Ross Gutmeier Classical Guitar (2010)
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Ross Gutmeier Classical Guitar (2010), made in Baltimore, MD, French polish finish, Walnut back and sides, spruce top; mahogany neck with ebony fingerboard, original black rigid foam case.
Ross Gutmeier is a modern builder who effortlessly blends the traditional with the cutting edge, creating guitars drawing from the best of both 19th and 21st century ideas. Based in Baltimore, Gutmeier began building guitars in 1993; by 2005 he was attracting notice internationally specifically for modern double-top guitars, but he also builds more traditional instruments, typically in the style of Santos Hernandez.
This walnut bodied concert guitar is one of his characteristic double-top (or sandwich-top) models built in 2010 (it is marked 10/10 on the label). The top is made up of a very thin layer of cedar over a very thin layer of carbon fiber, resulting in a strong but extremely resonant surface. The bracing is a traditional fan pattern, but worked very light taking advantage of the extra strength inherent in this layered top construction.
The most famous innovator of this double-top design is Matthias Dammann, but Gutmeier has taken the concept in his own direction and his instruments have a distinctive character. This guitar also features twin forward sound ports (often called "Ruck Ports" after luthier Robert Ruck) which are small round holes on the side bouts above and below the neck heel. Some players find this feature provides an inspiring "stereophonic" effect as the instrument is played. A couple of other non-traditional touches are a single position dot on the side of the fingerboard at the 7th fret and a metal endpin fitted.
This instrument is beautifully crafted to a very high standard, with a superb and very powerful sound that never gets harsh or muddy even when pushed hard. The previous owner told us "Ross found a way to capture the traditional tone of the best classical guitars from the past with a modern approach to building that allows for exceptional balance and beauty of tone coupled with immense volume and projection." We couldn't have said it better!
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/16 in. (35.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 5/8 in. (651 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.).
This 15 year old guitar shows only light signs of play, with some scuffs and tiny dinks to the finish but no major wear. It plays very nicely, a featherweight, powerful and full-toned guitar in a high-end modern hard foam case. Overall Excellent Condition.
Ross Gutmeier is a modern builder who effortlessly blends the traditional with the cutting edge, creating guitars drawing from the best of both 19th and 21st century ideas. Based in Baltimore, Gutmeier began building guitars in 1993; by 2005 he was attracting notice internationally specifically for modern double-top guitars, but he also builds more traditional instruments, typically in the style of Santos Hernandez.
This walnut bodied concert guitar is one of his characteristic double-top (or sandwich-top) models built in 2010 (it is marked 10/10 on the label). The top is made up of a very thin layer of cedar over a very thin layer of carbon fiber, resulting in a strong but extremely resonant surface. The bracing is a traditional fan pattern, but worked very light taking advantage of the extra strength inherent in this layered top construction.
The most famous innovator of this double-top design is Matthias Dammann, but Gutmeier has taken the concept in his own direction and his instruments have a distinctive character. This guitar also features twin forward sound ports (often called "Ruck Ports" after luthier Robert Ruck) which are small round holes on the side bouts above and below the neck heel. Some players find this feature provides an inspiring "stereophonic" effect as the instrument is played. A couple of other non-traditional touches are a single position dot on the side of the fingerboard at the 7th fret and a metal endpin fitted.
This instrument is beautifully crafted to a very high standard, with a superb and very powerful sound that never gets harsh or muddy even when pushed hard. The previous owner told us "Ross found a way to capture the traditional tone of the best classical guitars from the past with a modern approach to building that allows for exceptional balance and beauty of tone coupled with immense volume and projection." We couldn't have said it better!
Overall length is 38 1/2 in. (97.8 cm.), 14 1/16 in. (35.7 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 1/8 in. (7.9 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 5/8 in. (651 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.).
This 15 year old guitar shows only light signs of play, with some scuffs and tiny dinks to the finish but no major wear. It plays very nicely, a featherweight, powerful and full-toned guitar in a high-end modern hard foam case. Overall Excellent Condition.