Hi Lou, The Palen is truly amazing. The overtones are like I have never heard before. The playability is incredible. The Palen guitar makes chord melody so much easier to play. Nelson Palen is truly an artist. His attention to detail is outstanding. I look forward to seeing the video Bob Devos made of this […]

Hi Lou, The guitar is fantistic with such a rich and clear tone, i have had an Eastmam 810CE for a few years which is great but the pure acoustic tone of the Palen is the best i have ever heard. Regards, Andy C.

Lou, After returning from my 5 day excursion to find the perfect archtop, it’s a no brainer! I must have played 200 fine archtops. I had the will power not to buy any, until I got back to Ohio. The Palen wins on tone, weight, responsiveness, and amazingly price. The workmanship is great too. The […]

Hey Lou, I can believe that I spent 3 hours on the L.I.Expressway to meet somebody who lives 15 minutes from my house. The good news is that you sold me the best archtop I have ever played. I knew that I was going to buy it the minute that I picked it up. I […]

Hello Lou, When I found out that you now have a showroom, I had to come down and play every one of the 100 archtops that you have on display. That 1972 Jimmy D´Aquisto New Yorker was unquestionably the best archtop that I have ever played. And since you wouldn´t accept all my vintage Gibsons […]

Hey Lou, I know that I called you many times for info on archtops. Most of the archtops that I purchased out here, were pretty true to your comments. But when you sent me the Palen, the tone just blue all the others away. Just like you told me it would. What am I supposed […]

Hello Lou, Just a sincere thank you. Everything that you said about the Palen, the resonance, the overtones, the fullness, the D’Angelico like acoustic tone are all true. Some day I would like to meet the fella that sold me the best archtop that I have ever played! Thanks, Fred, Oakland, CA

Hello Lou, Each and every day I play the Palen Archtop and think, there can’t be a better sounding guitar. I like the sunburst picture. It seems a little more subtle then the sunburst I saw before. Did you have a new crop come in? I don’t think I’ll even bother playing my JS anymore. […]

Hello Lou, I just got my Palen this afternoon shortly before having to go to work. After opening the case my jaw dropped in amazement of its sheer beauty…the meticulous detail, fine grain, gorgeous finish, and so light! Then I played it and was blown away by its wonderful tone. The top is so responsive […]

Recently, I took delivery of a very special custom archtop built by Nelson Palen. His instruments are sold exclusively through Lou Del Rosso at Guitars N Jazz (Summit, NJ)http://guitarsnjazz.com/ – more about Lou later. I have read reviews from those who buy a new guitar and are so excited about their purchase, the newness, the […]

A student of mine recently got two six string Palens. One with routed PU, one with floating. They are easily the best sounding of all the independent luthier guitars I’ve heard or played. Like you said, you hear one note and you know. Congrats and enjoy! – Kevin Van Sant visit Kevin’s Website

Reviewed in Harmony Central: Features : 9  Made by Nelson Palen in 2007 after a waiting time of 17 months, this is an archtop guitar in all solid woods. The top is hand carved spruce and the back and sides are flamed maple. The floating pickup is a Kent Armstrong with thumbwheel pots for volume […]

I purchased a used Carved Palen with a floating pickup and a new Palen Performer (which is also hand carved, but has a set humbucker). So far, I have been enjoying my new amazing guitars for the past 3 weeks at home and at local gigs. I have done the review with Harmony Central: FEATURES: […]

Review of Palen Performer Overall Rating: 11 I first played a Palen Jazz Performer in May 2006 at the Long Island Guitar show. I told Lou Del Rosso, owner of Guitars n Jazz, that I loved it and would order one immediately. I did. I received the guitar in September 2007. It was well worth […]