2013 Michael Thames Tornavoz model ex Michael Chapdelaine
Woods: Cocobolo and alpine spruce solid top, tornavoz style. Mahogany neck. French polish shellac.
Specs: 650mm scale, 52mm nut, 43mm string spacing at nut, 59mm at saddle. Schaller tuners. TKL case. Tornavoz is carbon fiber.
Condition: other than one ding on the top and a slight spot of discoloration, both shown in the photo of the upper left top bout, the condition of the guitar is as new. The case shows some exterior wear.
Comment: the sound sample is Michael Chapdelaine playing Bach on this guitar. The tornavoz is not a new idea in luthiers’ search for greater sustain and volume, as Torres was perhaps the best practitioner of the idea, and both Oldiges and Romanillos have installed this cone shaped device just below the sound hole. Michael Thames has brought the technique back and produces an enhancement of the natural voice of the guitar that is ingenious. An earlier model did not convince me so much of the advantage of the tornavoz, but this one has it dialed in. It is likely the use of carbon fiber instead of other materials such as papier mache or brass. It lowers the body resonance somewhat which explains the wonderful low end this guitar produces. Thames main goal is to let the trebles flourish as one would expect, and he has done it. One Delcamp commentator has measured sound waves with the tornavoz and finds there is a fluctuation, an unevenness similar to the human singing voice, and this too endears the serious player to the device.
Otherwise, this guitar is beautifully crafted, the rosette and European spruce are a wonderful aesthetic match, and the Cocobolo sapwood is quite beautiful. The guitar plays effortlessly. I find myself drawn to light instruments for their quick note bloom, punchy, dry color palette. It is a friendly and encouraging musical companion indeed.