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The first half of our lives is ruined by our parents,
and the second half by our children
 
Custom Series Testimonials Bellucci guitars GALLERY Guitar workshop
Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top, Brazilian rosewood bindings, radiused ebony fingerboard, violin tie, armrest & bridge. 640mm fret spacing, soundport in upper bout, double soundport in lower bout. Embossed leather case included. Big Sound, WONDERFUL CUTAWAY !!
I still keep the first classical guitar LP my father gave me when I was a 7 years old.  It's titled Maestro Segovia and on the cover, Maestro Segovia holds this dark colored top beauty... This is what inspires the construction of my redwood tops. I used a 94 years air dried set of Brazilian rosewood for the back and sides. I matched it with a phenomenal set of Redwood that works with the rosewood in creating a pure breed Spanish sound. The trebles ring majestically and the power she puts out is UNBELIEVABLE. Deep, round basses to sustain the melody and fill the room with a myriad overtones and harmonics. Swift action on the radiused 640 mm scale will make you enjoy every minute with this concert masterpiece. 
Doble tapa
Making the Contreras Double top
Making the Contreras Doble tapa

Bellucci guitars
 Brown plush interior

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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".

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. As you see from the picture above, the thinned area is approximately 1.2 mm thick (VS 2-2.5 in the standard thinning techniques). Lattice delivers a lot of volume (approximately 21 dbs more) and wonderfully clear trebles.

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.

Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Redwood top Concert guitar.
HEAR THIS DOBLE TAPA+lattice MASTERWORK

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Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top

Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top
Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top
Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top
 
Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top

Aged Brazilian rosewood B&S, Doble tapa (Contreras style)+LATTICE, REDWOOD top
 
 
 
 

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

* ACTUAL PICTURES AND VIDEO
 
 

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