled:
“… the soundboard is Adirondack spruce, though I don’t remember (and didn’t note) which tree it came from. The back and sides are Vermont sugar maple from around Bristol VT. The rosette is crushed Mediterranean “blood” coral. The guitar was completed in March 2010.”
The guitar doesn’t have the running dog image on the headstock like yours, but it shows up on the neck at the 12th fret.
Wishing you all the best. Take care.
Richard
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As you may have discovered when you Googled these posts, I now have two Running Dogs. I went to visit Rick in his Seattle workshop. He had an 000-3 sized guitar that he built to take to shows, etc. I loved it and convinced him to sell me that one as well. I tend to play it a bit more than the parlor guitar, but they are both fantastic guitars.