The advantage of a luthier-built instrument is that your instrument can be customised to suit your exact requirements and specifications such as woods, scale length, neck width, neck shape, bindings and more.
Classical
Classical Guitar with Fingerboard Elevation on Treble Side Only
Flamenco
650mm (standard) /640/630/ or other.
Commissions for 640mm scale guitars have become popular.
630mm is the smallest I will go without altering the body shape of the guitar.
Children’s size guitar.
For those wishing to explore a luthier-made instrument for smaller children, I make a “Baby Grand” (see picture) classical with a 550mm scale length. This guitar has a conventional lower body, a slightly compressed upper body, and a narrower neck width. This style is more comfortable to play and has a far superior tone to most ¾- or ½-scale children’s guitars.
“Being given the opportunity to have a guitar tailor-made is truly tremendous. Being of small stature, I asked Rodney if he would make me a shorter scale guitar, adding a few more specs which I had liked and admired on some of his guitars. I noticed the difference immediately. It enabled me to tackle works that I had struggled with in the past and inspired me to spend more time working on technique. For years I had issues with carpal tunnel: I now am hardly bothered by it, if at all, and I do put it down to an instrument better suited to my physique".
“My new flamenco guitar is quite amazing! I still don’t believe it’s mine. Being able to hear the harmonies between all the strings is a privilege and it’s levitating. I’ve never heard some of these chords ring out so perfectly. The sustain is awesome and the sound waves are absolutely in harmony. Fabulous work”
European Spruce/Western Red Cedar.
Over the years, I have personally selected super-grade European Spruce from trusted German and Swiss tone wood suppliers. I have recently re-sawn a large plank of 100-year-old Canadian Western red cedar.
All woods are acclimatised over years in my humidity-controlled workshop before being used.
Traditionally, classical guitars were made from the Dalbergia species of rosewood. I have a good stock of Brazilian Rosewood, Indian Rosewood, African blackwood and African rosewood.
These precious woods are all protected by international CITES regulations. My Brazilian Rosewood was harvested in the 1970’s (pre-CITES1 ).
NOTE: If you choose a Brazilian Rosewood guitar, New Zealand DOC has changed their CITES rules and will no longer issue a certificate enabling you to cross borders. Leaving New Zealand with a Brazilian rosewood guitar carries the risk of confiscation!
More sustainable wood options are available and are almost equally effective in sound quality. You can choose African Rosewood (Bubinga), Flamed Maple, Tasmanian Blackwood, African Kiaat and Imbuia.
For flamenco “Blanca” Back and sides I would recommend either Monterey cypress or NZ Kahikatea. These woods are suitable substitutes for the traditional Spanish cypress which would be available as a special order.
Every handmade rosette is unique. I recently revised one of my very first rosette patterns which was based on a pattern I had seen on an African Guinea fowl feather. The New Zealand rosette has a Ponga fern insert and another has a repeating fern koru design. My basic rosette uses inlays of attractive woods matched to the woods used in the guitar.
I will use good mid-range Gotoh or similar tuners unless an upgrade is requested. Any upgrade can be ordered and will be priced as quoted.
The standard nut width is 52mm.
This is another variable that can be customised. A narrower nut width has been requested by current steel-string flattop guitar players who want a classical guitar with a bit of the steel-string feel.
Players with smaller hands also benefit from a slightly narrower nut.
Traditional classical has 19 frets. A 20th fret has become popular and is done at no extra cost.
There are two reasons for using an armrest.
The first is comfort as it provides a larger area on which your arm rests.
The second reason is that it prevents the arm from touching the soundboard and damping vibration.
A good example of customisation is this 7 String classical guitar which I made for the New Zealand Guitar Quartet.
See a 7 String Guitar in action with a little bit of a twist. Here the NZGQ play a well-known tune from a Kiwi classic television show.
I DO NOT do classical guitars with a cutaway. Ordering an elevated fingerboard will assist your reach up into the high trebles.
Uniquely Designed Guitars
