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2015 Traphagen BRS 000, Brazilian Rosewood/Carpathian Spruce
Playing this one is an exercise in joy. Dake Traphagen brings the sensitivity of classical guitars to bear with his steel string builds—marrying responsiveness with power and clarity. This 2015 BRS 000 is a marvel. The treble strings have a sweet blooming overtone quality that’s engrossing, and pairs perfectly with a warm midrange and powerful bottom end. We love this Traphagen for fingerstyle in Open G, as much as we loved flatpicking jazz progressions back in Standard. It’s exceptionally versatile, and has a myriad of flavors depending on your attack. When we play this BRS 000, we’re reminded of the concept of a do-it-all guitar: so many builders strive to build guitars which can handle whatever the player throws at it, but only a handful like Dake Traphagen manage to pull it off. With this beauty in your hands, that’s exactly what you get. And we haven’t even talked specs! This one is upgraded with Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and Carpathian Spruce on top for added power; French Polished for maximum resonance. 12 frets to the body and decked out with gorgeous Abalone trim, position markers, and rosette. The slotted headstock is outfitted with gold Waverly tuners, and the fretboard is rocking gold EVO frets for longevity.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, finger style, brazilain, capathian, varnished, enass
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.375 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Rosewood - Brazilian 2014 Traphagen CYS, Cyprus/Italian Spruce
Livewire! This is one of Dake Traphagen’s Cyprus-backed Classicals (although Dake confirms he could easily modify it to be a Flamenco) with an Italian Spruce top and an L.R. Baggs pickup that’s itching to get playing. This beauty comes to us from 2014, and it’s got the marks to prove that it hasn’t been sitting around collecting dust over the past five years. A soundport in the upper bout keeps the player better in tune with their playing, and the lightweight build and quick setup combine to keep playability easy.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, traphagen guitar, nylon string, steve newbrough, fingerstyle
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 2 in String Spacing 2.19 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Cypress 2008 Traphagen Double Top, Palo Escrito & Swiss Spruce/Cedar
It’s a beautiful thing when we get to see a loved guitar return to the fold: we originally offered this Traphagen Double Top in 2008 straight from Dake’s shop, and we’re excited to offer it here again in 2020! Palo Escrito back and sides paired with a double top combining Swiss Spruce and Cedar, this Classical has fierce, incredible power and projection. Warmth and overtones fill out the trebles in particular. Elsewhere, this beauty has a small soundport at the upper bout, elevated fingerboard, and Sloane tuners. It has opened up handsomely in the past 12 years, and it’s in fabulous shape to boot.
Here’s the original demo from when this one was new! https://youtu.be/VMEbbYB50Pg
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, traphagen guitar, nylon string, david stevenson, fingerstyle
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6 in Nut Width 2 in String Spacing 2.313 in Woods Double Top - Spruce/Cedar, Rosewood - Palo Escrito New Traphagen BRS Concert, Brazilian Rosewood/Carpathian Spruce
Get it while it’s hot! Our latest new BRS Concert from Dake Traphagen just landed, and we’re here to tell you: it’s a powerhouse in velvet. Plays as easy as breathing, and with a quick-n-rich voice that projects well and clear. Brazilian Rosewood back and sides have here been paired with a Carpathian Spruce top, known for its lively energy and similar qualities to Adirondack Spruce. The neck carve is a generous C profile that’s been buffed to a mirror shine and feels so, so smooth to the touch. Dake hand rubs his varnish finishes, and the result is a thin, responsive finish that catches the light like a gem.
There’s some extra meat to the mids to really bring out the colors in big chords, and the treble response is bright and sweetly defined; there’s no worries about shrill or harsh overtones with this Traphagen. As you’ll hear in Paul’s demo, the bass response has just enough rumble to flesh out the voice, but not so much as to take over. As a result, this gorgeous new BRS Concert is a lovely fingerstyle guitar, but one that can handle a pick with aplomb as well.
Brand new! But it won’t be here long. Give us a shout before it strolls right back out the door.Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, finger style, flatpicking, brazilain, capathian, peacock, hand-rubbed finish, varnished
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Rosewood - Brazilian 2015 Traphagen BRS, Brazilian/European
How to describe the experience of playing this 2015 BRS from Dake Traphagen? It’s something akin to that overwhelming sense of warmth and satisfaction after a delicious dinner with friends. The voice is replete with rich, flowing overtones and trebles that hang in the air like ripe fruits. Traphagen French Polished this Classical from tailblock to tuners to a mirror shine that really brings out the colors in the Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and European Spruce top. Gold Graff tuners operate like the well-oiled machines that they are, and the gentle contour of the D neck profile? Like running your fingers through your hair after a good brushing.
We’re quite impressed by Dake’s wood stash: this is prime real estate in the Brazilian Rosewood market, and the burled rosette and Rosewood bridge complement the dark and creamy Euro Spruce top.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.625 in Nut Width 2 in String Spacing 2.21 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 2007 Traphagen BRS Ortuna Brazilian from 1727)/European
Dake Traphagen is one of our very favorite American luthiers. He has the rare ability to pull immense amounts of tone from a guitar to create a powerful tool for your music. This Concert is crafted from exquisite Brazilian Rosewood dated back to 1727 which is paired with a vibrant European Spruce top. The treble strings are very strong with wonderful projection and colorful musicality; bass notes are round, warm, and enveloping, balanced with the other registers without overbearing.
The fit, finish, and setup are as superb as we’ve come to expect from any instrument of Traphagen’s–and with the addition of dual soundports in the upper bout, this dynamically-voiced guitar projects beautifully straight to the player’s ear.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.59 in Nut Width 2.08 in String Spacing 2.28 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Brazilian 1997 Traphagen BRS Brazilian/Spruce
Dake Traphagen is one of the most sought-after classical builders in America, and this lovely Cordoba model in Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood is a fine example of why. Balance, projection, and string articulation are hallmarks of Traphagen classicals, and the voice of this gem is fully open, with snappy bass tones and just the right amount of treble cut. An excellent value for a Brazilian Traphagen.
SOLD Sale! Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 2.05 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Brazilian 2011 Traphagen 000-BRS 12 Fret Brazilian/Adirondack
This is a Traphagen 000-BRS 12 Fret in Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack Spruce. This small body guitar has a huge voice, big warm bass well beyond what you might expect from the smaller body. The only thing better are the strong and beautiful trebles that really make melodies sing with ease. This guitar is very balanced in a powerful way. You can emote gentle passages and drive it for blues and rags. If you are after an easy to hold small body that has near dread like volume and power, this Traphagen guitar is for you.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Brazilian 2010 Traphagen H.R.S. Honduran/Carpathian
Respected classical maker Dake Traphagen is having a blast building steel string guitars now as well. We are very thankful because he is drawing on his approx. 30 years of experience to design and build some of the most exciting guitar we’ve ever played. He really knows tone and how to get it. This guitar was originally made on our request for a slope shoulder fingerstyle dread, that of course also take the pick. It is astonishing. The shape is sophisticated and easy to hold, it’s modern bracing employs a lattice style approach for superb response and an open voice. Old Honduran Rosewood and a Master Grade Carpathian top with hard shellac finish provide power and beauty. The unique Afzelia rosette is one of a kind and together with the Brazilian fingerboard and bridge complete the natural beauty of this Traphagen guitar.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Carpathian, Rosewood - Honduran New Traphagen Slope D Brazilian/Italian
Dake Traphagen has been building concert guitars for the likes of Scott Tennant and Pepe Romero for decades, but to our delight he now also makes steel string guitars. This Slope D is one we commissioned and we feel Dake’s version of this design offers a fresh and extremely versatile instrument. There is power and headroom to spare for full on flatpicking, but you also get a much richer and fuller tone than traditional dreads. Fingerpickers who like a big voice will love this one as well. The premium Brazilian Rosewood and Adirondack top that Dake selected are spectacular.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.13 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Brazilian New Traphagen 00 MDRS Madagascar/Adirondack
Breathtaking tone! We all melted for this guitar. Dake Traphagen has long been one of our very favorite builders of classical guitars, and we are delighted to now offer his Steel Strings. You simply will not believe the response and articulation of this guitar. Clearly, Dakes 30 years of building experience make him unusually gifted to create musical instruments of the highest caliber. This 00 guitar crafted from stunning Madagascar Rosewood and Adirondack puts forth treble strings to die for, dense and weighty but always clear and sustaining. The bass is round and full and perfectly in balanced. This is a guitar for the player seeking perfect tone and playability in a strong small body design. We will enjoy this one while it’s here!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.13 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Rosewood - Madagascar New Traphagen Dread ‘Awakening’ Brazilian/Italian
Maybe it’s the Italian Spruce speaking, maybe it’s Dake’s experience building highly sought after classical guitars… but this lovely dreadnought is really getting to me. Balance, nuance, warmth, articulation, crispness… it’s got it all. Dake Traphagen has miraculously straddled several categories with this rare find. She’s easily one of the best strummers in the shop — push as hard as you want and there’s not a hint of harshness. Dig in all the way up the neck and there’s not one note that doesn’t ring true. Drop the pick and go fingerstyle to be rewarded with warmth and woody overtones. This one is a real prize.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.25 in Nut Width 1.72 in String Spacing 2.19 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Brazilian Traphagen Concert Classical Double Top Brazilian/Swiss
We attended the GFA Convention (Guitar Foundation of America) recently and were lucky enough to bring back 2 instruments from famed maker Dake Traphagen. Dake’s guitars are among our most popular nylon strings, with his quality and tone it’s little wonder why players such as Scott Tennant and Pepe Romero own his guitars. This beautiful guitar is crafted from 35 year old Brazilian Rosewood and features a double top crafted of Swiss Spruce. It also sports two soundports, French Polish throughout, upgraded Graf tuners and an Eastman case. This guitar is amazing strong and articulate and much more warm and beautiful than some double tops. This is a series performance guitar and will make a lifelong partner for some lucky player.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.59 in Nut Width 2.05 in String Spacing 2.28 in Woods Spruce - Swiss, Rosewood - Brazilian Traphagen Flamenco Spanish Cypress/Swiss
Dake Traphagen’s guitars have been heralded by guitarists the world over including Scott Tennant of the LAGQ and Pepe Romero for their amazing tone and superb craftsmanship. We had an opportunity at the GFA (Guitar Foundation of America) Convention, recently held in San Francisco, to acquire this traditional Flamenco guitar crafted from Spanish Cypress and Swiss Spruce. This is a top notch Flamenco guitar with immense power and attack but you can also summon up the sweet voice required for more melancholy pieces. The playability is far superior to most Flamenco guitars we see, no surprise coming from Dake Traphagen.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.59 in Nut Width 2.01 in String Spacing 2.28 in Woods Spruce - Swiss, Cypress 2005 Traphagen BRC Brazilian/Red Cedar
We’ll let the builder Dake Traphagen tell you about this beauty: “This is the first of a total of ten that were made for this series. The next Anniversary series will be my 50th year of building, 2020, if I make it that long. The top is 150 year old cedar, the back and sides came from a salvaged beam that yielded only three sets and the beam was dated 1727!! Very cool, the neck wood came from another salvaged beam of Spanish cedar that was over 100 years old. The fret board is at least 25 years old. The finish is French Polish.” – Dake.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.79 in Nut Width 2.05 in String Spacing 2.28 in Woods Cedar - Red, Rosewood - Brazilian