2005 spruce/Brazilian rosewood classical

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For the back and sides of this instrument I used old Brazilian rosewood, the color of dark chocolate and perfectly quartersawn, which glows under the high-gloss French polish. The top is master grade European spruce from Italy's Val di Fiemme, the Alpine valley which was the historic source of spruce for Stradivarius and other great Cremona luthiers. Binding, peghead face and back volute, and fingerboard are ebony, and the bridge is Brazilian rosewood.

The tone is magnificent. The trebles are very sweet and clear, with an open, insistent E string, contrasting nicely with  rich, throaty, velvety basses. The guitar is responsive to a light touch with incredible reserves of power.

Italian spruce top; handmade rosette with wheat and chain design

Tuning machines are Rodgers, of my design, inspired by replacement machines I had fabricated for an 1878 Torres guitar. As always, the rosette was made just for this instrument using the same techniques as Torres did--no end-grain sticks, all side-grain veneers that shimmer under the polish. 

The neck has a comfortable elliptical shape and is reinforced with double graphite rods for stability. The ebony heel cap is decorated with my "Moorish arch." Scale length is 650 mm, nut width is 52.8 mm, and the bridge uses the 12-hole system at the tie block. Both nut and saddle are compensated at each individual string for better intonation.

Closeup of Brazilian rosewood sides with wheat purfling strip; ebony headstock with matching
wheat purfling, Rodgers tuning machines

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