Blog - A Classical Guitar Maker

Classical guitar maker Michael Edgeworth discusses experiences, ideas, music and all things classical and flamenco guitar. From researching marquetry, to discovering new classical guitar and flamenco music, read on and gain a unique insight into the world of the classical guitar.

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PRODUCTS

Michael Edgeworth Praemordia Model Guitar

£0.00

For sale is an Edgeworth Praemordia model guitar. It is the flagship Edgeworth guitar model.

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The materials for this guitar come from the workshop of a retired luthier. All the materials had been kept/aged by him for about 25 years. Indian rosewood is the most traditional wood for the back and sides of a classical guitar. The spruce is Sitka spruce, with strong Hazelficte figuring, (also known as bearclaw).

The finish is hand rubbed shellac for the whole guitar. Since one set of pictures were taken, the permanent armrest was fitted.

I put a great effort into balancing the instrument well - sound-wise - and feel I have achieved my preference of strong trebles, which are complimented but not overpowered by sonorous basses. I have listened to the guitar in various settings - concert halls, medium halls, small rooms, with a variety of excellent players - and can say that it projects excellently, has a great palette of tone colours as well as some real power.

This model is very inspired in general by the English school of guitar making, which really kicked off with David Rubio in the 1960s. The rosette is inspired by an English craft called Tunbridge Ware.

This guitar was displayed at some classical guitar festivals and picked up some minor marks, so I am just doing some French polishing touch ups, and then the guitar will be ready from September.

This is a special guitar, the last one made completely using hand tools (I’ve since acquired more machinery). It is adorned with finest tuners, from Rodgers, and a hardcase from Visesnut.

Specs:

Scale length: 650mm

Nut width: 52mm

Body length: 483mm

Body width, upper bout: 270mm

Body width, waist: 230mm

Body width, lower bout: 360mm

Body depth at neck: 88mm

Body depth at heel: 94mm

Materials:

Soundboard: Spruce

Back/sides: Indian Rosewood

Bridge: Indian Rosewood

Neck: Spanish Cedar

Finish: French polish

Tuners: Rodgers

Hardcase: Visesnut

Michael Edgeworth Short Scale Classical Guitar

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Michael Edgeworth Short Scale Classical Guitar

£4,000.00

If you are interested in a short scale classical guitar, it doesn't get better than this.

This is an exquisite short scale guitar, it has a 610mm scale length, 51mm wide at the nut, French polished soundboard with lacquer back and sides. It is a special guitar, a one-off. It has an sweet, well balanced tone. Having heard it in the concert hall, I can say it projects extremely well. I would recommend it to anyone who would like a smaller instrument. The materials used are of the highest quality, aged for 25 years. The guitar comes with a small sized white Hiscox hardcase. If you are interested and live in the UK, come and visit to try it out!

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The materials for this guitar were given to me by a retired luthier. All the materials had been kept/aged by him for about 25 years. Pau Ferro is a beautiful type of rosewood. Snakewood is a rare wood used by violin bow makers. The spruce is European spruce, and the same type is used for the bracing.

The finish is hand rubbed shellac for the soundboard and the neck/headstock. The back and sides are finished in lacquer. In my opinion this combination is more practical and easier to look after than a fully French polished instrument.

The instrument is balanced as I try to balance all my instruments: with a slight inclination towards the treble notes. However, the guitar still has strong, characterful basses too. I wouldn’t compare this guitar to a cedar topped guitar; this guitar has a sweeter, more complex, sophisticated sound that is typically associated with spruce. I have listened to the guitar in the concert hall played by professionals and students (at an international guitar festival in Brno, Europe), and can say that it projects excellently, as well as any 650mm guitar - although from the players side it’s not a hugely loud guitar, from the audiences side it wants for nothing.

I’m opening up a new workshop in central London early next year. There, I’ll be focusing on a new model I’ve designed, but will continue to offer this short scale model as well. For exciting guitar news please check out my website, subscribe to my newsletter and read my blog.

This guitar was displayed at some classical guitar festivals and picked up two very minor marks, so I will take that into consideration when considering offers.

Dimensions

Scale length: 610mm

Nut width: 51mm

Body depth: 464mm

Body width: Upper bout : 255mm

Waist: 210mm

Lower bout: 340mm

Body depth at neck: 81 mm

Body depth at end: 85mm

Playability details:

Action at 12th fret: High e: 2.5mm

Low E: 3.8

Amount of saddle protruding at the bridge: 2mm

Relief: moderate relief, normal

String height off soundboard: 11-12mm

Materials, Finish and Tuners:

Soundboard: Spruce

Back and sides: Pau Ferro

Bridge: Indian rosewood

Binding: Snakewood

Fretboard: Ebony

Neck: Spanish cedar

Headstock plate: Indian rosewood and darker rosewood

Soundboard finish: French polish

Back/sides finish: Lacquer

Neck finish: French polish

Tuners: Schaller

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