It’s hard not to fall for a guitar like this on the spot. The Ehlers Model 16 is a study in curvaceous lines and fingerstyle dynamism. Brazilian back and sides, paired with a German Spruce top, give the voice a smooth, glossy texture that lends itself to lush, expansive overtones. Play an open chord, and the strings will ring, ring, and keep on ringing right on into tomorrow. The 25.5” scale gives a smidgeon of extra string tension, making dropped tunings like DADGAD crisp and responsive, and with the slightly wider nut and curved C neck profile the left hand has an easy time of it, especially with those particularly nasty complex chords.
Darkly glittering Abalone adorns the headstock, fretboard, and rosette. Take a close look at our photos of the bridge and you’ll see where Rob carved a minute ledge around the perimeter. That little touch strikes us on two levels: one, that it must have required excellent precision to engineer and two, that it imparted a subtle note of elegance to this already eye-catching beauty. 16 inches at the lower bout puts it in the SJ category; dig in with a more aggressive attack and this Ehlers drinks it up without bottoming out.
A fantastic instrument from one of lutherie’s late greats: the Ehlers Model 16.
I was impressed by how responsive this guitar was for a variety of different styles. The bass is well-balanced with the other registers, and overall the voice has opened up nicely. | Scale Length | 25.5 in |
|---|---|
| Nut Width | 1.81 in |
| String Spacing | 2.125 in |
| Woods | Spruce - German, Rosewood - Brazilian |
It’s hard not to fall for a guitar like this on the spot. The Ehlers Model 16 is a study in curvaceous lines and fingerstyle dynamism
I was impressed by how responsive this guitar was for a variety of different styles. The bass is well-balanced with the other registers, and overall the voice has opened up nicely. 