I
think of myself as a modern luthier who respects the traditions and methods of
the past. My aim is not to build replicas, but to draw from those before me,
their knowledge and techniques that made a fine instrument, and to build upon
that. There is a certain privilege in building a classical guitar, the finest
of timbers in conjunction with a long build process and an arduous polish
routine contribute to a sense of appreciation of nature and discipline being
merged. The outcome is not really clear until the strings are attached and
after that, the realisation that this is a beginning and the best is yet to
come.
On average I build twelve guitars a year, preferring to build at a comfortable pace, this allows me to focus on each guitar individually and I think results in greater job satisfaction, better sounding instruments and happier customers. Primarily I build 650mm scaled, lattice braced concert guitars with either cedar or spruce for the tops, bodies in rosewood, pommel sapeli or Australian blackwood and mahogany for the necks. Only a small percentage that is cut of the species listed is suitable for luthiery, it is the best of the best, and at the best of times is hard to obtain. I am fortunate to have stocked up earlier, having foreseen a time when what was once available would not be.
My real real preference lies in the lattice bracing as I feel that it can be crafted to bring out the desired qualities of fan bracing with the added advantages of the lattice, to form a sound that best suits a true concert classical guitar for the modern era. I choose not to build double topped guitars, as I believe that a solid master grade top will give the very best of all the attributes sought after in the selected species. Yielding a guitar with a true natural voice that will open up with years of playing.
The finish that is applied to my tops is always as thin as possible, thus reducing the weight that can impede the timbers response to the motion of the strings. The guitars are finished with either all lacquer or lacquer back and sides and a French polished top. Gotoh Premium tuners and a Hiscox Pro 11 flight case are used to compliment the guitars. Of course these can be changed to your own preference. Please continue to view the rest of my website, and if there are any questions do not hesitate to contact me
You can have a listen to a sound clip of Chris Bautista playing an Ashley Sanders guitar here.
Chris Bautista Sept.2011.mp3
with Regards,
Ashley Sanders
On average I build twelve guitars a year, preferring to build at a comfortable pace, this allows me to focus on each guitar individually and I think results in greater job satisfaction, better sounding instruments and happier customers. Primarily I build 650mm scaled, lattice braced concert guitars with either cedar or spruce for the tops, bodies in rosewood, pommel sapeli or Australian blackwood and mahogany for the necks. Only a small percentage that is cut of the species listed is suitable for luthiery, it is the best of the best, and at the best of times is hard to obtain. I am fortunate to have stocked up earlier, having foreseen a time when what was once available would not be.
My real real preference lies in the lattice bracing as I feel that it can be crafted to bring out the desired qualities of fan bracing with the added advantages of the lattice, to form a sound that best suits a true concert classical guitar for the modern era. I choose not to build double topped guitars, as I believe that a solid master grade top will give the very best of all the attributes sought after in the selected species. Yielding a guitar with a true natural voice that will open up with years of playing.
The finish that is applied to my tops is always as thin as possible, thus reducing the weight that can impede the timbers response to the motion of the strings. The guitars are finished with either all lacquer or lacquer back and sides and a French polished top. Gotoh Premium tuners and a Hiscox Pro 11 flight case are used to compliment the guitars. Of course these can be changed to your own preference. Please continue to view the rest of my website, and if there are any questions do not hesitate to contact me
You can have a listen to a sound clip of Chris Bautista playing an Ashley Sanders guitar here.
Chris Bautista Sept.2011.mp3with Regards,
Ashley Sanders
