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Gorgeous from tuner to tail, this 2017 Kenneth Brogger looks as great as it plays. Madagascar Rosewood back and sides pairs up with an incredibly figured Bearclaw Spruce top for a stunning look, plus Kenneth ties it all together with crow’s feet top trim and Rosewood bindings. The slim build weight of 3lbs 12oz keeps this concert instrument comfortable in-hand, and the neck-to-body weight ratio makes for an easy balance when played on either leg. The voice is smoothly balanced across the registers, with a consistent responsiveness and note definition that we found reliable all along the fretboard. This is a fabulous example of a concert quality build, especially dressed up to look the part.

Other keywords: classical guitar, classical, nylon string, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, marquetry, handmade, french polished, steve newbrough, andy jurik, hiscox, 174

Belgian luthier Walter Verreydt has been a mainstay in the world of lutherie for decades, teaching at the Centrum voor Muziekinstrumentenbouw in Belgium since 1988. We’re grateful for the opportunity to offer this 2020 Premium model outfitted with top shelf tonewoods and intricate marquetry. Gorgeous Brazilian Rosewood back and sides (with contrasting black silk lines and chocolate browns); European Spruce on top adorned with diamond purflings and an exquisitely detailed rosette; lattice bracing and elegant Scheller tuners. French Polished throughout to let these woods shine. The voice is characterized by a smoothness and balance across the registers that really lets chords ring out with clarity and definition. The bass register has a lively, focused nature with loots of projection, and pairs up sweetly with a crisp top end.

Other keywords: classical guitar, classical, nylon string, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, marquetry, handmade, french polished, steve newbrough, andy jurik, siccas, hiscox, 270

Greg Byers’ Classicals are defined by a taste of innovation that’s based in tradition. With this bent top model from 2011, that’s fully on display. Byers combines a European Spruce top that’s ‘bent’ towards the heel with an elevated fingerboard to preload the top with tension and provide easier lefthand access to the uppermost frets. The result is handsome, distinct, and oh so easy on the hands. Sides are made up of straight-grain Indian Rosewood, with a 12-hole tieblock on top, 650mm scale, and a fantastically transparent French Polish finish throughout. The voice is characterized by a dark, emotive definition that really sings in the bass and mids, with a focused top end to tie it all together. We love the colors Byers employs in the rosette, paired up with wheat purflings, for a subtly dramatic effect that’s echoed with the marquetry at the center of the headplate.

Other keywords: classical guitar, classical, nylon string, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, marquetry, handmade, french polished, steve newbrough, andy jurik, perez guitars, fernando troche, 265, tkl

The Italian voice of lutherie is strong, indeed, if this 2019 Classical from Lorenzo Frignani is any indication. We were immediately struck by the power and presence of the voice, paired with a lively bass register and a lovely mixture of roundness and precision in the trebles. The Italian Spruce top (from the Val di Fiemme, rumored to be the valley where Stradavarius harvested his timbers) responds handsomely to a range of attacks, offering up a wide dynamic palette of colors depending on the piece. Indian Rosewood back and sides pair it up with Rosewood bindings, Alessi tuners at the headstock, and a Spanish Cedar neck with gorgeous light flame for a touch of drama. A high gloss French Polish finish lets all these woods shine at their best, and this Classical weighs in at a slim playing weight of just over three pounds.

Other keywords: classical guitar, classical, nylon string, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, marquetry, handmade, french polished, steve newbrough, andy jurik, eastman, 231

German luthier Jochen Röthel wields his chisels like a chef his knives, coaxing a work of functional art that charms the senses with a myriad of flavors and textures, tones. This 2020 Classical is a feast most sumptuous. Gorgeous Cocobolo back and sides with rich reds and dramatic figure pairs with Red Cedar on top, Ebony bindings, and a mosaic rosette of diamonds in Rosewood. Gold Scheller tuners (also of Germany) add a touch of elegance to the headstock; otherwise Röthel leaves the woods to speak for themselves. And what a voice they wield. The trebles have an immediacy and power that draws the ear in, without overpowering the bass or mids. The bottom end is deliciously warm and adds a richness and presence in which we lost track of time each time we sat down to play. Delicious, indeed.

Other keywords: classical guitar, classical, nylon string, luthier, lutherie, fingerstyle, marquetry, handmade

The Classical guitar community lost the great Thomas Humphrey too soon in 2008, and that loss has been felt ever since. We’re grateful and honored to have one of his last Millenium models, built in 2007, here to offer. The Millennium design, now ubiquitous in contemporary Classical construction, features Humphrey’s elevated fingerboard, dramatic body taper, and hybrid X bracing. The results are felt in both playability and tone: this Humphrey Millennium is easy on the hands and has an incredibly distinct voice. The treble register pushes out and away from the soundhole with great clarity and weight; the voice has a visceral quality that is mesmerizing. The body boasts chocolate-dark Brazilian Rosewood back and sides with Cedar on top and a floral mosaic rosette.

Other keywords: millenium, humicase, andy jurik, steve newbrough, 650