Gibson's former master luthier “Ren Ferguson” and
The History and Works of the J-200 Guitar

Greetings from our family in Montana.
My name is Timothy Ferguson.
I am the son of master luthier Ren Ferguson.
He is thrilled that you are offering some of his work from his time at Gibson Guitars. My father and I build under the Ren Ferguson brand, which he founded in the 1970s.
I hope this message reaches you all!
Thank you so much for all you do for our industry!
Best regards, Ren & Timothy Ferguson

"This is one of four guitars I built for the 1994 NAMM Show.
In the early 1970s, I was cutting Brazilian rosewood (Jacaranda) myself in my small guitar workshop in Venice Beach, California. Since I still had some of that wood on hand, I selected a set from it for this guitar.
Based on sketches I had accumulated over the years, I sought to create decorative elements by combining inspirations drawn from everyday “objects” around me—such as flower arrangements, chair upholstery, wallpaper, oriental rugs, and coffee cups. Although these elements seemed disparate at first glance, they were mysteriously connected in some way, and ultimately came together in a very organic form.”

"This beautiful SJ-200 was crafted using bird's-eye maple and Sitka spruce, and is one of four guitars built specifically for the 1994 Winternam exhibition.
At the time, we decided to feature a cranberry red sparkle binding, and commissioned Van Feldner to apply multiple layers of the cherry sunburst finish until it was perfect. All inlays and decorations were crafted using only carefully selected gold-colored mother-of-pearl."

*Van Feldner
A master luthier.
The nitrocellulose lacquer, which forms the foundation of Gibson acoustic guitars, is finished using traditional techniques employed by generations of Gibson builders. In particular, his sunburst finish has earned high acclaim worldwide for its exceptional beauty and excellence.
The trial and error and uncompromising finish of this piece likely had a significant influence on his later career.

"When the wood arrived from my supplier, I had the opportunity to choose a set of curly koa that had all been cut from the same tree. To me, it was like an 'invitation I couldn't refuse.' The tropical landscape inlay of mother-of-pearl and abalone, which starts at the bridge and extends toward the headstock, looks to me like the 'Hawaiian rainforest.'"

"For this J-200, I wanted to add a two-tone accent of light and dark to the body back and sides, so I came up with a design I named 'Black Hills Gold Sparkle.' It goes very well with the ziricote. The inspiration for this piece came from ideas I found in Art Nouveau-era books I own.Incorporating the letter 'G' into the design was just as much fun as drawing the motif of smoke rising from the fretboard. Not only is this guitar one of my personal favorites, but master inlay artist Larry Robinson has also told me it’s one of his favorites! The carving on the neck heel is also based on the artistic styles that flourished in the early 20th century.The beautiful semi-translucent Tobacco Brown Sunburst finish is by Van Feldner."

*Black Hills
A mountain range located on the border between South Dakota and Wyoming in the United States.
Famous for Mount Rushmore National Memorial, where the faces of four U.S. presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln) are carved into the mountainside.
The beautiful mountain scenery created by light and shadow is beautifully expressed in this SJ-200 through the use of ziricote and sparkle binding.

*Art Nouveau
An artistic style that was widely popular in Europe from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
As Japanese art (such as ukiyo-e) and crafts became known in the West following Japan’s opening to the world, “Japonism” became a trend, and its unique aesthetic sensibility became a source of inspiration for those in the West seeking new forms of artistic expression. It is said that Art Nouveau was nurtured within this context, and there is a view that Japanese art served as a significant source of inspiration in the formation of Art Nouveau.

"This was the first guitar I was personally permitted to build for Gibson, and it was intended for display at the annual NAMM Show held every winter. All materials used were sourced within Gibson, and this was also the first collaborative guitar that Henry Jaskyvitz (then CEO of Gibson) allowed me to build.
I call this guitar "Chrysanthemum." It is one of many flowers I love, and I stylized it to incorporate it into the design. This guitar is also the first in what would later become the "Master Museum Series." For the binding, I used the original gold sparkle that I had made for my own use in restoring banjos.
This guitar was scheduled to be sold at the NAMM Show, but it was actually purchased the night before. This instrument, along with all the guitars that followed, were exhibited and sold at the NAMM Show until the early 2000s. The sunburst finish on this guitar was also done by Van Feldner, and it was truly a work of remarkable craftsmanship. It was a real pleasure working with him. He is a true artist and a great friend!"

"This J-200 is one of the models in the VINE series, featuring CNC-machined floral inlays on the headstock and fingerboard. The pickguard for this series was hand-carved by me based on artwork I designed myself."

"This instrument is one of the last models produced just before the acoustic division was completely shut down at the Nashville factory. At the time, it was necessary to free up space in the acoustic division to expand production of the Les Paul, which was in high demand. Henry Juszkiewicz and two partners acquired the Gibson brand in the mid-1980s, and this instrument is believed to have been made just before or shortly after that acquisition.The exact date of manufacture is unclear, and I do not know whether the Julian date (sequential date) system was in use at the time. However, these instruments are generally considered to be among the highest quality ever produced at the Nashville factory. It should be noted that these guitars were made before I began working with Gibson in 1987."

What did you think of the wonderful guitars created by Ren Ferguson?
His deep understanding of art and his discerning eye have made it possible to captivate people all over the world through his instruments.
I felt truly honored to have had the opportunity to experience a glimpse of that here.

As mentioned earlier, Ren relaunched his own brand, “Ren Ferguson Company (Ren Ferguson Co.),” in 2019.
It is truly remarkable that, having left a major manufacturer, he continues to craft the highest quality guitars without being bound by his former status.
It’s as if a musician who has achieved mainstream success has returned to his roots to accomplish the task of leaving behind the work he truly pursues.

What kind of works will he create from here on out...

Advance Guitars actually traveled to the U.S. and succeeded in arranging an opportunity to see the guitars he is currently crafting.

Stay tuned for our next article.