Chartwell Guitar

Ancient Queen of Guitars

Woods: Amboyna burl back and sides, redwood over cedar double top. Hollow sycamore neck with sound ports. Oil finish throughout, which resists moisture, as compared to always sensitive shellac finish used by most luthiers.

Specs: 650mm scale, 52mm nut, 43mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle, 4mm bass string height at 12th fret. 12 hole tie block. Hard shell case, floating arm rest.  Offset sound hole, custom Turkowiak tuners. Asymmetrical neck profile, adding ergonomic comfort.

Condition: new

Comment: The Ancient Queen double top is pinnacle of the Turkowiak line, utilizing all the best materials. The offset sound hole is a design that substantially changes the dynamics of what a classical guitar can do. While a few luthiers feature a deep bass resonance, this one is perhaps two clicks lower/deeper than anything I’ve encountered.  And yet it is not bass heavy. The trebles and mids balance wonderfully. The Turkowiak offsets are easily the most powerful  (not loud) guitars on the market; like a local professor of guitar who performs on one, it will fill any concert hall with sound, as it would throughout any amateur’s practice room.  This is a Ferrari in the world of Buicks.