1) Matthias Damann
- it is said that his double top (or composite top) guitar is one of THE loudest and best sustain guitar in the lot. As someone who loves loud guitars, I'd really love to have the chance to play one of these! German-made stuff are well-known throughout the world for their precision and high quality standards. This should be one of the examples, I guess.
- it is said that his double top (or composite top) guitar is one of THE loudest and best sustain guitar in the lot. As someone who loves loud guitars, I'd really love to have the chance to play one of these! German-made stuff are well-known throughout the world for their precision and high quality standards. This should be one of the examples, I guess.
2) Daniel Friederich
- like the other big names French luthiers (think Robert Bouchet), his guitars are amongst the hardest to acquire. That is because these luthiers seem to make so few every year! It could be a good strategy these guys employ, so as to control the supply-demand in the market, but from what I've read about the sounds these guitars create, it definitely would be treat for anyone to play on these rare instruments.
- like the other big names French luthiers (think Robert Bouchet), his guitars are amongst the hardest to acquire. That is because these luthiers seem to make so few every year! It could be a good strategy these guys employ, so as to control the supply-demand in the market, but from what I've read about the sounds these guitars create, it definitely would be treat for anyone to play on these rare instruments.
3) Greg Smallman
- well-known for their loud (some say "boomy") voices, these guitars were of course made famous by the one particular maestro (or some say "Prince") of the guitar, John Williams. Many who watched the John Williams documentary (DVD) will be familiar with this shaggy-looking luthier who seemingly live in the forest, somewhere in Australia... Anyway, if greats like Williams and other up and coming guitar masters like Yang Xuefei play on Smallman guitars, they must be quite something, don't you think?
- well-known for their loud (some say "boomy") voices, these guitars were of course made famous by the one particular maestro (or some say "Prince") of the guitar, John Williams. Many who watched the John Williams documentary (DVD) will be familiar with this shaggy-looking luthier who seemingly live in the forest, somewhere in Australia... Anyway, if greats like Williams and other up and coming guitar masters like Yang Xuefei play on Smallman guitars, they must be quite something, don't you think?
4) Miguel Rodriquez
- the Churchdoor guitars from this legendary maker are said to represent the epitomy of the spanish guitar, and while I have not have the opportunity to hear one such instrument, I can say that from the pictures posted on the internet - they really look stunning! These guitars are said to embody the true "spanish" sound, and even though I am not audacious enough to claim that I can actually distinguish what a "spanish sound" is like, say compared to a "non spanish" one, I would certainly love to get my hands on one of these beauties...
- the Churchdoor guitars from this legendary maker are said to represent the epitomy of the spanish guitar, and while I have not have the opportunity to hear one such instrument, I can say that from the pictures posted on the internet - they really look stunning! These guitars are said to embody the true "spanish" sound, and even though I am not audacious enough to claim that I can actually distinguish what a "spanish sound" is like, say compared to a "non spanish" one, I would certainly love to get my hands on one of these beauties...
5) Hermann Hauser
- If I am not mistaken, this is the 3rd generation of the Hauser family building the instrument, following up on the success and fame earned by the original Hauser whose guitars were played by none other than the legendary guitar maestro (of all time) Andres Segovia. In many cases, when such traditions are passed from one generation to another, there is undoubtedly a possibility that the later generation would not be able to to live up to the high standards that their father(s) had achieved. Simply put, they may just be riding on the name of their predecessors. But somehow, for this German maker, I do not think this would be the case. They're usually too good to let the standards drop - by even the slightest.
- If I am not mistaken, this is the 3rd generation of the Hauser family building the instrument, following up on the success and fame earned by the original Hauser whose guitars were played by none other than the legendary guitar maestro (of all time) Andres Segovia. In many cases, when such traditions are passed from one generation to another, there is undoubtedly a possibility that the later generation would not be able to to live up to the high standards that their father(s) had achieved. Simply put, they may just be riding on the name of their predecessors. But somehow, for this German maker, I do not think this would be the case. They're usually too good to let the standards drop - by even the slightest.
6) Thomas Humphrey
- Even prior to his unfortunate demise last year, I've always dream of playing on his wonderous Millenium model again. This is especially after the one time when I was lucky enough to play on such a guitar, owned by Sharon Isbin (I helped her with the sound checks when she visited Singapore to perform with the SSO several years ago). Even though it was a mere couple of minutes, I could still remember how "silky" the guitar sounded, and certainly how comfortable it felt when I tried to hit some high notes. A real pity that this great luthier has passed on...
- Even prior to his unfortunate demise last year, I've always dream of playing on his wonderous Millenium model again. This is especially after the one time when I was lucky enough to play on such a guitar, owned by Sharon Isbin (I helped her with the sound checks when she visited Singapore to perform with the SSO several years ago). Even though it was a mere couple of minutes, I could still remember how "silky" the guitar sounded, and certainly how comfortable it felt when I tried to hit some high notes. A real pity that this great luthier has passed on...
7) Robert Ruck
- What more need I say? Why else would I place an order for one of his guitar 10 years ago... Cant wait for it to arrive....
- What more need I say? Why else would I place an order for one of his guitar 10 years ago... Cant wait for it to arrive....
* I took these beautiful photos from various guitar dealers websites. Not sure if this is considered infringing on any copyright issues (since I am not using it for any sales-related purposes, but merely from a guitar afficionado's point of view... and yearning...). But in case I am, please drop me a private note, and I'll remove them. Thanks!
