Hear this African Blackwood, SINKER REDWOOD top 
Whenever I have the privilege to work with Sinker redwood and African Blackwood, i know that the resulting instrument will be an epic one. The deep, guttural sound of African blackwood, combined with the Brazilian rosewood Double top and the Lattice braced Sinker redwood/Cedar top combine in creating a sound so unique as the blend of different tobaccos may be... Cavatina comes natural to play on a guitar so expressive and deep and working around the tricky barres with hammer ons and pull offs is swift and agile on the stylized 640mm radiused actin. The instrument is of amazing beauty and the pictures cannot deliver all her splendor. The owner of this babe will treasure unforgettable moments of music on this amazing masterpiece.

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. Lattice delivers a lot of volume a tremendous clarity. 

640 mm  Scale length

X-ray view of a Bellucci lattice braced top

African Blackwood, The hardest,  most rare and expensive Tropical wood on the planet.

Hear this African Blackwood, SINKER REDWOOD top 
I can assure you that whoever is lucky enough to buy this Cutaway Queen, will be the owner of on of the best Cutaways EVER BUILT ! I know it is quite a statement, but I have built over 850 instruments and played dozens of brands and I know exactly what I am talking about. The sound and looks on this African Blackwood Double top masterpiece is simply ASTONISHING. Solid Basses that send shivers through the player's chest, trebles that shine marvelously carrying the melody MASTERFULLY. Art is in every little detail that make this masterpiece and these details add up to hundreds.... Easy to play making you feel that the instrument is 100% with you helping you create he BEST music....

The double top VARIATION 1, 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 (Cedar, Image below) is located halfway between the main top and the back. This top vibrates a fraction of a second after the first one creating an immense sustain and punch.

640 mm  Scale length

African Blackwood, The hardest,  most rare and expensive Tropical wood on the planet.

US$ 2,280 1,594 €uros

US$ 2,280
1,594 €uros

640 mm  Scale length

Hear this BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD Concert guitar 
Barrios' Una Limosna por el amor de Dios is perhaps the best piece to test an instrument on a hugely vast spectrum. As I played the piece I could immediately notice the spectacular 5th string that carries a counterpoint line in the first few measures of the piece; The 6th sends a big punch through the player's body; the third sings wonderfully and this alone sets her apart from many concert classicals. Finally, the melody is clear and sweet and sings majestically.
I achieved this by using one of the oldest sets of Brazilian rosewood I have had the chance to work. It air dried almost 100 years which means that WW1 had not even started when this set begun drying ! This certainly puts the age of this set in perspective. I matched the Brazilian rosewood with a gorgeous set of Cedar and bonded the different parts using all the Bellucci artistic enhancements to make her Royal and a TOTAL eye candy. The action is easy and I can move around the different positions od Una limosna with ease and practically no left hand squeaks. A true JEWEL !

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. Lattice delivers a lot of volume a tremendous clarity. 
 
 

X-ray view of a Bellucci lattice braced top

Hear this African Blackwood B&S Masterpiece 

This Wonderful African Blackwood Nomex Double Composite top will simply blow you away ! She is not only sober and elegant to look at but delivers  a sound that is only achievable by the African Blackwood/Spruce combination. The hardest wood on the planet (African Blackwood) is mixed with the highest growing tree ion the planet (Alpine Spruce, -1,800 mts-). The mixture is explosive to say the least. The clarity of cedar is enhanced by the tremendous power of Blackwood and the sustain of the Nomex double top. PERFECT! I made her 660 to satisfy those players with larger hands and/or bodies. Still, you can request to have her changed to 640 or 650mm- allow 1 week). Asturias shines majestically on this babe and I feel as though I am driving a super sports car... The bass line vibrates generously as the mid and high strings shine clearly throughout the work. The sound does not decay as you approach the higher positions...this is part of the Nomex contribution to guitar sound. A JEWEL guitar !! 

The Nomex (Composite double top) allows the top to vibrate fully and uniformly achieving a sound that instead of dying immediately, is sustained and then released creating a huge reverb ... on the digital db meter, double tops can push the needle up to 93.3 dbs (as a reference, keep in mind that seasoned Contreras and Ramirez guitars seldom reach 90). One of my Ziricote/Spruce peaked 93.5
 

View of The Bellucci Nomex Composite top with a 60 Watts bulb. See the honeycomb cells against the light

African Blackwood, The hardest,  most rare and expensive Tropical wood on the planet.

Hear this BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD Concert guitar 
When I think of "Spanish Sound", I cannot think of a better instrument to deliver it than this amazing double top. Asturias shines majestically and you feel that the sound capability of this babe is endless. What a presence !! The sound changes immediately to every slight change in the angle of attack of the right hand fingers. The phrasing becomes spontaneous and this is quite a challenge to achieve in a piece like Asturias. Well, not on this babe. Everything is natural when performed on this amazing guitar.
I indulged in every Bellucci guitar construction enhancement to make her BEAUTIFUL to both the ear and the eye. This is one of those amazing guitars you do not want to miss. Amazing !

The double top VARIATION 1, 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 (Cedar, Image below) is located halfway between the main top and the back. This top vibrates a fraction of a second after the first one creating an immense sustain and punch.

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.

640 mm  Scale length

 

VIEW OF THE SECOND TOP

US$ 2,280 1,594 €uros

US$ 2,280
1,594 €uros

640 mm  Scale length

Hear this BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD Concert guitar 
This spruce top is the type of guitar that makes you go WOW from the very first note I pluck on her. An amazing sound that projects majestically due in part to the double top (made also in Brazilian rose) and to the lattice braced spruce combination that produces some of the finest instruments o the planet. The set of Brazilian rose is originally from Cascavel (Rattle Snake, Brazil) and I made it a double top using another set of Brazilian rose from Minas Gerais. Contreras used to make the double top in cedar, but in my region Brazilian rosewood is quite affordable. therefore, I indulged in using it for the double top (and sides). Everything on this beauty speaks of art and beauty and you can contemplate her for hours at a time. Asturias felt like it was going to explode and the lung on this babe is simply AMAZING. Swift, easy action to render the piece like the best players out there... 

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. Lattice delivers a lot of volume a tremendous clarity. 
 

X-ray view of a Bellucci lattice braced top

Italian Alpine spruce

Hear this BRAZILIAN ROSEWOOD Concert guitar 
This is the oldest set of Brazilian rose I had the chance to work with. It has been air drying since 1909, way before the beginning of WW1. The set is responsible for he mature sound and the powerful and fast response on this amazing babe. As I played Saltarello, I could feel the amazing punch of the D-A-D bass pedal sending amazing vibrations throughout the instrument. The vibrations would pass to my chest and the feeling is amazing. I made her a double top Contreras style, Variation 1. What this means is that a second top, Cedar, is mounted halfway between the main Alpine spruce top and the back. The blend  that Spruce and Cedar bring about is fabulous. You get the clarity of Spruce and the amazing punch of cedar. The sustain is breathtaking. The second top vibrates several seconds after the first top ceased to do so. Playing the instrument is easy due to the low action on the radiused 640mm action. A true masterpiece!

The double top VARIATION 1, 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 (Cedar, Image below) is located halfway between the main top and the back. This top vibrates a fraction of a second after the first one creating an immense sustain and punch.

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. 

640 mm  Scale length

 

VIEW OF THE SECOND TOP

Italian Alpine spruce