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Gallery: Classical

The pictures below show Classical guitars. Click on a picture below for a larger view:

Guitar on an outside bench where I sometimes play them inHeels are shaped in the traditional Spanish styleFor Brazilian Rosewood to attain this colour the tree would have to have been about 200 years old and rotting from the centre when it was harvested. The carpenter I bought it from had had it since the 1960s but believes it was shipped in the 1930s.
Top in European SpruceEuropean Spruce topBrazilian rosewoodOut of powerful sunlight this wood appears almost black.
The shape is based on a Santos Hernandez guitarBrazilian RosewoodHighly figured Brazilian rosewoodSitka top
I've used this shape for the head since 1972A 'V' join used by Hauser, Romanillas and othersBack in Honduras RosewoodLaminated struts which increases strength and reduces weight
Cedar topped classical with pegsBrazilian sidesBrazilian 4-piece backWalnut back
English Walnut sidesRosewood and box bindings on Walnut sidesWalnut facia
Snakewood with Sloane tunersBlack Brazilian sidesCedar top classical guitar
Brazilian rosewood sidesRosewood back.  The wood was shipped in the 1930sBlake Robson tuners with ebony buttonsSpruce top guitar
Four piece backRosewood SideMachines made by Northumbria Tuning Machines to match head faciaSnakewood head
Rosette and labelBrazilian rosewood backSpruce top and rosewood sidesRosewood side
Brazilian rosewood back with the makers reflectionBack made of several pieces to create double white linesRosewood sideCedar top guitar

Classical Cutaway

Cutaways make playing easier for some people. There is no real difference in the sound between a classical guitar and a cutaway because the part that is removed is a non- vibrating part of the sound board. Cutaways can have either a whole piece of wood or an inserted piece to highlight the curve.

Although this guitar is a classical guitar in sound and action it has an under-saddle pickup for amplification.  (The person who commissioned it does a lot of gigging in large venues)Back and sides in KingwoodKingwood (slightly denser than Brazilian Rosewood) rarely comes in pieces large enough to make a back or sidesThe maple insert is the same thickness as the sides
Olivewood and Brazilian rosewood back
Olivewood sideCutaway sideDetail of rosette and labelFront of new cutaway classical
Because of the figure in the olivewood the sides were difficult to bend and had to be lined with boxwood to prevent future splittingRosewood headSycamore inlay around part of the cutawayAlthough I had enough olive to make a complete back I decided to cut out some of the knotty, cracked wood and replace it with a billet of rosewood
A classical guitar with several bespoke featuresThe top is old cedar with light bearclaw throughout.  It also has a cutaway to the 13th fret which makes it easier playing the top frets.The back and sides are old Brazilian rosewoodThe bindings are snakewood. The armrest is made from once piece of African Blackwood
Most of the guitar is french polished but some of the parts aren'tThe maple neck is oiledThe bridge and armrest oiled before gluing in placeThe bridge and armrest after being glued in place.  The bridge has 13 holes so that none of the strings crosses over the tie block.
Snakewood head fascia.  The Rodgers machines have offset holes so that the strings pass almost perfectly straight over the ebony nut.Buttons match the head fasciaBottom shows pick up entry (flush with bottom of guitar), and ebony strap holder.This guitar has a 20th fret and a snakewood rosette.


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