Chartwell Guitar

2019 Tim Harris cedar over spruce double top #48

Woods: Wild grain Indian rosewood back and sides. Western red cedar over Engelmann spruce. Back is laminated with maple and Australian Jarrah; sides with figured maple. Black limba neck with double action truss rod. Macassar Ebony fretboard; spalted maple rosette. Brazilian rosewood bridge with musk ox horn 12 hole tie block. Indian rosewood armrest and bindings. French polished shellac throughout.

Specs: 650mm scale, 53mm nut, 44mm string spacing at nut, 59mm at saddle. Raised fingerboard; sound port with magnetic cover, 12 hole tie block, Gotoh premium frictionless tuners, TKL case.

Condition: new. There are a few tiny nail marks on the top, visible only by training a harsh light over the French polish.

Comment: Tim Harris’s work is remarkably consistent, but after five years of representing his work, I would say his latest is his best. Anyone who approaches the 50 guitar mark and is always testing new ways to refine the voicing is going to have mastered the art of luthiery. Tim laminates his guitars and thus achieves a natural sustain and boldness that a featherlight instrument does not possess. While there is a breathiness and quick note bloom as with any double top. his guitars occupy a tonally neutral position between the punchy or conversely the round/wet  extremes of what is currently in the marketplace. The area of greatest refinement to my ear is in his trebles, which with this guitar are as clear and precise as any of his previous guitars. The term “singing” is no cliche. This is a loud but not brash instrument and as easy to play as anything on the market–somewhere in the Steve Connor range. Overall I compare it favorably to Steve’s 2015 hybrid lattice, also on the site.

A most attractive and compelling guitar at a great price.