Classical Guitars

A professional quality cutaway classical hybrid jazz guitar made of exquisite woods, representing a level of workmanship last seen when Leonardo Da Vinci – late of Florence and Milan, roamed irreverently through the Renaissance. It has a 6-leaf flower comprising an open port in the upper bass rim, and a 2” wide fingerboard at the nut.  It produces the sound of tomorrow, today.

The model 00-28C was produced between 1966 and 1994 in a total production run of 1,412, but only during the years 1966, ’67, ’68 and ’69 were they made in Brazilian, and that total is smaller, being less than 938.  In 1968 301 were made – 300 fairly prosaic, ordinary ones, plus this exceptional one (as it was told in the prophesy). 

Before C F Martin suffixed their classical guitars with the letter “C” for “Classical,” during the period 1936 to 1962 they used the letter “G” for “Gut string.” A total of 5,136 00-18G guitars were built in these 26 years, including 725 in 1959. Classical guitars were quite often used at the threshold of the Folk Revival. This era model has the “C F Martin & Co., Est. 1833” gold script decal on the back of the headstock and the Brazilian rosewood headplate itself is blank. 

NOW ON SALE - WAS $1804 BUT NOW:

Martin Guitar Company made dedicated classical guitars starting in 1936 with the 00-18G (for Gut strings) earlier version, and then, between 1962 and 1976 they made 4,231 00-18C (for Classical) plus 4 more in ’79, ’80 and ’87. In this guitar’s year, 1968, the peak production year for the model, they made 250. Like other Style -18 Martins of its time this has the thin four-ply white-black top purfling, tortoise shell plastic top and back side bindings, a three concentric ring rosette comprised of two outer rings of black with a center ring (like the circus) of 7 plies. 

The Lowden S-25J is one of the world’s finest acoustic-electric nylon strung, cutaway jazz instruments. Its sound is thrilling – displaying exceptional clarity and articulation, long sustain and airy acoustic presence. Its lines are graceful -- the cutaway being soft and languorous like the silken touch of a highly paid courtesan on the thinning hair of a libidinous former governor.

The Clarita's marbled cherry wood binding and simple design are reminiscent of the early 20th century guitars of master luthier Domingo Esteso. Although less elaborate in detailing than the other models in the line, Clarita is a true concert guitar with great warmth, sustain and presence. Perfect for both the stage and studio.

European spruce solid top; Solid Indian rosewood back and sides; Honduras cedar neck; Indian rosewood fingerboard, bridge and engraved headstock; Edged in rosewood with fine birch purfling; Wooden rosette; Gebr. Van Gent gold-plated machine heads with rosewood buttons; Gloss polyurethane finish; Bone nut and saddle; Set dovetail neck joint; Royal Classic, Sonata model Mid Tension Strings; 52 mm at nut; 19 frets; 650 mm scale.

This fine sounding, easy playing classical is made of solid East Indian rosewood for the back, sides, headplate and bridge, Red Cedar for the face, ebony for the 2 1/16” wide neo-classical fingerboard, having a multi-ring, wooden mosaic soundhole rosette measuring around 13/16th” in width, made of all earth-tones with a repeating aircraft control tower as you might have seen at Newark Airport in the 1960s.

The CF Martin List Price is $309

Guild started making classical guitars in 1961. Steeped in Spanish and German traditions, Guild classical guitars were considered the pinnacle of classical instruments at the time. The Nylon Series guitars come from those same traditions, combining fine craftsmanship and true value with modern features. 

Michael Menkevich, a Philadelphia-based builder, makes hand-built replicas of the greatest classical and flamenco guitars of the last 175 years. About this model the builder says ‘This 25th Anniversary design is a culmination of every thought and feeling I have for the classical guitar. Designed for ultimate sensitivity and performance, the LaDonna produces a most sensuous response in the music, the player and the listener.

The CF Martin List Price is $309.

A great sounding 12-fret neck cutaway classical with a neck that a steel string player will love, this is made out of solid African Padauk on the back & sides, with a solid cedar top, bone nut & saddle, one-piece mahogany neck, 1-3/4" nut width, all wood binding and purfling, ebony fingerboard, East Indian rosewood bridge. It is factory equipped with a professional Seymour Duncan Timber-line pickup system and it comes to you in a fine hard shell case.

Antonio Loriente is one of the best deals we know of in a Spanish-made classical guitar. This guitar, even though modest in price, is beautiful in ways both overt and subtle. The top, for example, is bordered in four plies of colored wood purfling, the soundhole in twenty-one plies of black, crème and brown wood with a center circle of repeating diamonds made up of 6 light colored dots and one red center dot.

Guild started making classical guitars in 1961. Steeped in Spanish and German traditions, Guild classical guitars were considered the pinnacle of classical instruments at the time. The new classical guitars come from those same traditions, combining fine craftsmanship and true value.

Guild started making classical guitars in 1961. Steeped in Spanish and German traditions, Guild classical guitars were considered the pinnacle of classical instruments at the time. Our Nylon Series guitars come from those same traditions, combining fine craftsmanship and true value with modern features.