The Bach Prelude felt wonderful to my playing and the guitar has a deep yet clear voice. You find the string under your fingertip immediately after you plucked her and this allows for control over sound and the creation of a vast palette of colors. The bass is tremendously powerful and you can feel the wood sing with an almost human quality to it. The trebles are sober, clear and perfectly separated. Expressing every musical phrase acquires depth and she allows for the performer to say the same thing in so many different ways. In the mid part of the Prelude she acquires mystery and she is fresh and aggressive when the trebles must sparkle. Amazing response !

The selection of the marquetry was in a accordance with every single part used in the construction. The Cocobolo violin tie and bridge with the beautiful pearl inlay work add a touch of royalty to this amazing babe. The armrest is also quite striking since it has all the flame in the grain of Cocobolo to show for. The lute type soundport not only allows you to better monitor your playing but also helps the guitar project in all directions, just like a violin and helps the higher frequencies leave the body much faster.

Cocobolo knobs for the tuners was the next detail and finally, the special cutaway that allows ease of play well into the 14th (F#) position which is as far as 90% of classics go. Playability feels natural and easy and you are never strained. Reaching every note is comfortable and you know that the instrument is there to work with you and never poses a challenge. Do not miss out on this fantastic guitar.

650 mm or 640 mm?
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.

The double top with the 9 braces Hauser fan, was developed and introduced by  Master Luthier Manuel Contreras the II at the end of the 70s and reached its peak in the 80s. In this Variation of the Double top, a second top is located halfway between the main top and the back. It is held in place by means of little Mahogany bridges located above and below the second top along the inner part of the sides (frames 1 & 3). The second top rests on the upper bridges and once it is glued on each little bridge (frame 2), a second bridge is glued on top of the preceding corresponding bridge below the second top (frame 3). This second top vibrates a fraction of a second after the first one creating an immense sustain and punch using the air moving inside the sound box and thus creating a multiplying effect of the sonorous waves.

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.

Chinook helicopters are used to extract these monster Cedar trees  from the thick mountainous canopy. Logged trees can have a diameter of almost 3 meters... HUGE

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