The Instruments
My work is firmly rooted in the Hauser instrument-building tradition. Over the years I have added many of my own refinements, including composite or double-top construction for the sounding board. These are true concert guitars, with an exciting, magical sound that is a joy to play.
Base price is $8,500.00 in US funds. Includes Gilbert tuners, a hardshell case, and a one-year warranty. See the orders page for more options.
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Sound
- Volume: a broad dynamic range. The sound stays clear and focused at all dynamic levels, even the loudest - a sound you can "push" without distortion.
- Projection: a carrying sound with a strong fundamental that gets to the back of the hall. Even when you play softly, the sound gets out there.
- Bright, strong, singing treble: a "fat", sustaining, satisfying sound.
- Deep, full bass: adds great richness throughout the range of the instrument; clear and well-defined at all dynamic levels.
- Exceptional evenness and balance: every note is strong and clear. Across and along the strings - all the notes are there, at all dynamic levels.
- Great clarity and separation - notes are distinct and audible in the chords.
- Timbre: Lots of color and variation, from silky smooth to warm and sweet to hard and crisp to gutsy.
- A strong, sustaining sound. Notes hold steadily without wavering.
- Beauty of sound - beautiful, expressive, bell-like sound - a truly musical sound.
Playability
- Designed to fit your hand and playing style: custom neck profile, string spacing, and action height
- Easy to play: comfortable, ergonomic neck and fingerboard ease barreing and those long left-hand stretches.
- Elevated fingerboard aids playing above 12th fret. Amount of elevation can be customized to fit your needs.
- Extremely responsive to the right hand: light construction creates an expressive instrument.
- You feel the instrument vibrate. It's exciting to play - a living thing on your lap.
Wood
- Built with the finest instrument woods - beautiful pieces of wood with superb tap tones - all well-quartered and seasoned many years.
- Traditional and non-traditional woods are available - Indian, Madagascar, and Honduras rosewood, Cocobolo, Mahogany, Bigleaf and European Maple. Woods for the soundboard include European and Engelmann spruce, western red cedar, redwood.
- Of special interest is BC Engelmann spruce, a hard, light, stiff, extremely resonant topwood that equals or surpasses the best European spruce in quality.
- Double- or composite-top construction is available at no additional cost. See the double-top and order pages elsewhere on this site.
- Note that I no longer offer Brazilian rosewood or African blackwood, due to their endangered status.
Finish
- The soundboards of all my instruments are carefully finished with French-polished shellac - a beautiful, traditional finish and probably the best finish acoustically.
- For greater durability, I have recently adopted a lacquer finish for back, sides, and neck. French-polished shellac is available for those who wish the most traditional finish and do not mind the extra care required.
Accessories
- Tuners: The base price includes Gilbert tuners. Graf tuners - Canadian-made tuners of the highest quality - are also available at additional cost. See his website at www.graftuners.com. Other tuners can be substituted, if desired, including Rodgers tuners.
- Case: A hardshell case is included in the base price. Heavy-duty, carbon fiber Karura flight cases (www.karuracase.com) and padded case covers (www.coloradocase.com) can be substituted at additional cost.
- Hygrometer: An electronic hygrometer/thermometer is included to aid in the maintenance of your instrument.
Warranty
- One-year warranty against defects in material and workmanship on every instrument. A five year warranty is available at additional cost.
Shipping
- Instruments are shipped in their cases in a heavily-built shipping carton. Delivery to the US takes approximately one week.
Price
- European spruce, Engelmann spruce, western red cedar, or redwood top (solid or composite construction - your choice) with Indian, cocobolo, or maple back and sides:
$8,500.00 US funds.
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- Price includes Gilbert tuners; a hardshell case; electronic hygrometer/thermometer; one-year warranty.
- Some woods and/or custom work may cost extra.
- See the orders page for a list of options and ordering details.
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