Dave MacCubbin’s Chesapeake Bay Tribute Guitars

by Staff.

On May 17, 2008, Modern Guitars visited the Appalachian Bluegrass shop in Catonsville, Maryland, a small town outside of Baltimore that was proclaimed “Music City Maryland” by the State Legislature in 2002. Appalachian Bluegrass owners Emory and Charlene Knode presented a festive occasion for guitarists by sponsoring a show of a series of fine guitars built by master luthier Dave MacCubbin. Live music, refreshments and a steady stream of guitar enthusiasts showed up to see the featured MacCubbin guitars with finely crafted ornamentation by inlay artist Craig Lavin. Each of MacCubbin's fine instruments comes alive with Lavin's inlay work and soulfully reflect the natural beauty found in the depths of, or along the shores of the Chesapeake Bay.

Appalachian Bluegrass is “Bluegrass Central” for pickers along the U.S. East Coast and has been located in Catonsville since 1960, when Emory’s father opened the doors as a general music instrument shop. Emory suggested to MacCubbin the idea of building a set of guitars that would both honor and support rehabiliation of the Chesapeake Bay. Dave decided to build the guitars with an eye to donating a portion of the sales to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation. He called Craig Lavin, and asked if he’d like to design the inlay for the guitars and Lavin, a scuba diver and marine biologist, jumped at the opportunity.

Through a series of conversations between them, MacCubbin, Emory Knode and Craig Lavin came up with the idea that each guitar would be unique and have its own central Chesapeake Bay theme. MacCubbin told us, “The only thing that we had in mind was to take this series and focus it on the natural beauty of the Bay. So, that’s why all the scenes are wildlife, wetlands, sunsets; the whole kind of environment of the Chesapeake Bay and the watershed.”

The guitars have been given theme-based names, such as “Ladies’ Night,” “Heron Sunset,” “The Fisherman,” “The Duke and Duchess,” “Stars and Stripers,” and “Last Night.”

All of the MacCubbin guitars sport Sitka Spruce tops and each has its own remarkable slices of hand select tone woods to ensure beauty and great tonal qualities. Woods used include such exotics as Imbuia, Peruvian Walnut, Quilted Sapele, Brazilian Kingwood and Ziricote.

With a retail price of $8,000, Dave is donating $1,500 from each sale to the non-profit Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Photo Gallery

Related Links
Dave MacCubbin Guitars
Craig Lavin Hand Crafted Inlay
The Guitar Inlay Artistry of Craig Lavin
Appalachian Bluegrass
Chesapeake Bay Foundation - Save the Bay
Mike Davis Photos

---