Chartwell Guitar

Traphagen Honduran rosewood and cedar double top

Woods: highly figured Honduran rosewood with sapwood heart and cedar over cedar double top. Spalted rosette with delicate purfling to complement the rosette. Spanish cedar neck. French polish shellac throughout. The cedar top is remarkable for the medullary rays. Perhaps the best cedar top I have seen.

Specs:  650mm scale, 52mm nut, 43mm string spacing at nut, 57mm at saddle. Just under 4mm bass string height at 12th fret. Cross rock metro case, 12 hole tie block, raised fingerboard, sound port. Perona tuners. LaBella 2001 basses and Knoblach QZ nylon med/high trebles.

Condition: new

Comment: as I approach having ten Traphagen double top guitars come through my shop, I can easily say this is his best work.  I mention the treble strings in case they have anything to do with the color they offer–in just tuning the guitar I was amazed at how exuberant they are, especially the G, which is regrettably tubby on most classicals.  And the trademark deep bass response balances a sweet, creamy presence, and loud.  I can’t think of anything  missing here, as the woods and comfortable neck profile are winning features.

Dake hits the sweet spot with his double tops, producing a powerful concert level guitar with the DNA of a traditional.