Features & Specifications

Close-up of an acoustic guitar soundhole with walnut rosette.
Back view of a walnut acoustic guitar on a dark background.
Close-up of a guitar headstock with tuning pegs and strings on a black background.

  • What's Different about Donovan Leah?

    We believe in the GOOD life. This means building inspiring musical instruments from a good place. From the forests to the musician, we want everyone, at every step to be valued.

    How do we do that?

    We are thankful for the Luthier's traditions...but not beholden to them. We know that most guitars are made from Exotic Mahogany, Rosewood & Ebony. And there are plenty of great guitars made from these materials. However, we believe that we can make amazing guitars from woods that are found much closer to home...so we do.

    It means that we have to apply a few different techniques to voice a Donovan Leah. Like solid Walnut lining, instead of the traditional kerfed Spruce.

    We also choose Torrified Maple for our necks. This process alters the structure of the maple in a way that is integral to our guitar recipe.

    Finally, we use an advanced modern mono-coat finish, both inside and out. It is extremely strong, yet impossibly thin. This allows the wood to speak with the least interference from coats of finish. It also happens to be safe for us and our environment. Which we think is a very good thing.


  • All Donovan Leah Guitars are built with the same commitment to creating a high-performance instrument, that is sensitive & dynamic, with a full & harmonically rich pallet.

    To achieve this, all of our instruments are made with the same quality of musically performative materials & construction.

    Top: Sitka Spruce or Black Walnut
    Back & Sides: Black Walnut
    Neck: Torrified Maple
    Fretboard: Ziricote
    Bridge: Ziricote
    Peghead veneer: Ziricote & Maple
    Frets: Stainless Steel
    Nut & Saddle: Bone
    Logo & Side Dots: Nickel Silver
    Tuners: Gotoh 510 | Nickel Silver or Gold | Aged patina
    Finish: Advanced Modern Monocoat

  • Dimensions

    Body Length: 20"
    Body Depth: 3.75" (neck) to 4.75" (tail)
    Lower Bout: 15 3/4"
    Upper Bout: 11 7/8"
    Total Length: 40 1/4"

  • The following features may be added to your Caroline Benchmark

    • Venetian Style Cut-a-way $500 USD

    • Matching Black Walnut Top (instead of Sitka Spruce) $500 USD