Thomas Jefferson planted a tulip poplar tree outside of his Monticello home in 1807. For two-hundred years the tree grew —  a whopping 22-foot circumference —  until disease forced the removal of the tree in 2008. In an outstanding bit of luck, luthiers Jeff Huss and Mark Dalton of Huss & Dalton Guitars were granted permission to use the milled wood from the tree to create five or six historical guitars. The guitars, tentatively called the ‘Thomas Jefferson Tulip Poplar Model,’ are still in the design process, but Jeff and Mark promise that further details will soon be released. Thirty percent of proceeds from the guitars will be donated to the Jefferson Foundation, each guitar will cost approximately $10,000 – 15,000. This is the first time Mark and Jeff are working with poplar wood for building a guitar, but the duo seems convinced it will produce a masterpiece instrument. Ironically, Thomas Jefferson is known as an amateur violinist, however his wife, Martha, and other relatives were all ardent guitarists.  More information on the guitar can be found at hussanddalton.com.