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The 2000 Greg Smallman & Sons “Ex–John Williams”

This remarkable 2000 Greg Smallman & Sons guitar, formerly owned and played by John Williams, stands as an extraordinary example from that celebrated era. Combining exceptional craftsmanship with direct historical provenance, it represents not only a world-class concert instrument, but also an important chapter in the evolution of the modern classical guitar.

When Williams began performing publicly with Smallman guitars, the classical guitar world took notice. The sound was larger, clearer, and more immediate than audiences had previously associated with the instrument, and Smallman’s reputation quickly became international.

This 2000 example perfectly captures the qualities that established the Smallman name among the most respected in modern lutherie. The guitar possesses the immense projection and sustaining power for which these instruments are renowned, yet it also retains warmth, depth, and remarkable tonal complexity. The Brazilian rosewood used for back & sides is stunning and extreme rare. Williams played this 2000 Smallman & Sons guitar in many concerts and recorded numbers of albums. 

The opportunity to acquire a Greg Smallman & Sons guitar from this era is exceptional in itself. To encounter one with direct provenance to John Williams elevates the instrument into an entirely different category. It is not merely a superb concert guitar, but a piece of modern classical guitar history. It is truely an instrument linked to one of the most influential artists and one of the most revolutionary luthiers of our time.