Chartwell Guitar

2000 David Rouse #74

Woods: Figured Honduran rosewood back and sides, western red cedar top. Spanish cedar neck with ebony filet. Ebony fingerboard. Handsome ebony rosette detail. Nitro lacquer throughout.

Specs: 650 scale, 52 mm nut, 43 mm string spacing at nut, 57.5mm at saddle. Split saddle for  precise intonation. 12 hole tie block, Hiscox case, Robson tuners.  Six fan braces under the bridge towards the butt, smaller fans applied on both sides of the sound hole; posted slipper supporting the upper reaches of the fingerboard. String height is just over 4mm at the 12th, bass string and 3.5mm on the high e. There is some room on the saddle for lowering the string height.

Condition: there is a small string ding, a minute dent on the bass side of the top, as well as a fairly broad gouge in the top just off the bass string which does not penetrate the finish. It is faint and can be seen in the photos.  The guitar, if held at arm’s length, appears to be generally flawless. The lacquer is in very good condition as one would expect. No loss of power here as a result, and the guitar is very much played in. In warm, humid weather it is a relief to not have to worry about moisture whorls in French polish shellac.

Comment: this is a drop dead gorgeous guitar, but that is not why I found the owner in Scotland and had him ship it to me. I first heard a Rouse fan braced traditional in the hands of a gifted Chinese undergraduate player and the voice has never gotten out of my head. That said, when I first tuned it up and played it, I held my breath, as luthiers are not consistent as much as players would think in reproducing the magic in their very best work. But the first minute and a Bach lute suite convinced me my blind faith was not misplaced.  David Rouse is a gifted British builder whose guitars deliver a shimmeringly clear intonation and string separation. The sweet, warm voice this guitar possesses lends a seductive aspect to its other qualities.  If not for the date on the label, one would assume it might be a few years old, as the three cosmetic items on the top are all that make it look played in at all. But the richness of the tone, the energy and clarity, are quite wonderful and show that it has been played and loved.

I have a spruce Rouse coming soon as well.