Luthiers and Prizes

37th National Flat-Picking Championship Contest Prizes

The Walnut Valley Association wishes to thank the makers of the instruments that are to be awarded as prizes at the 37th National Flat-Picking Championships for their generosity and their interest in the musicians who enter the Walnut Valley contests.
The Walnut Valley Association suggests that you consider these fine luthiers if you are in the market for a new instrument. It is through their cooperation and fine craftsmanship that these prestigious events enjoy such notice around the country and world.
There will be a minimum of $93,300 in cash, trophies, and instruments prizes awarded to the contestants with the highest scores in each of the eight contests.

We will accept contest registration until one hour before the scheduled contest.

Entry fee is $10 per contest

ALL CONTESTS WILL BE HELD ON STAGE IV

INTERNATIONAL AUTOHARP CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: Trophy, $150 cash plus choice of three harps listed below
2nd Place: Trophy, $100 cash plus choice of the two remaining harps
3rd Place: Trophy, $50 cash plus the remaining harp.

d’Aigle Cascade - Two Key G - D autoharp with maple back, cherry sides, spruce top and trimmed in cherry. This autoharp includes two pentatonic bars. Pete Daigle, PO Box 13270, Des Moines, WA 98198. 1-800-630-HARP. website: www.daigleharp.com
OS45CE Oscar Schmidt Autoharp -This autoharp features a select spruce top and a built-in active EQ electric pickup. It has a FT600 fine tuning system. It will come with an AC499 Deluxe hardshell case. Oscar Schmidt, Washburn International, 444 E. Cortland Street, Mundelein, IL 60060. 847-949-0444. website: www.oscarschmidt.com
Evoharp 21W -Chromatic autoharp with 21 chord bars, with fine tuners. The Dulcimer Shoppe/McSpadden, P.O. Box 1230, Mountain View, AR 72560. 870-269-4313. website: www.mcspaddendulcimers.com

INTERNATIONAL FINGER STYLE GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: $3000 cash prize by Walnut Valley Assoc., trophy plus choice of three custom crafted guitars listed below.
2nd Place: Trophy plus choice of the two remaining guitars.
3rd Place: Trophy and the remaining guitar.

Gallagher Steve Rector Model Limited Edition Guitar -- The Steve Rector (newest inductee to the Finger Style Hall of Fame in Muhlenberg Co., KY) model guitar has the following features: India Rosewood body, Engelmann Spruce top, Florentine cut-a-way, open gear Schaller tuners, 1-11/16” neck, bone nut and saddle, low profile neck, Black/White/Black soundhole and purfling, Mother of Pearl quarter moon inlays in fingerboard, ivoroid bound body, and a label signed and numbered by Steve Rector and Don Gallagher. J.W. Gallagher & Son, 7 Main Street, Wartrace, TN 37183. 931-389-6455. website: www.gallagherguitar.com
Larrivee LV-10E Guitar -- All solid wood construction, Madagascar Rosewood back and sides, a master grade spruce top, single piece mahogany neck, commemorative Walnut Valley “2008” headstock inlay, rosewood body purfling, ivoroid fretboard binding, abalone soundhole rosette, bone nut and saddle, adjustable steel truss rod, hand-fit dovetail neck joint, Venetian cutaway, gloss finish with Satin Neck, deluxe fretboard & bridge inlay and top of the line Fishman electronic pickup. Made in the USA. Jean Larrivee Guitars USA Inc., 1070 Yarnell Place, Oxnard, CA 93033. 805-487-9980. website: www.larrivee.com
Triggs Flattop Acoustic Guitar hand made by Jim and Ryan Triggs in their Kansas City area Custom Shop. 16- 1/4” lower bout, 11-5/8” upper bout, 4-1/2” body depth, 1-3/4” nut width, 25-1/2” scale length. Eastern Maple back, sides, and neck, with a red spruce top. Ebony bound fingerboard and peghead with 37th inlay on peghead. Multi-ply white/black/white bindings adorning the body, neck and peghead. Abalone rosette around the soundhole and along the top edge of the guitar, Standard X-bracing, Gold rotomatic tuners, and bone nut. Antique Natural nitrocellulose lacquer finish, with TKL 3-ply hardshell case. Jim and Ryan Triggs, 2413 Anderson Road, Lawrence, KS 66046. 785-331-4500. website: www.triggsguitars.com

NATIONAL MOUNTAIN DULCIMER CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: Trophy, $150 cash, plus choice of 3 McSpadden mountain dulcimers (listed below)
2nd Place: Trophy, $125 cash, plus choice of remaining two McSpadden dulcimers;
3rd Place: Trophy, $100 cash, plus the remaining McSpadden dulcimer

Three McSpadden Mountain Dulcimers:
4FHKK Custom -- 4 String custom dulcimer, made of Koa wood, with pickup and with gold plated hardware. The Dulcimer Shoppe / McSpadden Mountain Dulcimers, P.O. Box 1230, Mountain View, AR 72560. 870-269-4313. website: www.mcspaddendulcimers.com
6FHCRB -- 6 string dulcimer, cherry body and redwood top, with ebony fretboard overlay, baritone tuning. The Dulcimer Shoppe / McSpadden Mountain Dulcimers, P.O. Box 1230, Mountain View, AR 72560. 870-269-4313. website: www.mcspaddendulcimers.com
4FGCS -- 4 string dulcimer, Ginger (3/4 size) body, cherry body with spruce top, ebony fretboard overlay. The Dulcimer Shoppe / McSpadden Mountain Dulcimers, P.O. Box 1230, Mountain View, AR 72560. 870-269-4313. website: www.mcspaddendulcimers.com

WALNUT VALLEY MANDOLIN CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: $250 cash prize in memory of Johnny Logsdon by Walnut Valley Assoc., trophy and choice of three custom crafted mandolins listed below.
2nd Place: Trophy plus choice of two remaining mandolins.
3rd Place: Trophy plus remaining mandolin.

Weber Custom “F” Style Mandolin - Constructed with a one-piece flamed maple back, rim and neck, and an aged, solid Adirondack spruce top. The back, sides, fretboard, and peghead feature flamed maple binding lined with black ivoroid binding and a black ivoroid accent line on the side. The “F” holes are bound with black ivoroid. The peghead is adorned with “The Weber” in mother of pearl script, and a flower pot inlaid with abalone. The ebony fingerboard is radiused and inlaid with 3mm mother of pearl dot fret markers. Construction includes tone bar bracing, a Brekke® Traditional Bridge and gold tuners and hardware. The coloring is a custom antique tobacco sunburst with a high gloss lacquer finish. Weber Fine Acoustic Instruments by Sound to Earth, Ltd, 5400 Frontage Road, Manhattan, MT 59741. 888-886-7598. website: www.soundtoearth.com
BRW FT-MS Mandolin - The BRW FT-MS is a classic F-Style mandolin. It features a red spruce top with red maple back, sides, and neck. The carved top and back are crafted from the finest quality wood and built with classic tone-bar construction. Grained 3-ply ivoroid bindings and mother-of-pearl inlays adorn the instrument. Specs include: medium frets, abbreviated fingerboard extension, adjustable ebony bridge, a Tusq® nut, and a custom BRW / Bill James Tailpiece. The instrument is finished with a beautiful lacquer sunburst finish. BRW Musical Instruments, 825 North Houk Road, PMB 188, Delaware, OH 43015. 740-816-6080 (VZ wireless) website: www.brw-instruments.com
Collings MF-Custom - is an F-Style mandolin featuring a fully carved top and back and is crafted with a seasoned select spruce top and maple back and sides with tone bars. A radiused fingerboard extends to the 22nd fret with a graceful extension that compliments the headstock. The adjustable Collings ebony bridge is custom made in our shop. Mother of pearl Collings logo adorns the headstock which is fitted with Gotoh® tuners. Matte finish with a glossy sunburst top, and single-bound top with ivoroid binding, and a custom “Winfield” inlay. Collings Guitars Inc., 11210 W. Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78737. 512-288-7776. website: www.collingsguitars.com

WALNUT VALLEY OLD TIME FIDDLE CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: $250 cash prize in memory of Dean Bradbury by Walnut Valley Assoc., trophy plus choice of two violins listed below.
2nd Place: Trophy plus choice of two remaining violins.
3rd Place: Trophy and remaining violin.

Simon Nandor Master Luthier Model 520 - From a tiny shop in the mountains of Romania, this fiddle is handmade of select seasoned flamed Carpathian maple and seasoned even grained spruce. Lovely craftsmanship and accurate graduation guarantees well balanced tonal results. Individually varnished with a slightly shaded oil varnish. Accessories include a Joh. Schneider Octagonal Pernambuco bow with 3-part button, and a Negri Monaco case. Represented by Keller Strings, Inc., 2258 Llandovery Ln., Topeka, Ks. 66614. 800-588-8151.
Jan Dvorák “Signature Model 35” -- Made in Czech Republic. Exceptional Stradivarius model, elegantly crafted from the finest selected tonewoods. Richly flamed European maple back, with matching ribs and neck, with a well-seasoned, Bavarian spruce top. Hand rubbed spirit varnish. Hill style boxwood pegs and tailpiece. Accessories include an Alfred Knoll German Brazilwood bow, and a Manhattan case. Represented by Keller Strings, Inc., 2258 Llandovery Ln., Topeka, Ks. 66614. 800-588-8151.
Marco Deluca Violin, Gabrielli Shop -- Made in Czech Republic. Lovely antiqued brown shaded varnish with heavy flamed maple back and grained spruce complement this highly arched fiddle. Rosewood Hill style pegs, tailpiece, and a chinrest complement this handsome prize. Accessories include a Dorfler German Brazilwood bow, and a Courier case. Represented by Keller Strings, Inc. 2258 Llandovery Ln., Topeka, KS 66614 800-588-8151.

NATIONAL FLAT PICK GUITAR CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: $2,000 cash prize in memory of Brian Redford by the Redford family, trophy plus choice of three custom crafted guitars listed below.
2nd Place: Trophy plus choice of the two remaining guitars.
3rd Place: Trophy and the remaining guitar.

Collings Winfield Model Mahogany/Adirondack Spruce Guitar - A remake of the famous Collings Clarence White model, this Dreadnought has mahogany back and sides, Adirondack Spruce top, custom neck and bridge, tortoise fingerboard binding, ebony headstock overlay with Collings custom “Wheat” inlay, large sound hole, CW (Dalmatian) pickguard. Collings Guitars, Inc., 11210 W Hwy 290, Austin, TX 78737. 512-288-7776. www.collingsguitars.com
Martin Walnut Valley Festival D-21 Special - Historically, 21 styling has represented the simplest appointment level offered with rosewood back and sides and a spruce top. Introduced in 2007, the OM-21 Special closely replicates this plain but beautiful style by blending rosewood bindings, a herringbone rosette, a nitrate tortoise pickguard and an ebony fingerboard and pyramid bridge. The new D-21 Special introduced in 2008, shares identical appointments with the OM-21 Special, but in a Dreadnought format. The resulting model offers Martin’s legendary tone with austere but classic styling. Special hand cut “Walnut Valley 37th” pearl inlay has been added to this special guitar by Martin’s inlay expert. In addition, the model is equipped with stage ready Fishman Natural 1 active electronics. C.F. Martin & Co. (The Martin Guitar Company), 510 Sycamore Street, Nazareth, PA 18064. 610-759-2837 website: www.martinguitar.com
Taylor GC8 Grand Concert Guitar - with Indian Rosewood back and sides and Sitka Spruce top, Abalone soundhole rosette, tropical American mahogany Neck, 1-3/4” at nut, ebony fretboard with abalone dot inlays; ivoroid binding, ebony bridge, Tusq® nut and saddle, Taylor slothead tuners, Adjustable truss rod and Expression System electronics. Taylor Guitars, 1980 Gillespie Way, El Cajon, CA 92020. 619-258-1207. website: www.taylorguitars.com

NATIONAL HAMMER DULCIMER CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: Trophy, $100 cash, plus choice of three custom hand crafted hammer dulcimers listed below;
2nd Place: Trophy, $75 cash, plus choice of the two remaining dulcimers;
3rd Place: Trophy, $50 cash, and the remaining dulcimer.

Custom Engraved Master Works Russell Cook Edition 16/16c - Chromatic Hammer Dulcimer. Master Works, P.O. Box 167, 36613 US Hwy 70, Bennington, OK 74723, 580-847-2273. website: www.MasterWorksOK.com
~Cloud Nine~ Model 17/16/8 - is a four octave, fully chromatic, hammer dulcimer. The exterior trim is made of fancy Birdseye Maple. The floating soundboard is Sitka Spruce with a natural finish and rosettes inlaid. The rosettes are of a hearts and star pattern and are made of quartersawn flamed curly maple ringed with a fine maple line. The pinblocks are made of ten-ply rock maple piano pinplank stock. The bridges are marked for octave and key change and are made of black walnut. Course to course spacing is 1-1/16”. A custom carrying case is included. Hand made by Michael C. Allen ~Cloud Nine~ Musical Instruments, 5701 Stover Rd., Ostrander, OH 43061. 740-666-4253. website: www.cloudninemusical.com
Huddleson UL400C 10/15/15 Fully Chromatic Hammer Dulcimer - is handcrafted of hard maple with spruce top. Natural finish. Mike Huddleson Stringed Instruments, 6622 W. 35th S., Wichita, KS 67215. 316-524-0997. website: www.mikehuddlesonstringedinstruments.com

NATIONAL BLUEGRASS BANJO CHAMPIONSHIP

1st Place: Trophy plus choice of three custom crafted banjos listed below;
2nd Place: Trophy plus choice of the two remaining banjos;
3rd Place: Trophy and the remaining banjo.

Ome Custom Series Gold Megatone Bluegrass Banjo - The OME Megatone offers the most sought-after features of pre-war vintage banjos with outstanding improvements in materials, workmanship and design. Exceptional tone, playability, workmanship, and artwork make this instrument one of the finest Bluegrass banjos ever made. Ome Banjos, 5680 Valmont Road, Boulder, CO 80301. 303-449-0041. fax: 303-449-1809. website: www.omebanjos.com
The Deering Calico Banjo - is created of our premium rock maple with a honey hued stain. Nickel plating on all the hardware will enhance the mother of pearl scroll inlays that adorn the ebony fingerboard. The outstanding tone of the banjo comes from the 3-ply maple rim, Deering bell bronze tonering, zinc flange, and figured Eastern hard rock maple neck and beautiful resonator. An engraved armrest with “Winfield 2008”, lets the world know this coveted banjo was chosen by the winner of the contest for its outstanding tone and unparalleled beauty. Deering Banjo Company, 3733 Kenora Dr., Spring Valley, CA 91977-1829. 800-845-7791. website: www.deeringbanjos.com
The Deering Sierra Banjo - Delicate maple and mother of pearl inlays grace the ebony fingerboard of the new Deering Sierra banjo with a neck and resonator created from tropical mahogany. The outstanding new Deering ‘06 tonering, 3-ply rock maple rim, and one piece zinc flange give this banjo a dynamically powerful voice with the touch of sweetness that only premium grade mahogany can give. All hardware is nickel plated including the armrest engraved “Winfield 2008” proclaiming the new owner of this professional grade Deering banjo a winner at this year’s banjo championship. Deering Banjo Company, 3733 Kenora Dr., Spring Valley, CA 91977-1829. 800-845-7791. website: www.deeringbanjos.com

One Intellitouch tuner will be given to the first place winner in each of the eight contests. On Board Research, 1321 Valwood Pkwy, Suite 440, Carrollton, TX 75006. 214-239-4005. www.tuners.com

A Wegen Bluegrasspick Set and a Wegen Triangular Pick Set will be presented to the top five finalists in the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship. A Wegen Mandolinpick Set and a Wegen Triangular Pick Set will be presented to the top five finalists in the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship. A 12-pick assortment of Fred Kelly Speed/Slick/Thumb picks will be given to the top five finalists in the International Finger Style Championship and the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Big City String Co., P.O. Box 6366, Bridgeport, CT 06606. 800-275-2971. www.bigcitystring.com

A Hatman Jack’s “Finest” Custom Made Hats One will be given to the first place winner in the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship and the International Finger Style Guitar Championship. Wichita Hat Works, 601 West Douglas, Wichita, KS 67213. 316-264-4881. www.hatmanjacks.com

One custom made Elliott Capo to be given to each of the top three winners in the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship, the International Finger Style Guitar Championship and the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Elliott Capos, 1601 East Tom Green, Brenham, TX 77833. 979-421-9393. www.elliottcapos.com

A Fishman Loudbox 100 Amplifier and a Fishman Matrix Infinity Pickup & Preamp System will be given to the first place winner of the International Finger Style Guitar Championship. A Fishman Nashville Series Flattop Mandolin Pickup will be given to the first place winner of the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship. A Fishman Concert Series Violin Pickup will be given to the first place winner of the Walnut Valley Old Time Fiddle Championship. A Fishman Rare Earth Humbucking Soundhole Pickup will be given to the first place winner of the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship. A Fishman Rare Earth Banjo Pickup will be given to the first place winner of the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Fishman Transducers, Inc. 340 Fordham Road, Willmington, MA 01877 www.fishman.com

Mass Street Music will give two sets of strings will be given to the top five finalists in the International Finger Style Guitar Championship, the Walnut Valley Mandolin Championship, the National Flat Pick Guitar Championship and the National Bluegrass Banjo Championship. Mass Street Music, 1347 Massachusetts, Lawrence, KS 66044 www.massstreetmusic.com

Contestants must have a valid wristband for the day of the contest in order to gain admittance to the festival grounds. For a copy of the contest rules, write to Walnut Valley Association, P.O. Box 245, Winfield, KS 67156, or pick up a contest brochure at the Contest Registration Trailer at the festival.

at hq@wvfest.com for festival info
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Walnut Valley Festival
Post Office Box 245, 918 Main
Winfield, Kansas 67156
(620) 221-3250

WV office hours are:
Monday — Friday
9 am — Noon; 1 — 5 pm
Central time