Chartwell Guitar

Bernabe #10

Woods: nicely figured Indian rosewood and western red cedar, with Spanish cedar neck. Nitro lacquer throughout.

Specs: 650mm scale, 52mm nut, 54mm string spacing at nut, 58mm at saddle. 4mm string height bass side, 12th fret.  Six hole tie block, fan braced with Madrid style transverse bar on treble side. Hard shell case.

Condition: excellent, due to the protection the lacquer finish provides. There are two tiny dents in the top and an area of light scratches that require harsh light to detect. The high gloss finish gives the guitar a like-new appearance. The hard shell case shows wear and one of the three latches is not functioning. The interior is clean and serviceable.

Comment: after putting new medium tension wound strings on the guitar, with medium high tension Oasis trebles, the guitar seemed to open up after a couple of hours of play. This is a beautifully crafted instrument and it is stalwart in the ergonomic category. Definitely a Madrid guitar and the Bernabe shop renders quality even in this, the entry level  model. As with the brethren who came through the great Ramirez years, this Bernabe is balanced and colorful, giving the player just what is asked of it. I say this in comparison to lattice or double top guitars. For lovers of traditional builds there is great value here, perfect for an undergraduate music major or a serious student of any age.