African Balckwood B&S, DOUBLE top V1 + Alpine top Concert guitar. Feb 3, 2010.

Health is merely the slowest possible rate at which one can die

African Blackwood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style), Lattice Braced Alpine Spruce TOP. Ebony bindings, 16" radiused ebony fingerboard, violin tie, armrest & bridge. Soundport in upper bout, 640mm fret spacing. Embossed leather case included. GRAND GUITAR !

The double top, 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".

The lattice is a concept based on the A frame of grand pianos. The back and sides are kept rigid by means of a sturdy A shaped frame and the top is thinned as much as possible to allow the top to vibrate generously. Lattice delivers a lot of volume a tremendous clarity.

640mm or 650 mm?
Guitar scale lenght

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 for radiusing the fingerboard. The standard fingerboard is flat.

Radiused or flat fingerboard?