Instruments
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Add to CompareNew Flammang L-35 Majestic Mahogany/Adirondack Red
David Flammang is a builder we’ve been hearing about for years from our top clients. He builds a very high-quality guitar with a simple elegance and vintage style. This L-35 is extremely handsome decked in a vintage burst with gold MOP majestic inlays. But underneath is all about the tone provided by Mahogany and Adirondack Red Spruce. Guitars like this make our job very fun…
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.9 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.19 in Woods Spruce - Adirondack (Red), Mahogany - Honduran 
Add to Compare1962 Fleta Concert East Indian/European
One of the miracles of classical guitar building in the twentieth century, Ignacio Fleta has contributed immensely to his field. In the world of nylon-stringed instruments, Fleta is a mythic figure, and his guitars are certifiably legendary. We are proud to here offer you the chance to own a part of that legend with our 1962 Fleta Concert Classical. Over 54 years old, the European Spruce top and East Indian Rosewood back and sides have completely opened up, rendering the voice immense and rich, with a flawless degree of articulation from string to string. Possessing a unique ability to completely absorb the player’s attention, this Fleta is captivating: long hours will pass in what feels like only minutes as you explore the multitude of registers, voices, and modes which are hidden in the Ebony fretboard.
Considering its age, this guitar has the typical play wear of more than five decades’ worth of music, but is in otherwise excellent condition, and plays as smoothly as it must have felt when Ignacio Fleta finished the guitar in 1962. The low-end hangs in the air as though it were never to leave, so rich is the sustain, and the trebles cut with almost surgical precision; delicate overtones lending ghostly color to your Classical arrangements. A piece of guitar history, this Fleta is kind of instrument that many luthiers strive to create, and almost none achieve. Thankfully, Fleta was more than an ordinary luthier, and this Concert is more than an ordinary Classical.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.59 in Nut Width 1.93 in String Spacing 2.24 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to Compare1964 Fleta Concert East Indian/Spruce
There are few guitar makers who are as legendary as Ignacio Fleta, His guitars were so well regarded that the great master Andres Segovia chose a Fleta as his personal guitar for years. Along with Segovia, John Williams is a champion of the Fleta guitar. Fleta Classicals are prized for the clarity and power, they are able to fill up a concert hall better than the more delicate Torres style of guitar. This particular Fleta in East Indian Rosewood and Spruce has some of the most powerful treble strings we have heard, playing a tremelo sounds out full and clear, that is a real feat for a classical. The bass and mids are well represented here as well, they are rich and focused, never out playing the beautiful trebles, but complementing perfectly. The Fleta guitar is about as rare as they come, expecially built by Ignacio himself, even now in the third generation of builders there is a twenty year wait list for a Fleta.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.59 in Nut Width 2.05 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to CompareBrand New Forster 10 String Guitar Bouzouki, Bubinga/European Spruce
Nigel Forster packs more into his instruments than you can shake a pick at. Here we’ve landed a brand new Guitar Bouzouki from him that is set up for extended range, playability, and power. Sweetly figured Bubinga back and sides pair with a European Spruce top that’s been engineered in the Howe Orme cylinder style–meaning the center section of top is cylindrically arched. The result is a very stiff top at about 40% the usual mass, and lighter makes louder in this case. Add to that the extended range afforded to a course of low C on the bottom of the 10 string setup, and you have an instrument for just about every application. Nigel further enhanced playability with a cutaway, subtle arm bevel, EVO frets, and a zero fret nut.
Other keywords: lutherie, sobell, robin bullock, mandolin, mando, guitzouk, gouzouki
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.625 in Nut Width 1.625 in String Spacing 1.925 in Woods Spruce - European, Bubinga 
Add to Compare2012 Forster “Charlie,” Carved Maple/European Spruce
In Nigel Forster’s “modern classic” archtop stable, his Charlie model comes to us with carved Maple back and sides, carved European Spruce top, and an innovative “long neck” design that marries electric guitar sustain and playability with the resonance and dynamic range of an acoustic instrument. Here with a handmade Kent Armstrong AlNiCo III Jazz humbucker and old school paper-in-oil capacitor with volume and tone knobs recessed under the Ebony pickguard, compensated zero fret and saddle, and Maple neck, our 2012 Forster Charlie cuts a fine figure, and plays flawlessly and spot on all across the board. The neck is 1.75 inches at the nut, giving the left fingers a bit more room to stretch out, and the Armstrong humbucker is a powerhouse pickup for everything from Jazz to Blues, and even further afield.
Other keywords: lutherie, luthier, n.k. forster, archtop guitar, evo frets, cutaway, stefan sobell
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.125 in Woods Spruce - European, Maple 
Add to Compare2010 Forster Guitar Bouzouki Camatillo/Italian
The Irish Bouzouki is the result of constant evolution. What began as a bowl-backed, three-course instrument from Greece has undergone a series of transformations in the past 40 years to become the flat-backed, four-course (or more) instrument we now find in Irish and Folk scenes across the world. A select few luthiers have taken the instrument one step further, by experimenting with using guitar bodies instead of the accepted teardrop shape, in an attempt to create a more dynamically-voiced and easier to play Bouzouki. Nigel Forster, former apprentice of famed luthier Stefan Sobell, is one of these pioneers–and the territories he’s exploring are deep and resounding.This, his Guitar Bouzouki (or Gouzouki, or Gitzouki, if you prefer), is a specialty of his, and this one in particular stands apart from his standard Guitar Bouzouki model with a removable neck, which the original owner conscripted Forster to include, in order for him to remove the standard four-course neck and swap it for a fretless version, or a different profile, or whatever caught his inspiration. Alas, this Guitar Bouzouki only comes with the one neck, but the possibility is still there.Tonally, this 2010 Guitar Bouzouki is fearsome. With a voice characterized by its clarity and depth, and a projection capable of shattering windows, Forster has built an exceedingly loud and expressive instrument. This Guitar Bouzouki is louder than an instrument this size has a right to be–honestly, it can achieve volumes most instruments need to be electrically amplified to achieve. Forster has written extensively on the particulars of his building style which result in this magnificent voice, and you can read his own thoughts on the subject below: http://www.nkforsterguitars.com/blog/loud-acoustic-guitars/ Forster’s use of a “cylindrical top,” based on a Howe-Orme design from the 1800’s, allows the Italian Spruce top to be incredibly light (literally: check out the photos below which show light passing warmly through the top)–and all of that lightness translates into dynamic voicings, projection, sustain, and a well-defined top end.This Guitar Bouzouki, with Camatillo Rosewood back and sides and a Cuban Mahogany neck, has an otherworldly voice, at once persuading, ecstatic, thoughtful yet confident, moving but focused.
Add to Compare2007 Forster C Brazilian/German
This 2007 Forster C in Brazilian Rosewood and German Spruce is one of the funnest guitars to play we have seen in a while. The offset soundhole might make us guitar nerds do a double take, but it is incredible how enveloping the sound is for the player. It is a different experience from the side soundport: the offset soundhole gives a truer representation of the whole tone of the guitar, rsulting in an exapansive voice with throaty projection. Nigel’s work is largely influenced by his time spent with legendary Luthier Stefan Sobell, and the heavily arched plates are a key feature of both builders’ work. If you are looking for bold bass and bright singing trebles, this guitar will make your heart sing.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 24.9 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.188 in Woods Spruce - German, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to Compare2006 Forster C Brazilian/Italian
We were a long time Sobell dealer for the U.S. and have known Nigel Forster for many years. It’s very exciting for us to see him on his own now and creating instruments with a unique and exquisite voice and styling to match. His treble strings are glorious and sing with a sustaining clarity remeniscent of the best old Sobells. Below there is a warm, rich bass that is all Nigel’s. He’s somehow managed the difficult task of making an instrument that can be as powerful or as gentle as a player needs, all without switching guitars. The rich green hues in the Brazilian Rosewood serves to prove this is very old and great sounding wood. All the guitars we see with those hues seem to sound special. Italian Spruce offers the best strength to weight ratio in the spruce family which results in superb clarity and headroom. If you are seeking an original voice for your music you’ll want to listen to the audio clip above.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.81 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to CompareNew Forster Guitar Bouzouki Camatillo/Italian
Nigel Forster has hit a homerun with this Guitar Bouzouki! The tone is simply magical and had us all smiling from ear to ear. Nigel has taken his 15 years experience with Stefan Sobell and expanded on it finding his own voice for his instruments. Guitar players will find the Bouzouki easy to learn and irresistibly fun to play. It is often tuned to GDAD or GDAE, etc. In no time you’ll be adding this wonderful voice to your solo and group work.But make no mistake this is a pro level instrument so if you are a serious Bouzouki player this is for you as well. Just listen to the sound clips and treat yourself to a little joy in these troubling times.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.6 in Nut Width 1.44 in String Spacing 1.88 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Camatillo 
Add to CompareNew Forster Model C Panamanian Rswd/Italian
Here’s our latest arrival from ex-Sobell phenom Nigel Forster. This model C cutaway is crafted from Panamanian Rosewood and Italian Spruce that Nigel hand selected in Italy. The design of this guitar is a shallow body that taper at the outer edges making it very easy to hold. But there is surprising bass response for it’s depth and wonderful projection both in front and as the player, thanks to the side soundport. The radiused top and back design also makes this a guitar with superb separation and clarity. If you seek a European voice (think Simpson, Renbourn, Carroll, etc.) this may be your guitar.Here’s what Nigel says about Panamanian Rosewood: Panamanian Rosewood is quite scarce but is one of the few timbers touted as a Rio substitute that comes close. In fact it comes very close in weight and texture and taptone. It differs mainly in appearance and smell where it has more in common with Cocobolo. It is more stable than many Rosewoods. Great stuff.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Italian, Rosewood - Panama 
Add to Compare2005 Forster C Indian/European
If you’ve played or heard a Sobell guitar built during the 1990s or early part of this century chances are you’ve heard Nigel Forster’s work. For 15 years he was the sole apprentice in Stefan Sobell’s shop in England. If you’ve heard Martin Simpson’s music than you know that Sobell sound. Nigel’s guitars have that essence but he is making refinements and finding his very own voice that is equally unique and in some ways more american. This Model C is very special with big, bold bass notes and sweet rosewood trebles.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.4 in Nut Width 1.78 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - European, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to CompareC. Fox Sonoma Indian/Spruce
C. Fox was a production brand by Charles Fox in the 1990s, and this Sonoma model is an ideal representation of the quality of instrument offered by that label. Made from nicely striped Indian Rosewood and tight, fine-grained Spruce, this guitar has all the feel and sound that a fingerstylist is looking for. Could be a great recording guitar, with good clarity and presence overall. The red pinstripe appointments make this one a classy piece to set your heart a-beating!
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.69 in String Spacing 2.13 in Woods Spruce, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to Compare2001 Fox Sonoma Indian/Cedar
CFox guitars was a company created by Luthier Charles Fox. They produced a line of beautifully built but affordable guitars. This Sonoma model features solid Indian Rosewood with a Red Cedar top. Fully bound in ivoroid with red perfling lines from head to toe. It’s a sharp guitar and a great player. Would make a great gigging guitars as it’s setup with a Fishman pickup as well.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Cedar, Rosewood - Indian 
Add to CompareFox Ergo Noir Brazilian/Alpine
The Fox Ergo is a masterpiece of guitar design. Charles incorporated a number of features to achieve both wonderful tone and extreme comfort and playability. The Ergo includes a wedge body, elevated fingerboard, compound cutaway and a low-mass/multi-layer top with unique bracing. The result is an SJ size guitar that’s very easy to hold all day long. You can also play up to the very last fret with ease. The voice has tremendous power and projection and sublime clarity and balance. The Ergo is something very fresh and exciting in our world of guitars.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.25 in Woods Spruce - Alpine, Rosewood - Brazilian 
Add to CompareFox Ergo Blanc Sapelle/Alpine
The Fox Ergo is a masterpiece of guitar design. Charles incorporated a number of features to achieve both wonderful tone and extreme comfort and playability. The Ergo includes a wedge body, elevated fingerboard, compound cutaway and a low-mass/multi-layer top with unique bracing. The result is a larger size guitar that’s very easy to hold all day long. You can also play up to the very last fret with ease. The voice has tremendous power and projection and sublime clarity and balance. The Ergo is something very fresh and exciting in our world of guitars.
SOLD Read moreScale Length 25.5 in Nut Width 1.75 in String Spacing 2.31 in Woods Spruce - Alpine, Sapele