When I first told Tom Sands of my idea for The Six-String Collective, he floated the possibility of launching a brand new model as our first Tom Sands guitar. I didn’t have to think twice and the next thing we knew we had specs confirmed for the first Sands Model XS.
Fast forward to March 2025 and the guitar is ready. After debuting to the lucky ticket holders who attended the sell-out inaugural String Break guitar show this last weekend, we’re very excited to showcase this breathtaking instrument.
Watch Tom Sands unveil the Model XS:
The guitar exhibits the new XS parlour body shape, which takes influence from Tom’s fellow Somogyi apprentice Michihiro Matsuda Parlour while still being a quintessentially Tom Sands design.
An exquisite set of Brazilian rosewood back and sides is paired with a top of Special Reserve German spruce. Tom elected for a Spanish cedar neck, topped with more stunning Brazilian rosewood.
The showpiece feature is the quite sublime headstock. An open design version of Tom’s signature headstock shape, decorated with Brazilian rosewood front and back veneers in a gloss finish while the Spanish cedar headstock core maintains the same satin finish as the neck with black and white detailing. There is a small ramp behind the nut, also finished in satin, which gives the strings ample clearance so that they don't touch the headstock's frame. There are even Tom's custom-made Scheller signature open-geared tuners in the shape of the Tom Sands headstock. Unbelieve attention to detail.
These photos don't quite portray the small size of this instrument. It is a wonderfully intimate instrument to sit and play, yet Tom has also added a subtle mini arm bevel to ensure the player experiences the ultimate comfort.
This is all well and good, but how does it sound? The answer is - absolutely incredible, and quite mind-boggling! How can such a huge, balanced tone come from such a small instrument? We'll let Stuart Ryan show you...
Getting this tone from an instrument of this size is a remarkable feat, I'm sure you'll agree, but not surprising given Tom’s pedigree and tutelage under the great Ervin Somogyi.
The Brazilian rosewood theme continues in the form of the bridge, binding and heelcap. Even the 'nosette' - the lining of the inside edge of the soundhole - is adorned with the coveted South American wood, certainly befitting an instrument of this calibre. Keeping it safe in transit is the included Hoffee fiberglass hard shell case.
While this is the first Model XS Tom has built, we can't image that it will be the last. This instrument is in stock and available now, though we don't anticipate that it will hang around for long.
For more information, please get in touch.
By Richard Poll, Founder - The Six-String Collective
