June 2026 Staff Picks

Jim Baggett – JC Baxendale Guitars – 2022 D-28 – Natural – Honduran Rosewood – Used
A great early example of the sort of craftsmanship we’ve come to enjoy from John Baxendale.

JC Baxendale Guitars - 2022 D-28 - Natural - Honduran Rosewood - Used

Our Boutique Guitar inventory is always changing – head on over to view the latest in our Boutique Acoustic Guitar Collection!

Eric Mardis – Tom Anderson Guitars – Li’l Angel – Purple Burst with Binding
This Lil’ Angel is a joy to play. It is a high performance machine for sure, but don’t think of it as “just a shredder.” It is a truly versatile guitar with supreme feel and responsiveness. The mini-Floyd is super smooth and stable. You won’t be able to put this one down!

Tom Anderson Guitars - Li'l Angel - Purple Burst with Binding

Check out our collection of Boutique Collection at Mass Street Music!

Clark Russell – Poly Effects – Kanso
Loki from Poly Effects visited our shop back in January and introduced us to his line of mad scientist pedal creations. I’m a big fan of forward-thinking designs and his pedals are rife with them. The Verbs is a real treat, utilizing 56 hand-captured spaces and effects ranging from a vintage EMT 140 Echo Plate to the Pantheon in Rome. One of my favorite design choices is the ability to upload your own captures to it. Here in Lawrence, the Bales Organ Recital Hall located at the Lied Center would be an excellent space to capture with its dizzyingly long reverb. Stereo ins and outs, as well as a trail when turned off, are the cherry on top for me. The Kanso (Japanese for Simplicity) is a collaboration between Loki and Josh Smith, resulting in a versatile fuzz that uses 4 different diodes to deliver a wide range of sounds.

The controls of both pedals is what enraptured me at first sight; the Verbs uses LED touch controls that, upon further inspection, elated me as they’re responsive and comfortable to use. The Kanso utilizes a “Fknob,” touted as a footswitch & knob that functions via magnetic control. Both feel intuitive once you learn them and they’re some of the sturdiest, most reliable controls one could possibly use. Overall, the Poly Effects family of pedals is a welcome one here at the shop and will certainly invoke creativity however they’re used.

Poly Effects - Kanso

Poly Effects – Verbs

Poly Effects - Verbs

Check out our collection of Poly Effects at Mass Street Music!

Mike Horan – Collings Acoustic Guitars – 2018 D1A T – Traditional Series – Used
This guitar is a rocket! It’s been played just enough to really open up and really showcases what a Collings Traditional can do.

Collings Acoustic Guitars - 2018 D1A T - Traditional Series - Used

Check out our current collection of Collings Guitars over on the website

Matt Harmon – Collings Electric Guitars – 470 JL – Antiqued Dakota Red
In all seriousness, how could I not pick this guitar. The 470 is one of my favorite guitars I own and every one I’ve played from Collings (7 and counting) is a little different tonal flavor of greatness. Since getting back from Namm 2026 in January with Matt K. we both were stunned to see Collings come out with this new color on the 470 and at the same time looked at each other and said YES! I’ve seen only a few in red out for sale and this one with the cream pickguard and Bigsby is a total knockout. Collings continues to be the industry leader in guitar manufacturing and this guitar is yet another piece of evidence of that.

Collings Electric Guitars - 470 JL - Antiqued Dakota Red

Check out our collection of Boutique Electrics!

Susan Willits – Pisgah Banjos – 11″ Laydie Curly Maple – Short Scale
The Pisgah Whyte Laydie is a beautiful banjo with a tasteful vintage headstock and heel, aged brass hardware and an S scoop, making it look as stunning as it sounds. This is a punchy, quality made banjo with plenty of volume to hold its own with the fiddles. Plus, the Pisgah banjo company is a small American business that is utilizing native hard woods and solar power to build their banjos, which is definitely cool and impressive!

Pisgah Banjos - 11 Laydie Curly Maple - Short Scale

Take a look through our collection of Banjos at Mass Street Music! 

Matt KappenmanCollings Acoustic Guitars – 2023 D2H MRA T – Prototype Builder’s Choice – Used
In over a decade working here at the shop, and after playing hundreds of Collings Guitars, I can honestly say that this is one of my all time favorite rosewood dreadnoughts. I fell for it at the Fretboard Summit in 2023 and every time I get to encounter it again it’s a brilliant reminder that the great guitars you have in your head rarely disappoint when playing them once again. This guitar is a player, and a unique bridge between the Traditional and Hill Country sounds.

Collings Acoustic Guitars - 2023 D2H MRA T - Prototype Builder's Choice - Used

Check out our current collection of Used Guitars over on the website

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