Chartwell Guitar

2023 Darren Hippner

Woods: 50 year old Brazilian rosewood two piece back and aged german spruce top. Spanish cedar neck. French polish shellac throughout.

Specs: 645mm scale, 51.5mm nut, 43m string spacing at nut, 55mm at saddle. Sloane tuners, abalone tie block. Based on a 1937 Hauser design measured by Richard Brune, with a five fan bracing system used by Manuel Rodriguez.  Hard shell TKL type case.

Condition: new

Comment: word among classical guitar dealers is that Darren Hippner builds perhaps the best guitars for the money.  His modest pricing belies the fine playability and sweet, traditional sound a solid top, fan braced guitar offers.  This particular guitar is a stunner, as he used a set of aged Brazilian rosewood not found today, and the german spruce top is a unique choice for a top.  The photos do not do justice to this figured, dark spruce, the color being natural to the oxidized wood.

These three guitars are my first Hippner offerings and I’m very impressed at how well they match up against guitars on hand that cost thousands more. They are serious classical guitars which offer a balanced, creamy voice.