When Thomas Rein lays his hands on the right set of wood, he knows exactly what to do: build a beautiful, resonant guitar. With this 2015 Crossover Classical, that’s exactly what he did. In pairing Honduran Rosewood with a Lutz Spruce top, Rein has created a guitar capable of singing bright and energetic in one passage, somber and thoughtful the next. In order to maximize the thinness, and hence resonance, of the Lutz Spruce, Rein French Polished the top, and used a stronger catalyzed urethane for the rest of the guitar, which is more susceptible to dings and scrapes over time.

When played, this Crossover Classical has a clean, clear voice, like sunlight refracted through a glass of water. The trebles have great body and focus, while the low-end is easy and rolling, and thanks to Rein’s excellent fit and finish, the guitar plays effortlessly. The great fountain of potential energy which is the body is made possible by Rein’s finely-honed technique in voicing the Lutz Spruce top and creating a very lightweight body from the Honduran Rosewood back and sides. You could play this Crossover Classical for hours and never get tired; its voice is so clean and sustained. This guitar comes with the original TKL hardshell case.

Gary Southwell’s A Series cuts a fine figure in Brazilian Rosewood and German Spruce with a voice that’s equal parts elegance and energy. Loaded with unique features, from the cantilevered neck and Smallman armrest to offset tuners and Florentine Cutaway, this A Series is a deliciously fresh take on the nylon string guitar.

Gary has only built a handful of Brazilian Rosewood A Series, so our #265 from 2010 is a rarity even among its brothers and sisters—and what gorgeous Rosewood it is! Rich, brick-red hues and a little bit of dramatic grain. The German Spruce top is satin finished for maximum resonance. The setup is delightfully smooth for allegro passages, and the combination of cutaway and cantilevered fretboard make for easy access to the entirety of the board. Powerful sonority in the bass response, and the mids have some added punch to make for lush and colorful arrangements.

Unfettered by convention, the Southwell A Series offers a timeless voice to contemporary music, and a vibrant flair to the traditional.

Other spellings: soutwhell, garey, gremlin spruce, brazilain

Taylor’s nylon string line was designed with the gigging “crossover” musician in mind. With its 1 7/8″ nut, ample cutaway, and built-in electronics this NS72ce fits the bill perfectly. Leave your handmade classical safely at home and plug this one into the PA without fear.