Stephen Connor’s Everest model combines mouth-watering Figured Walnut with Cedar for awesome power and an articulate warmth. Elevated fingerboard and soundport for player creature comforts, 650mm scale, 51mm nut for a touch extra lefthand space. This lovely number was sold before we could even list it!

Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, guitar building, classical guitar, backstrap, thomas humphrey, sound port, mosaic

There are few things we love more around the DG shop than a well balanced Classical guitar, this 1984 Contreras Sr. Concert is the definition of balance, and we are head over heels for it. This Concert model is built from Brazilian Rosewood and Spruce and has a voice that will melt butter, it is balanced perfectly from bass to treble. Without question the ‘G’ string is one of the best sounding we have heard in the shop, usually the G can be thunky or underwhelming, not so here on this Contreras. Time has been kind to this instrument, imparting it with all of the mature voice and tone, but with few of the battle wounds that usually come with it. A fantastic guitar!

This ’85 Contreras double-top, signed by Manual Contreras, is a remarkable sounding guitar. It has extremely strong lower-mids and powerful projection from the Brazilian Rosewood back and sides and Cedar top. The back is laminated inside with Cedar to create the ‘Double Top’ concept that warms up the voice considerably. The sustain is exceptional as well, and the entire guitar is full and warm yet wonderfully articulate. A very fine example of a Contreras double-top!

Cream of the crop, an even mixture of sweetness and power—the Contreras 10th Anniversary model is a lifetime guitar. How could it be anything else? This piece of functional art is part of the Contreras II Premium Series, with their finest woods and appointments on display, and their patent double back design. Gorgeous-figured Brazilian Rosewood over Spruce; an intricate mosaic rosette pairs with mosaic tiled top trim and herringbone at the headplate; French Polished top for maximum resonance and Lacquer body for added protection. The voice is characterized by an even balance across the registers, with a touch extra pop in the top end, and we love the smooth sustain. There’s plenty of power under the hood, made possible by their doubled back design that allows the backplate to resonate more freely—adding volume and projection as well as sheer strength. This particular 10th Anniversary is from 2004 and has opened up handsomely between then and now. Snag this beauty before it’s gone!

Other keywords: classical guitar, nylon string, manuel contreras, andy jurik, steve newbrough, 108, road runner, brazilain

Here we have a 1995 Contreras II 1 Especial – India in European Spruce and East Indian Rosewood. This is a fine representation of the skill the Contreras family wields as guitar builders: everything from the tone, fit, and finish is wonderfully executed on this classical. The tone is the true star here, exactly as a great classical should sound, pure and warm, with great balance from the bass to treble. The East Indian Rosewood back and sides are finished with a perfectly smooth gloss and the guitar’s light weight sits comfortably in your lap. The elegant Rosewood bindings and Brazilian Rosewood headstock plate are definite eye candy, but they pale in comparison to the dark, moody lines of the East Indian Rosewood back and sides. This Contreras is at once a guitar to play for hours, and then to ogle when you’re not.