Chartwell Guitar

2023 Tim Harris ziricote and spruce over cedar double top #53

Woods: ziricote back and sides, Engelmann spruce over western red cedar top with nomex.  Back is laminated with maple and jarrah, sides with figured maple. Mahogany neck with truss rod. Macassar ebony fretboard, spalted maple rosette, padauk bridge with musk ox horn tie block inlay.  Ziricote arm rest.

Specs: 650mm scale, 53mm nut, 44mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle. 4mm string height at 12th fret, bass side.  Sound port with magnetized cover. TKL hard shell case. 12 hole tie block.  Gotoh frictionless tuning machines.

Condition: new

Comment: Players who have bought the dozen or so Harris guitars that have come through my shop comment on the sweet, creamy sound Tim has found over the years. I attribute this primarily to the lamination of back and sides which stiffen the guitar, providing more sustain and greater volume, but more in the extra mass that offers, as with laminated guitars by other luthiers, a round, wet voice and naturally forward dynamic response. The second design feature that leads him to a sweet spot is the braceless back, moulded to provide stability but also to alter the physics of the sound waves. This is his third guitar with this feature and he claims, as do other high end German and Australian luthiers,  that it enhances the output of the guitar, both in voice and in volume. The sound port will obviously be a factor here, especially to the player’s environment

Another aspect of Harris guitars is the very light string resistance. This guitar is the opposite of tight, and very little left hand effort is required. I compare it to Steve Connor’s guitars, which have the same easy, almost flaccid feel.

It is beyond me why so few luthiers install truss rods, as does Tim.  It is sad to see a fine guitar where the string height issues overcome the spare saddle space and there is no way to keep to the standard 4mm or less. This truss rod will insure indefinitely the setup it now possesses.

Though it doesn’t need mentioning, this is a stunning guitar, as the spalted rosette jumps off the Engelmann spruce table with a dramatic effect. Finally, Tim’s construction is flawless and those in the know will say his French polish shellac work is the best there is.