A warm and friendly welcome awaits you at our specialist Centre in the heart of the country. Visit at a time to suit yourself and enjoy the quiet and relaxed atmosphere where instruments may be played at your leisure and without disturbance, in individual studios. We hold Europe's largest stock of fine classical instruments and the choice of concert models is particularly extensive. Also available is an excellent selections of DVDs, CDs, music and accessories.

Rod Capper : Spruce/Brazilian Walnut

Top Solid Spruce
Back and Sides Brazilian Walnut
Fingerboard Ebony
Width at nut 53.5 mm
Scale length 65 cm

A solid-feeling concert instrument by New Zealand luthier Rod Capper, of very interesting construction and sound.

Internally, a raised bar inside runs the length of the back, glued to cover the back join: visible in the photograph, this actually dissects the centre of the label.
The top bracing is not in a lattice style, but does not follow strictly the traditional Spanish pattern either. There are three 'main' braces that run vertically, either parallel to each other or 'fanning out' only slightly: from the bottom of the outermost ones of these a group of smaller braces, almost like the fins on a fish, reach out to the edges of the guitar.

This instrument also has a fingerboard which is elevated, built up solidly where it reaches the top and continues into it. At the left lower bout a length of smooth, curved wood is added, creating a more rounded contact point for the right arm.

The finish is not as cosmetically meticulous as is typical of Spanish-built instruments, but the design combines the more traditional overall Spanish appeal with a pleasing and original personal aesthetic.

The sound is quite remarkable and very distinctive. The volume is impressive, strident and powerful. The response is immediate and rapid. The separation and balance really are most striking with this guitar. There are almost no harmonic overtones, leading to an extremely clean character of tone, very individual and full of interesting musical qualities that are compelling to the player - but expressed in a manner quite distinct from that of a more traditional Spanish-made instrument.

Playability is comfortable: while the fingerboard width at the nut is a little wider than is usual on a modern instrument, the neck is flattened off neatly somewhat at the back. The action is very well set.

This is a great player's instrument, unique, absorbing to play and with a strong, distinctive musical character.

Always on display are the complete ranges of instruments by Jose Ramirez, Manuel Raimundo, Asturias, Almansa and Conde Hermanos,. Also available are instruments by: Alastair McNeill, Teodoro Perez, Mariano Tezanos, Ignacio Rozas,Dieter Hopf, Manuel Contreras, Paul Fischer, Kevin Aram, Sergei de Jonge, Juan Hernandez, Victor Anglada, Paco de Lucia, Wataru Tsuji and Strunal.

We are pleased to announce that we have been specially selected to participate in the Arts Council’s new Take it away scheme, which offers interest free credit* with the minimum of fuss, for instrument purchases between £100 - £2,000.

These loans exclusively designed for musical instrument purchases

Accessories (e.g. cases, strings) can be added to the loan for instrument at time of arrangement

A 10% deposit is payable

The agreement is for a 10 month period

Purchases may be made in-store or by mail order

Please telephone or email for further details.

* Subject to status. Terms and conditions apply. Applicants must be at least 18 years old. The Classical Guitar Centre Ltd is a licensed broker of Take it away loans. Registered Address: The Classical Guitar Centre Ltd, 51a St Mary’s Road, Bearwood, West Midlands, B67 5DH

Typical 0% APR