Kennedy Guitars

Overview

Kennedy Guitars is a small-scale operation run by Terence Kennedy, a retired orthopaedic surgeon who hand-builds custom steel string flat top guitars since 1998 and arch top guitars since 2010. The brand focuses on bespoke instruments built at a slower pace in a personal workshop, with guitars occasionally sold through retailers like Willies American Guitars. It occupies a niche in the custom luthiery market, emphasizing individual craftsmanship over mass production.²⁴⁵

History

Kennedy Guitars was established by Terence Kennedy, a retired orthopaedic surgeon, musician, and luthier, who began building steel string flat top guitars in 1998 and arch top guitars in 2010. He continues building instruments at a reduced pace from his workshop, as documented in his building blog. One recent guitar was completed for sale at Willies American Guitars in St. Paul, MN.²⁴⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Instruments are hand-built by Terence Kennedy in his personal workshop located at 13812 Eustis St., St. Paul, MN. Production is in-house and at a slow pace, with builds completed individually rather than in series.²⁵

Notable Products

• Steel String Flat Top - Custom flat top acoustic guitars built since 1998 using traditional methods.
• Arch Top Guitar - Arch top guitars introduced in 2010 for jazz and swing styles.

Reputation

Kennedy Guitars is regarded as a boutique custom builder by enthusiasts, valued for the precision and detail from a luthier with an orthopaedic surgeon's background. Professionals appreciate the hand-crafted quality of his steel string and arch top models. Limited production and by-appointment sales contribute to its exclusive perception.⁴⁵