African Blackwood B&S, Cedar top Concert guitar. August 17, 2009.

Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening', and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.

African Blackwood B&S, Cedar top, DOBLE TAPA Contreras style, Ebony bindings, 1/16 radiused ebony fingerboard, violin tie, armrest & bridge. 640mm fret spacing. Soundport in upper bout. Embossed leather case included. Wonderful sound, WORK OF ART !
This jewel was built using one very beautiful set of African Blackwood fro the back and sides. This is the hardest tropical wood on the planet ad delivers a sound that makes every other species pale in comparison. I often say that it has "an almost human" quality to the sound. Like a night owl in the bass delivers clear trebles throughout the fingerboard. I made it a Doble tapa Contreras stile with 1943 Hauser bracing. Decorated her with a Rodriguez inspired handmade Russia rosette and luxury trims on all sides and Ebony bindings. I chose to play Romance because I wanted to put the spotlight on her capability to make the melody shine against an everlasting bass base.

Bellucci guitars
Brown plush interior

The doble tapa, was developed and introduced by Master Luthier Manuel Contreras the II at the end of the 70s and reached its peak in the 80s. The word "Tapa" in Spanish
translates to top in English but it refers to the back of the instrument. Therefore, Contreras doble tapa is actually a "Double back".

Radiused or flat fingerboard?
The radiused fingerboard has been around the acoustic and the electric guitar since day one. The same is true for most instruments of the Stringed family of instruments (violas, violins cellos, bass). Radiusing (image above) makes barre and left hand stopping A LOT easier. The only drawback is that you will NEVER want to play a flat fingerboard after that. If you are having your custom guitar built, I am all pro radiusing the fingerboard. The standard fingerboard is flat.

The hand embossed leather case is a work of art on its own right. Built by one of a handful of very talented leather embossers in Latin America. Its built following my specifications for the interior to fit Bellucci guitars like a glove. All Plush interior, key and accessories compartment. You can request an upgrade to a Cow hive front and back version.

640mm or 650 mm?
Regarding 650mm or 640 mm fingerboard fret spacing, keep the following rule at hand: If the distance between the tip of your thumb and the tip of your little finger is equal or less than 9 in. when fully stretched, use 640 mm. Adapting from one scale to the other takes no adaptation.

Hear this African Blackwood B&S, Cedar top MASTERPIECE!

HEAR THIS DOBLE TAPA+LATTICE MASTERWORK

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African Blackwood B&S, Cedar top Concert guitar

African Blackwood B&S, Cedar top Concert guitar

African Blackwood, Cedar top Concert guitar.

96 years air dried Brazilian rosewood B&S, DOBLE TAPA, CONTRERAS STYLE (variation 1)

* ACTUAL PICTURES AND VIDEO

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