Thomas Humphrey (1948–2008) was an American classical guitar maker based in New York, best known for his revolutionary "Millennium" model with its elevated fingerboard. His guitars were played by Sharon Isbin, Eliot Fisk, the Assad brothers, David Starobin and John Dearman of the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet.
Thomas Humphrey at a Glance
- Born: 1948, Minnesota
- Died: April 2008, Gardiner, New York
- Workshop: New York City (Upper West Side, Manhattan)
- Training: apprenticeship with Michael Gurian, New York
- Known for: the "Millennium" model (mid-1980s) with elevated fingerboard
- Players: Sharon Isbin, Eliot Fisk, the Assad brothers, David Starobin, John Dearman
From Minnesota to New York City
Thomas Humphrey was born in 1948 in Minnesota. Around 1970 he moved to New York City and apprenticed with the guitar maker Michael Gurian, and for many years he built his guitars in an apartment workshop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Tom had LOTS of opinions – about music, art, the guitar world – and his independent mind shows in his instruments. He died in Gardiner, New York, in April 2008.
The Millennium Model and the Elevated Fingerboard
In the mid-1980s Tom introduced the design that made his name: the Millennium. The revolutionary design re-thought the bracing of the soundboard to increase the transmission of tone, and improved playability with its most famous feature, the elevated fingerboard – a practice that has since been adopted by many other makers. Millennium guitars have the trademark quality of tone known to Humphrey lovers: a powerful, "hollow" and very focused sound, particularly well-suited to the concert stage. Tom's earlier, traditional guitars are now known as "pre-Millennium" Humphreys.
Humphrey Guitars and the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet
Humphrey guitars have been played by countless concert artists, including David Starobin, Sharon Isbin, the Assads and Eliot Fisk. Tom also had a long friendship with the Los Angeles Guitar Quartet: in the 1980s he built a Millennium 7-string with a bass extension for John Dearman, who played it in hundreds of LAGQ concerts and on several of the quartet's recordings.
Thomas Humphrey Guitars at GSI
Many Thomas Humphrey guitars have passed through our doors over the years, from early traditional instruments to Millennium guitars and John Dearman's 7-string. You'll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the "Guitars In Stock" button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the "Guitars In Museum" button.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Thomas Humphrey Millennium guitar?
Humphrey's model introduced in the mid-1980s, with re-designed soundboard bracing and an elevated fingerboard, known for a powerful, focused concert sound.
What is a "pre-Millennium" Humphrey?
One of Tom's traditional guitars, built before the Millennium design.
When did Thomas Humphrey die?
In April 2008, in Gardiner, New York.
