Chartwell Guitar

Tim Harris Indian rosewood and cedar

Woods: rich, warm grained Indian rosewood back and sides, western red cedar solid top. Sides lined with sycamore and back lined with jarrah. Honduran mahogany neck. French polish throughout.

Specs: 650mm scale, 51mm nut, 43mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle. Bass string eight at 12th fret just below 3.5mm.  Musk ox horn tie block cover, TKL hard shell case. Sound port with magnetized cover, truss rod.

Condition: excellent. Tim recently refreshed the shellac. Minor nail marks here and there but generally very clean.

Comment: I have seen at least ten Harris double top guitars come through the shop since teaming up with this talented craftsman, but this is the first solid top, traditional guitar of his I’ve played. I was expecting less power and projection, fearing the solid top would put it behind  his increasingly loud double tops.  Now pleasantly surprised and impressed with the particular voice in departing from the double top sound. With his laminations he achieves natural sustain and a round, yet not boomy bass side. This solid top rivals any here in the shop for its easy playing (low action helps intermediate players like myself), warm, creamy voice, fine projection.  It is similar to other more expensive instruments in making the player lean in to enjoy what it teases from our abilities. In short, it inspires good musicianship. Let me also say how much a truss rod can do to correct any movement in the neck, though this veteran guitar has probably done all the moving it is going to, given proper humidity controls.

A remarkably good value.