BRAZILIAN
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Models and Prices
Remember, all photos are thumbnails. Click for larger option
You're listening to a 60 second sample of Stephen Aron's performance of
"Op.56 No.2 by Chopin from his amazing newly-released CD, The Complete Chopin Mazurkas. Steve is playing a 640mm 2001 Thames Classical
Spruce with East Indian Back & Sides.
| Soundboard | Back & Sides | Finishes | Caring for your Instrument | Testimonials | Guitars Available Now | How to Order | Overview | Home |
This model features Brazilian Rosewood back and sides; Italian Spruce or
Western Red Cedar soundboard. Comes with Sloane tuners*, double-veneered
peg head, Spanish Cedar neck, Ivory or Mastodon fittings, and the finish
of your choice. All Rosette and purflings are designed and made by myself.
Click here for more details and Rosette options for 2006; Tornavoz option (click here for more information)
Price: US $9,500 (includes case). Click on price to convert to your own currency. See "How
to order" (link above).
.*Other Tuner Options: click on Alessi Tuners for additional price information.
. Kevlar or compositive-based soundboard options available. See "Overview"
(link above) and call or e-mail for further details.
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This model features East Indian Rosewood (above is Brazilian Rosewood) back and sides; Italian Spruce or Western Red Cedar soundboard. Comes with Sloane tuners*, double-veneered peg head, Spanish Cedar neck, Ivory or Mastodon fittings, and the finish of your choice. All Rosettes and purflings are designed and made by myself.
Click here for details and Rosettes options for 2007.
Price: US $7,500.00 (includes case). Click on price to convert to your own currency. See "How to Order" (link above)
.*Other Tuner Options: Alessi Tuners for additional price information (show above).
. Kevlar or compositive-based soundboard options available. See "Overview"
(link above) and call or e-mail for further details.
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This model features Maple back and sides; Italian Spruce or Western Red Cedar Soundboard. Comes with Sloane tuners*, double-veneered peg head, Spanish Cedar neck, Ivory or Mastodon fittings, and the finish of your choice. All Rosette and purflings are designed and made by myself.
Click here for details and Rosette options for 2007.
Price: US $7,500.00 (includes case). Click on price to convert to your own currency. See "How
to Order" (link above).
.*Other Tuner Options: Alessi Tuners for additional price information.
. Kevlar or compositive-based soundboard options available. See "Overview"
(link above) and call or e-mail for further details.
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I measured a Luis Panormo guitar in the collection of The Boston Museum
of Fine Arts and this is a guitar based on that model. European or Italian
Spruce soundboard; back and sides are made of birds-eye Maple, flamed Maple
or Rosewood. Neck is Maple stained black with the traditional V-joint.
Either fanned or ladder bracing with an amber French Polish. Sloane tuners
or your personal option. This type of guitar is surprisingly loud, responsive
and easy to play music of Sor, Giuliani, etc. Has a wonderful balance between
bass and treble and a sweetness that is not found in the modern guitar.
Price: starting at U.S. $6,000.00. Not including case. Call or e-mail for more details and discussion.
Note: Stauffer models forthcoming.
RENE FRANCOIS LACOTE
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"...if I wanted an instrument, I would procure it .. from M. Lacote, a French
maker, the only person who, besides his talents, has proved to me that he
possesses the quality of not being inflexible to reasoning... The guitars which
I have always given the preference are..., and those of M. Lacote of Paris."
- Fernando Sor, "Method for the Spanish Guitar" English Translation of 1836, published by Tecla Editions.
This model incorporates all the features that made Lacote one of the greatest
luthier's of the 19th century. Elements of his work can be seen in the
early guitars of Herman Hauser I. The top is made from Italian Spruce.
The back is made from a core of Spruce with European Circassian Walnut
Burl veneer as well as the sides. This process of veneering is more labor
intensive and costly; however, Lacote seems to have preferred this method
of building over solid wood backs and sides. One can only speculate as
to the reason behind this. My thoughts are basically; 1) there must have
been a large industry supplying these French builders with veneers; and
2) Lacote must have felt that this added to the quality of the sound, therefore,
providing a sweeter tone. He was known to make guitars from solid wood
as well. This model has a fingerboard running flush with the top. On the
body are inlaid ebony with ivory frets; a very elegant feature. Also, the
rosette and purfling are a classical Lacote trademark of simple alternating
black/white veneers. Originally, the white strips were probably made of
whale bone; however, I've used Maple.
The top bracing is the classic ladder-braced Lacote design. String length is 630mm; however, any reasonable adjustment to this is possible. The head has the traditional V-joint and is fitted with Ebony friction pegs. Finish is a rich amber French polish. Options available for this model include: raised fingerboard and mechanical tuners. Also, Rodgers makes Lacote style tuners; however, I would need to know several years in advance to fit a particular guitar with these due to the availability of Rodgers tuners.
Price: starting at U.S. $6,000.00 for solid wood design and $6,500.00 for veneered. Not including case. Call or e-mail for more details and discussion.
Guitars Through The
Ages By James Westbrook. Features 6 original period instruments from the author's collection: ca. 1780 Baroque guitar, 1830 Gennaro Fabricatore, 1830 René François Lacôte, 1838 Louis Panormo, 1889 Antonio de Torres, 1966 Robert Bouchet. The photos are very high quality and detailed; the guitars are spectacular - especially the Fabricatore which was made for a very wealthy client, having ebony backs and sides, detailed vine inlays, mother of pearl purfling, ivory edging, etc.. The book has a general illustrated overview of classical guitar instrument history, and ends with a semi-technical description of each instrument, including measurements and X-Rays. It was also interesting to see the evolution from the Baroque predecessor through the 19th century to Torres and modern adaptations. There are not many books of this type, and it is well worth $20. Limited edition of 1,000 copies available from the author.
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East Indian Rosewood Back and Sides
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Birdseye Maple Back & Sides
This particular guitar is taken from a template that was made based onthe
FE09, the famous Torres guitar that Miguel Llobet used extensively in his
recordings and concerts and was shown to Herman Hauser I. The FE09 was
used as a model by Hauser in many of his guitars along with Segovia's famous
Ramirez that Santos Fermandez buit. The FE09 Rosette is the classic rosette
that appears on most all of Hauser's guitars; however, the photo above
is not a copy of that rosette.
This guitar is made from Birdseye Maple with a beautiful, rich, amber french
polish and an Italian Spruce top. Hauser built in the style of Panormo
and Lacote before meeting Segovia and shifted into the Spanish style of
building; however, he retained the classicl "V" joint in the
tradition of Panormo and Lacote.
In the surviving guitars of Torres, he only made one more Rosewood guitar
than Maple which seemed to indicate that Torres had a definite preference
for Maple and Birdseye, in particular. Interesting to note, Tarrega's 1st
Torres (and on many accounts, his favorite), had Maple back and sides.
Birdseye Maple only grows in the Eastern United States; hence, it was considered
a rare commodity at that time. Also, interesting to note, Hoffman, Weiss'
lute-builder, in the early 18th century used Birdseye Maple on many of
his surviving lutes. This is amazing considering the time as it was imported
from America. In the 21st century, it appears that we have forsaken this
wonderful wood for a preference towards the Rosewoods.
The original Torres of Llobet had a string length of 647mm. The copy Hauser
made, had a string length of 642mm. This size guitar is well-suited for
scales ranging from 640mm to 650mm.
Price: U.S. $7,500.00 Birdseye or Flamed Maple; as well as East Indian Rosewood
Price: U.S. $9,500.00 Brazilian Rosewood
Joaquin Ruiz Student Guitar
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Joaquin Ruiz Student Guitars are made in Spain of all solid woods. I procure these guitars from Spain, set them up and install upgraded tuners. Please call for details.I've chosen to import these guitars over the Chinese made student guitars as I feel the quality control and the long history of the spanish guitar making tradition results in a superior student instrument.
Price: U.S. $1325.00 for Classical (includes case)
Price: U.S. $1275.00 for Flamenco (includes case)