Hello from the family in Montana.
My name is Timothy Ferguson.
I am a master luthier.Ren FergusonI am his son.
He is thrilled that you are providing some of his work from his time at Gibson Guitars. My father and I are grateful for the company he founded in the 1970s.Ren FergusonWe produce under our company's brand.
I hope this message reaches everyone!
Thank you so much for your dedication to our industry!
Best regards, Ren & Timothy Ferguson

This is one of four guitars made for the 1994 NAMM Show.
In the early 1970s, I personally cut Brazilian rosewood (jacaranda) at my small guitar workshop in Venice Beach, California. Since I still had some of that wood on hand, I selected one set from it for this guitar.
Based on sketches I had accumulated over time, I sought to compose decorative elements by combining inspirations drawn from everyday "things" around me—flower arrangements, chair upholstery, wallpaper, oriental rugs, and coffee cups. Though seemingly disparate, they were mysteriously connected somewhere, ultimately coalescing into a single, highly organic form.

This beautiful SJ-200 was crafted using bird's-eye maple and Sitka spruce, and is one of four instruments made for exhibition at the 1994 Winternam.
At this time, we decided to craft it with a cranberry red-colored sparkle binding. For the body's cherry sunburst finish, we commissioned Van Feldner to apply layer upon layer until it was perfect. For the inlays, we used only carefully selected gold-colored mother-of-pearl for all the decorative work.

※Van Feldner
Skilled painters.
Gibson acoustic guitars are finished with nitrocellulose lacquer, the cornerstone of their craft, using traditional techniques employed by generations of Gibson builders. Particularly, his sunburst finish has earned worldwide acclaim for its exceptional beauty and excellence.
The trial and error and uncompromising attention to detail in this work undoubtedly had a profound impact on his subsequent career.

When the wood arrived from my supplier, I had the opportunity to select a set of curly core that was all 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, starting from the bridge and trailing up to 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, which led me to conceive a design I named "Black Hills Gold Sparkle." It pairs exceptionally well with ziricote. The inspiration for this piece originated from an Art Nouveau-era book I own.Incorporating the letter 'G' into the design was just as enjoyable as sketching the smoke motif rising from the fretboard. This guitar is not only one of my personal favorites, but master inlay artist Larry Robinson has also told me it's one of his favorites! The neck heel carving is also based on an artistic style that flourished in the early 20th century.The beautiful translucent tobacco brown sunburst finish is by Van Feldner.

※Black Hills
A mountain range located on the border between the U.S. states of South Dakota and Wyoming.
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is famous for the faces of four U.S. presidents (George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln) carved into the mountainside.
The beautiful mountain scenery created by light and shadow is masterfully rendered on this SJ-200 through the use of ziricote wood and sparkle binding.

※Art Nouveau
An artistic style that was widely popular in Europe from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
With the opening of Japan, its art (such as ukiyo-e) and crafts became known in Europe and America, leading to the popularity of Japonisme. 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 trend, and there is a view that Japanese art served as a significant stimulus in the formation of Art Nouveau.

This was the first guitar I was personally permitted to build for Gibson, intended for display at the annual NAMM Show held each winter. All materials used were sourced within Gibson, and it was also the first co-built guitar Henry Jaskiwicz (then CEO of Gibson) granted me permission to craft.
I call this guitar "Chrysanthemum." It is one of many flowers I favor, stylized and incorporated into the design. This guitar is also the first in what would later become the "Master Museum Series." For the binding, I used my original gold sparkle finish, which I had been making 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 and all subsequent guitars were exhibited and sold at the NAMM Show until the early 2000s. The sunburst finish on this guitar was also handled by Van Feldner, and it was truly astonishing in its perfection. Working with him was a real pleasure. He is a true artist and the best friend!

This J-200 is one of the VINE series guitars 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 dismantled at the Nashville factory. At the time, space needed to be freed up for the acoustic division to expand production of the highly demanded Les Paul. Henry Jaskiwicz acquired the Gibson brand with two partners in the mid-1980s, and this instrument is believed to have been made just before or shortly after that acquisition.The exact manufacturing date is uncertain, and I don't know whether the Julian date system was used at the time. However, these instruments are generally considered among the highest quality ever produced at the Nashville factory. Note that these guitars were made before I became involved with Gibson in 1987."

Ren FergusonHow did you like the wonderful guitars that have been created?
His profound knowledge of art and discerning eye enable him to captivate people worldwide through his instruments.
This time, I was able to experience a small part of it and felt its preciousness.

As mentioned earlier, since 2019, Ren has been developing his own brand "Ren Ferguson・We have relaunched "Company (Ren Ferguson Co.)".
It is truly remarkable that he left a major manufacturer and continues to craft guitars of the highest quality, unfettered by his former status.
It's as if a musician who has achieved mainstream success is returning to their roots, accomplishing the task of leaving behind the work they truly pursue.

What kind of work will he create from now on...

Advance Guitars actually traveled to the United States and succeeded in arranging an opportunity to see the guitars he is currently making.

Stay tuned for the next article.