Happy Traum
Woodstock's own folk music legend
1938 - 2024
For more than fifty years years, Happy and his wife, Jane Traum, and their staff have been producing award-winning tutorials in a variety of instruments and musical styles. Taught by world-renowned performing musicians and teachers on DVDs, downloads, CDs and books, these high-quality music lessons have taught people all over the world to play and love music. To see the full range of more than 600 amazing products for sale, click here: www.homespun.com
I have been honored with a new (as of June, 2021) signature model guitar, the HT/13, crafted to my specifications by Richard Hoover and his talented staff at Santa Cruz Guitars. My main instruments pereviously were an H-13 (13 frets to the body) model and a 14-fret OM. Richard Hoover, the luthier and owner of the company (and a good friend), made them each for me out of wood that I chose at the factory. The H-13 has an Adirondack spruce top and cocobolo back and sides. The OM is all mahogany, with a beautiful dark sunburst finish. Thanks to Richard and his staff for these fine guitars.
http://www.santacruzguitar.com
I also own a beautiful C-10, unusual in that it has a cedar top and maple back and sides. Collings no longer makes this configuration, but mine is a superb instrument with a beautiful, crisp high end and satisfying bass. http://www.collingsguitars.com
I had heard Paul's Dobros for years in the hands of the likes of Jerry Douglas and Cindy Cashdollar, but I came across one of his round neck resonator guitars at a luthier's convention here in Woodstock and had to have it. The sound just leaps out at you with the lightest touch of the strings.
I have both a standard 12 and a baritone (tuned B to B) and both guitars are highly playable and sound amazing. Joe Vieillette is a Woodstock-based luthier and a good friend who build instruments to the highest standards. His various multi-string and multi-sized guitars are prized by top recording and performing artists.
http://www.veilletteguitars.com
I have played Taylor guitars for years, particularly a beautiful 912-C (cutaway) model. I have great respect and admiration for Bob Taylor and his amazing team and will always value my association with them. My brother, Artie, was a Taylor clinician for many years. http://www.taylorguitars.com
My old friend Chuck Ogsbury and his daughter, Tanya, make these superbly crafted instruments in their workshop in Boulder, Colorado.
Mark Dronge, who owns and operates DR Strings, was a childhood friend of mine in the Bronx. I have been using his hand-made strings for years and they feel and sound great, and they keep their tone for a long time. I am proud to be a DR user and endorser.