Trenier guitars

[David B]

Bryant Trenier just posted photographs of two newly-completed guitars to Instagram:

"The summer batch of guitars is finally done. This is a completely new design for me - a 17 3/4" body, long form, with many structural aspects influenced by a year-long D'Angelico restoration recently completed. This model will be called Excelsior, with Pasquale Grasso getting a special edition, the "Orsa Bruna". Thank you to TK Smith for making me this outstanding blade pickup."

[David B]

PG took his newest Trenier out for its maiden voyage at Mezzrow last night.

[QAman]

David B - thanks for sharing the video. The guitar sounds fabulous - like all Trenier guitars.


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[skykomishone]

David B - thanks for sharing the video. The guitar sounds fabulous - like all Trenier guitars.


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QAman, Pasquale Grasso sounds fabulous on anything. Like all Pasquale Grasso! The Trenier does too, I agree.

[QAman]

QAman, Pasquale Grasso sounds fabulous on anything. Like all Pasquale Grasso! The Trenier does too, I agree.

Sky- nice to hear from you and hope all is well.

What you say is so true! Pasquale sounds great no matter what he’s playing…….it’s Pasquale. He’s arguably one of the best Jazz guitarist on the scene today.

He can certainly play any guitar he choses- but it’s the Trenier voice which really exemplifies his style - and brings out that pianistic quality in his sound. I think he would agree - since he’s played Trenier’s for over 10 years now.

So much fun watching his talent grow over the years.

I sent Davids video to Bryant earlier today - and here was his response:

Haha, he played it the first night!


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[David B]

New from Trenier Guitars on Facebook and Instagram today.

[Sam b]

Those are beautiful. I'm sorry to see the Broadway go as I have coveted that model for a while now.

[ThatRhythmMan]

Those are beautiful. I'm sorry to see the Broadway go as I have coveted that model for a while now.

There will always be the Broadways that he has already made!


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[skykomishone]

TRM, that's a great guitar. I've played it many moons ago!

[ThatRhythmMan]

TRM, that's a great guitar. I've played it many moons ago!

It needs a new home!


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[Llewlyn]

Why is he discontinuing his Jazz Special? I thought this was his most popular model?

Ll.

[gitman]

Why is he discontinuing his Jazz Special? I thought this was his most popular model?

Ll.

I guess it might have something to do with which models most clients want from him - the labor/price ratio must be quite different when building a lam-top or a fully carved model …. When I got my Jazz Special 5 ago it was 35 % cheaper than his standard carved top.

[RJVB]

I guess it might have something to do with which models most clients want from him - the labor/price ratio must be quite different when building a lam-top or a fully carved model

He works in batches from what I understand; so I guess that at some point he might even decide it's more efficient and easier to do only runs of a single model. I really don't see why a "boutique builder" would stop building models that are still being acclaimed by (potential) clients. Seems silly, unless you have so much demand that you want to satisfy that it becomes hard to cling to the boutique label.

[robocoptick]

trenier absolutely butchered the binding repair/replacement on a friend’s d’aquisto solid body. soon after, trenier left the country.

[skykomishone]

That guitar looks like it has had other problems.

[robocoptick]

That guitar looks like it has had other problems.

that’s why there’s an entire field of guitar craft referred to as restoration.

trenier also tore out a piece of the top. this is a 30-40g guitar. it deserved better treatment from someone who is regarded as a great builder.

[QAman]

trenier absolutely butchered the binding repair/replacement on a friend’s d’aquisto solid body. soon after, trenier left the country.

Before you go bashing someones reputation on behalf of your friend, you need to understand that removing existing binding is both tedious and not without risk - and at the time he was pleased with the outcome.

Also, according to my recent conversation today with Bryant this repair was done 8 years ago, and if your friend had any concerns he should have contacted Bryant.

Bryant has always been open to speaking with his customers , and he is saddened to hear that 8 years later there is an indirect second hand complaint.

Your insinuation or association of his departure to France after this work is just preposterous.


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[robocoptick]

Before you go bashing someones reputation on behalf of your friend, you need to understand that removing existing binding is both tedious and not without risk - and at the time he was pleased with the outcome.

Also, according to my recent conversation today with Bryant this repair was done 8 years ago, and if your friend had any concerns he should have contacted Bryant.

Bryant has always been open to speaking with his customers , and is he saddened to hear that 8 years later there is an indirect second hand complaint.

Your insinuation or association of his departure to France after this work is just preposterous.


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you have your side of the story.

and?

kewl story, bruh.

[deacon Mark]

What I have to say is binding repair is that it is most difficult of all guitar repairs. Just looking at it actually it seems quite good given what bad binding looks like. Binding rot can be the death of a guitar's looks more than anything else. Many times, binding repair is only to keep the guitar in the best of all condition without doing anything else or cause other damage.

If you are completely refinishing guitar then binding replacement is a whole different repair. That actually is the best way and the easiest way to get the binding perfect or near perfect. However, when you are repairing or replacing the binding on a guitar and saving the original finish, that is like doing major surgery. I dare say that many actually human surgeries would be easier to do.

For what it is worth I only know one person who actively seeks working on binding and specializes in restoring it. That would be Cris Mirabella. As far as Bryant is concerned, I have nothing to do with the complaint other than to say Bryant is a luthier of the highest ability. On the food chain of Luthiers and repairs Bryant is at the very top (see definition of Polar Bear.) I repair guitars and even binding sometimes but if I had a situation that needed the best Bryant Trenier and Cris Mirabella would be my choice.

[kamlapati]

Those are beautiful. I'm sorry to see the Broadway go as I have coveted that model for a while now.

Bryant is committed to making me a "Broadway," or at least a 16" archtop in the style of the late 20's, early 30's, in early 2026. I think he is planning a design refresh / rethink, but I don't think we need to worry about his special guitars going away.

[skykomishone]

I love my Trenier Excel style. It's a remarkable guitar. He was definitely showing some D'Aquisto respect!

[jads57]

Just curious was the customer aware of the risks of having the binding done? If this is as tricky as explained above, I would imagine there must of been some discussion about possible outcome?

[robocoptick]

Before you go bashing someones reputation on behalf of your friend, you need to understand that removing existing binding is both tedious and not without risk - and at the time he was pleased with the outcome.

Also, according to my recent conversation today with Bryant this repair was done 8 years ago, and if your friend had any concerns he should have contacted Bryant.

Bryant has always been open to speaking with his customers , and he is saddened to hear that 8 years later there is an indirect second hand complaint.

Your insinuation or association of his departure to France after this work is just preposterous.


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thanks for the man to mansplain.

let’s try this another way.

do you think that the pictures which i posted represent solid binding replacement work?

[robocoptick]

What I have to say is binding repair is that it is most difficult of all guitar repairs. Just looking at it actually it seems quite good given what bad binding looks like. Binding rot can be the death of a guitar's looks more than anything else. Many times, binding repair is only to keep the guitar in the best of all condition without doing anything else or cause other damage.

If you are completely refinishing guitar then binding replacement is a whole different repair. That actually is the best way and the easiest way to get the binding perfect or near perfect. However, when you are repairing or replacing the binding on a guitar and saving the original finish, that is like doing major surgery. I dare say that many actually human surgeries would be easier to do.

For what it is worth I only know one person who actively seeks working on binding and specializes in restoring it. That would be Cris Mirabella. As far as Bryant is concerned, I have nothing to do with the complaint other than to say Bryant is a luthier of the highest ability. On the food chain of Luthiers and repairs Bryant is at the very top (see definition of Polar Bear.) I repair guitars and even binding sometimes but if I had a situation that needed the best Bryant Trenier and Cris Mirabella would be my choice.

for a man of the cloth, perhaps less assumptions and more curiosity?

i go back 25 years with cris. he was already contacted about cleaning up trenier’s hate crime.

[robocoptick]

Just curious was the customer aware of the risks of having the binding done? If this is as tricky as explained above, I would imagine there must of been some discussion about possible outcome?

the trenier apologists on this thread seem to have no idea what quality restoration work looks like.

i am reminded of…