Glen Hansard

“The Horse.”

Purchased in a Dublin music shop in 1990, the Horse has had quite a ride over the past 20 years. It first served as Glen’s street companion as he busked for a living on Grafton Street.  That year also saw the formation of The Frames (named for all the bicycle frames around Glen’s house), one of the most influential bands on the thriving Dublin music scene at the time.


As The Horse worked harder and harder, its working class cred began to show, as a hole started to develop in the cedar top where Glen’s fingernails and pick fell naturally on the thin finish. By that time Glen had developed a bond with the guitar, so rather than put it out to pasture, he just kept playing it. Today, it’s one of the most recognizable and iconic instruments in guitardom.


In 2009, The Horse required its first visit to the repair shop to fix a loose brace and stabilize the top.  Glen was a bit apprehensive, but the repair was a success and Glen praised the work of California luthier, Bernie Tusko.


Glen’s NP15 was an early model in the Takamine Natural Series. These guitars feature a solid cedar top, no pickguard and a thin satin finish for maximum freedom of vibration. The NP15 is no longer made, but has a close relative in the ETN10C.