Ditson - 000-15 AGED Sunburst

Forget the artificial shine of a new instrument straight from the factory: the Ditson by Sigma 000-15 AGED has a distressed satin finish that gives the impression of having been through decades of speakeasies and passionate jams. Its 000-sized body, thinner than a Dreadnought, snuggles up to you for an immediate connection between your chest and the vibrations of the mahogany.

The brown wood is used throughout, from the top to the back. This configuration favours a voice focused on the midrange, which avoids drowning out human voices or other instruments during an acoustic duet. The Dovetail Neck Joint ensures that every note played on the Laurel fingerboard retains its thickness and substance.

The grip is totally agile, with a low-profile neck that's easy on the thumb. With its weathered appearance, the technique remains modern, with a 43 mm nut and chromed Diecast tuners that hold their own. The original D'Addario EXP16 strings slide over bone saddles, a material that optimises the transfer of energy to the soundboard.

This is the instrument of choice for fingerstyle or pick playing in your living room or at intimate rehearsals. Its compact size makes it ideal for travelling. What's more, it has the kind of acoustic maturity you often expect from much more expensive models.