Luthier Adam Buchwald founded Iris Guitar Company in 2018 with a clear vision: to build instruments with custom-shop quality using smart, streamlined construction. Sharing a workshop with its bespoke sibling brands, Circle Strings and Fairbanks Guitars , Iris draws on the same skilled team of builders. It also benefits from direct access to exceptional tonewoods, thanks to Buchwald’s ownership of the guitar-making supply company Allied Lutherie. This connection gives Iris a materials advantage that’s rare among small-scale builders.
Though Iris guitars are often positioned as budget-friendly workhorses, the MS-00 I reviewed—a custom build showcased at the January 2025 NAMM show—is a different kind of beast. Priced at $5,100, this instrument features a sinker salmon Sitka spruce top, Madagascar rosewood back and sides, and a Brazilian rosewood bridge and fingerboard—all chosen for enhanced tonal clarity. In spending time with the MS-00, I found a guitar that’s straightforward, well-balanced, and built to be played, not pampered.
Vintage Vibe, Modern Touch
The matte dark burst and elegant body shape of the MS-00 evoke the classic Gibson L-00. That’s no coincidence—this mid-’30s-style guitar was developed in close collaboration with Folkway Music’s Mark Stutman, a vintage expert and luthier known for his deep knowledge of prewar Gibsons. From his shop in Waterloo, Ontario, Stutman brought both a sharp eye and a well-trained ear to the project, helping the MS-00 capture the voice and character of a golden-era flattop.
While the standard MS-00 starts at $2,350, the guitar I reviewed includes several features from the $3,150 Mark Stutman spec—such as a wider 1-3/4-inch nut, 2-5/16-inch bridge spacing, and a modified V-neck profile. But this particular build pushes things even further, with a more customized voice and feel that sets it apart from either production model.
Madagascar rosewood is often viewed as a close substitute for the coveted Brazilian, and is only used on a select few new guitars these days. The back on this instrument is constructed from four pieces rather than two. True to Iris’ ethos, this choice reflects the company’s commitment to using great tonewoods that might fall short of size requirements or cosmetic standards for higher-end boutique builds, but still deliver outstanding sonic character.
The result is a refined take on the MS-00—visually distinctive and sonically responsive, with just enough individuality to stand out. And for those inspired by this build, Iris does accept custom orders, allowing players to request specific combinations of tonewoods, neck specs, and cosmetic details.
Comfort and Playability
I found the vintage-style open-back tuners easy to use and precise in holding pitch. While the modified-V shaped mahogany neck wouldn’t be my first choice—the profile is more pronounced than I typically prefer—the standard MS-00 comes with a round C-shaped neck, which I’d likely find more to my taste. Like other Iris guitars, this model features a wider, squarer heel that accommodates the bolt-on design. Though visually a bit clunky, it really only affects the feel at the 12th fret. Otherwise, the action was comfortable right out of the case, and the fret ends were clean and smooth across the board. Overall, the guitar played effortlessly—inviting long stretches of practice or performance without fatigue.
Versatile Tone Across Styles
Using the included Iris 1.5mm ivoroid pick, I started noodling in G major in open position and immediately noticed the full, articulate midrange—along with a tight low end that provided a clear, unmuddied drive. The low E string could handle some push, so I improvised a strong but groovy strum on an open E pedal while playing diatonic thirds on the fourth and fifth strings. I found the guitar capable of taking a heavy strum without sacrificing clarity.
I then moved into an E minor bass chord pattern and was impressed by how clearly the bass notes cut through the mix. Switching to the classic flatpicking tune “Red Haired Boy,” I found the notes well balanced across the strings in first position—each one distinct, yet blending together with just the right amount of natural “guitar-verb.” The ladder bracing may contribute to this character as well, giving the guitar a dry, punchy response with a bit of old-school edge—especially noticeable on hard strums and quick note runs.
Testing the upper register, I picked through the B section of the classic valse musette “Mystérieuse” to hear the note separation up the neck. Here, I found the taper of the neck more pronounced than I’d prefer, but when I dug in at higher positions, the guitar opened up and handled the added dynamics well.
I shifted to fingerpicking Leonard Cohen’s “Suzanne,” and the MS-00 responded sweetly. When I strummed through the first half of the trad-jazz staple “Blues My Naughty Sweetie Gives to Me,” the guitar held its own surprisingly well in this jazzier context. I wrapped up with a chord-melody version of “April Showers,” and the guitar handled it all—full chords up and down the neck, dynamic contrasts without tonal loss, and clear single-note lines throughout the fretboard.
High-End Build, Vintage Soul
At $5,100, this NAMM-showcase MS-00 is not exactly the budget-minded flattop Iris is best known for—but it doesn’t pretend to be. With its combination of premium tonewoods, vintage-inspired neck carve, and responsive voicing, it delivers the kind of tactile, dynamic feel you’d expect from a boutique instrument. Whether you’re fingerpicking, strumming and singing, backing a band, or taking the lead, the MS-00 proves that Iris can compete at the highest level.
SPECS
BODY
14-fret 00; sinker salmon Sitka spruce top; Adirondack spruce ladder bracing; four-piece Madagascar rosewood back and sides; black/white/black purfling and rosette; Brazilian rosewood bridge with bone saddle (2-5/16″ spacing); firestripe pickguard; satin dark burst nitrocellulose finish
NECK
Mahogany; bolt-on, modified V profile; 24.75″ scale; Brazilian rosewood fretboard with 16″ radius; 1-3/4″ bone nut; ivoroid binding; nickel/silver frets; six-petal flower headstock inlay; vintage-style open-back tuners with cream knobs; satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish
OTHER
D’Addario XS Light Phosphor Bronze Coated strings (.012–.053); TKL hardshell case
MADE IN USA
PRICE $5,100 as reviewed/from $2,350
Clora Schewe
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