New Charis SJ Mango/Engelmann

A guitar shouldn’t be allowed to sound this good. And yet, this 2015 Charis SJ does, with a voice that is thoughtful, probing, and articulate. Bill Wise has outdone himself again, but we hope he didn’t break the mold when he built it, because nothing would make us happier than to see more and more of these compellingly rich-sounding guitars come through our showroom.

This Mango-and-Engelmann Spruce SJ follows you like an old bandmate: perfectly in sync, with nothing lost in translation, just one mind between guitar and player. The trebles have a silky sheen to them which masks a strong, unshakeable clarity underneath. The low-end is eloquent and resounding, well-balanced with middle register that has a small trove of sweet and subtle overtones all of its own. Intonating perfectly, you can play any genre with any style, and the result is humbling. This SJ exudes an aura of effortlessness–it knows how to play the part of virtuoso with grace.

Wise’s choice of Mango and Engelmann is an excellent one: the slightly softer voice of the Engelmann complements the richness of the Mango and creates a tonal palette which is expansive and expressive, but not overwhelming. In a word, this SJ has poise. With the addition of a Koa arm rest and rib rest, Koa bindings across the neck and body, and a Koa-bound soundport, Wise knows how to pair different grains to beautiful effect–right down to the microbevel in the Ebony fretboard binding. Just in time for the holidays, this Charis SJ comes as the perfect present, more valuable and important than pearls or another gold watch.