Chartwell Guitar

2022 Teodoro Perez concierto in rosewood and spruce

Woods: Indian rosewood and alpine spruce. Spanish cedar neck. French polish shellac throughout. Complex rosette in fine detail with matching purfling around binding.

Specs: 650mm scale, 52.5mm nut, 44mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle. Just under 4mm string height bass string 12th fret. Ample saddle/string angle for any future adjustment.  TKL type hard shell case. Traditional Madrid style bracing–five fans with angled transverse bar on the treble side. Six hole tie block.

Condition: a few slight button marks on the back, but otherwise as new.

Comment: when players talk about traditional Spanish guitars, they refer to the Madrid builders who came through the Jose Ramirez shop in the second half of the last century. And they would be mentioning Teodoro Perez, who, at the age of 14, went to work building lutes and banderas while an apprentice. He was soon promoted to the main Ramirez guitar shop, where he worked along side of luthiers such as Tezanos, Rozas, Bernabe, Manzanero, and Contreras. They collectively furthered the design of the modern guitar, sharing information and discovery, continually evaluating design aspects.

What we have today in Teodoro Perez’s guitar #1295 (!) is fifty years of perfecting the art. And inspecting the guitar, inside and out, it is as simple and direct as can be. The sound and playability are creamy and smooth. To my ear the magic is in the color and sweet trebles. Left hand effort is remarkably easy. This is a lovely instrument, with the rosette set against pale alpine spruce.

This guitar was sold through another dealership very recently and I have acquired it through a trade. There are probably less than ten hours of playing time so know this guitar will open up substantially when played regularly.