Chartwell Guitar

1981 Robert Ruck 

Woods: Straight grained Brazilian rosewood back and sides— a set the likes of which cannot be found today. Alpine spruce top. Spanish cedar neck. French polish shellac throughout.

Specs:  664mm scale, 53mm nut, 45mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle. 4mm string height at 12th fret, bass side.  Metro Humicase. K and K pickup inside. Custom Gotoh premium tuners.

Condition: very good.  Ramon Zayas, a highly regarded luthier who restores high end guitars, has stabilized the top crack that runs from the butt to the bridge, as well as undisplaced cracks on the treble side. The cleated crack is evident in the bridge photo, along with the inevitable string dings. The case shows some exterior wear.

Comment: I’ve had three Ruck guitars in my shop over the years and this one is by far the best. It is open and full of color. Plenty of energy.  Remarkably easy to play. The repair to the top is now a couple of years back and everything is solid. The Brazilian back set, often the site of cracks, is perfect. The setup is original and the French polish is flawless.

If you’ve often thought of owning one of Ruck’s best guitars, this is an opportunity. I find playing the long scale with average sized hands no problem whatsoever.