How Does GSI Choose Its Guitars? Cody Noriega Interviews David Collett

Cody Noriega has recently visited to GSI to ask a deceptively simple question: how does GSI decide which guitars belong in its collection? He sat down with David Collett to find out.

David describes guitar making as part engineering, part art. The structure and intonation have to be right, but that's only half of it. The artistry is harder.

GSI's guiding principle is what we call "best in class." Rather than chasing scarcity for its own sake, the goal is a wide, high-caliber selection across every price point, so a player can find an exceptional instrument whether they're just starting out or building a serious collection. For historical instruments, that means weighing provenance and originality: was the guitar owned by someone notable, and has it been altered from the maker's original work? For living makers, the process is personal. David meets each luthier, learns their story, and looks for a guitar with a sound and look that belong to no one else.

Watch Cody's full video below to learn more! Also, make sure to subscribe to Cody's YouTube channel.

Make sure to also check out Cody's behind-the-scenes video featuring some extra content.