Chartwell Guitar

2020 Heinzelmann lattice

Woods: highly figured old growth Brazilian rosewood back and sides, alpine spruce top with light lattice bracing. Spanish cedar neck and French polish throughout.

Specs: 650mm scale, 52mm nut, 43mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle.  4mm string height, bass 12th fret. 12 hole tie block, elevated fingerboard. Hiscox case.

Condition: as new

Comment: this is my fourth Heinzelmann and I find his guitars to be remarkably consistent. This, and the cedar already here, are very close in voice. Though lattice braced, there is little that would suggest  anything but a traditional sound but on steroids. It is powerful and forward but creamy and balanced. A recent client played it along side of a few Australian lattices and other double tops and declared it to be in the middle range, neither shrill nor muddy, if those pejorative terms can represent the extremes lattices and double tops can be accused of. I note the lattice pattern is finer and thinner than lattice used by other luthiers. My guess is this lighter locking in of the top gives it more flexibility to resonate, while providing the needed structural support the top requires. The set of Brazilian is remarkable, hard to come by in our CITES world.

Adrian’s work is growing in fame, as Siccas has done much to promote his guitars, which continue to go up in price as he takes his rightful place as yet another brilliant German luthier.