Eric Monrad has written the following about this exceptional instrument:

This special instrument was built for the 2006 Guitar Foundation of America convention in Georgia. Its rare, highly figured hazelfichte spruce soundboard from Italy's Val di Fiemme is paired with a double back--a sandwich of Madagascar rosewood and a cedar soundboard. The spruce top, with the added influence of the cedar, results in an amazing sound.

This instrument has the clear, bell-like tones and quick, even response characteristic of spruce, and the cedar adds a warm, round, liquid, dark bloom to the notes. (To see additional photos of this guitar click here).

The guitar has the fan bracing pattern I've fallen in love with over the past year; traditional, supple fans with the addition of two lattice braces of stiff spruce from an old Steinway piano. I've modified this fan bracing pattern to perform well with medium tension strings. This guitar has incredible reserves of volume. Even with a medium low action, it can be pushed very hard without the sound breaking up. At the same time, pianissimo passages and harmonics seem to jump from the guitar. The palette of tonal color available appears inexhaustible, probably the single attribute I'm most pleased with. This is a very responsive, balanced instrument with a refined, noble sound. (Learn more).

Materials: Beautiful dark brown quarter sawn Madag. sides and back with western red cedar interior laminate double back construction, European spruce sundboard, immaculate French polish of shellac finish and workmanship throughout, Rodgers precision tuning machine heads (the finest in the world) with ebony oval buttons, 650mm string length. Condition is as new, hardshell case.