Discover the Art of Traditional Classical Guitars
A Modern approach to a timeless design
My Traditional guitars have evolved through many Fan bracing systems and finally here.
The Legacy of Traditional Classical Guitars
Traditional classical guitars have a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. Fan bracing was developed by Torres who is the father of modern classical guitars. His ideas included using a dished mold into which the soundboard was pressed during application of the fan. He was also at the forefront of humidity control, or at least awareness of it. He used two strips of unlike timber glued at either end and observed when they curved one way or the other which indicated dry or wet. He discovered that in Sevilla the driest time was early in the morning when winds blew offshore, bringing the dryness of the inland, so that was when he assembled his braces and fitted his backs and tops. In the early 1990’s I began a series of Fan braced instruments, experimenting with asymetry, brace position and I found many interesting sounds. But finally I came full circle to a Rominillos design that is symetrical and works superbly.That is my system when constructing fan braced instruments , as it produces a deep rich and strong sound of great beauty.
There is also the question of neck attachment which was originally Spanish Heel construction, however I have used dovetail from the beginning and lately I have been making a tilt neck design. While this may be considered modern, it has been used from the early 1800’s by Stauffer and Martin and many European makers. The design I use is an adaptation of that with modern and more secure mounting. It takes nothing away from tone, in fact it enhances the higher notes, and it allows for easy action changes on the fly, and never another neck reset or even work on the saddle.
I now apply some new developments to the traditional instrument which further enhance the tone and projection. Firstly I use double steam bent linings for the soundboard. This makes the rim very stiff without adding too much weight. Such stiffness allows the top to vibrate more freely than it would if it were lined with kerfed linings. The braces are assembled into a dished mold giving the soundboard a slight radius. Thicknessing of the soundboard has evolved over decades . Midrange is enhanced using braces across the sides. 12 hole tie blocks increase break angle on the saddle. Any of these modern ideas may be applied or not, depending on the client’s preferences. Generally fan braced guitars have flat or very slightly curved backs rather than the arched backs found on lattice guitars. Also application of the modern armrest is an option which has both a comfort aspect and a tonal improvement since it raises the right arm above the soundboard allowing it to vibrate without unwanted damping.
There is also the option of using solid timbers for backs and sides versus the modern laminated concept. Each option has pros and cons so this is part of the choice for considering a traditional instrument. French Polished Sycamore , for instance, is a very worthwhile option, which is warm and responsive with a pleasing appearance.
Handmade Traditional Classical Guitars
