Ashley Sanders 2023 No 72 – Australia

Ashley Sanders is an Australian luthier only building 3 to 4 guitars per year only. His lattice guitars are not at all based on the heavy Smallman-type guitars but share more similarities with the Jim Redgate guitars. This guitar is lighter than most lattice guitars and has solid back and sides and no inner frame. The sound is big and warm with a traditional voice. One of the nicest Australian guitars of today! Ashley worked a long time making wood cabinets so his wood job is perfect.

Compared to the number 71 we previously had, this one has a wonderful Ziricote.

• The top is thin with a lattice bracing in balsa and carbon but no frame. The neck is removable, it’s held in place with a tenon and 3 bolts, and has an adjustable truss rod. Ashley told us that there is no need to remove the neck other than for a repair or to adjust the rod tension. he has pre-tensioned the rod and doubts if it will ever need to be adjusted, but it is a point of difference with his guitars and an easy fix of an up bowed neck.
• The top is in cedar master grade, the cedar is as good as it gets quality, and the east Indian rosewood is very dark and has striking figures.
  The tuners are Rubner Deluxe roller bearing ends with Snakewood buttons.
• Ashey finishes his guitars in an oil varnish, hand applied, and then rubs it out with very fine steel wool and wax to a satin finish. This finish is as thin as French polish but much tougher.
• Weight: 2, 29 kg

Here is some information extracted from Ashley’s website :

‘My preference lies in the lattice bracing as I feel that it can be crafted to bring out the desired qualities of fan bracing with the added advantages of the lattice, to form a sound that best suits a true concert classical guitar for the modern era. As the number of guitars grows I’m finding out exactly how efficient and versitile the lattice is, and feel that there is a lot more to learn with this style of bracing.

 I believe that a solid master-grade top will give the very best of all the attributes sought after in the selected species. Yielding a guitar with a true natural voice that will open up with years of playing.’

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