Dake Traphagen double-top Cedar – USA

This wonderful double-top for the luthier Dake Traphagen has found a new home.

Why Dake Traphagen double-top are exceptional : there are few guitar makers in the US making double-top guitars, Dake Traphagen is one of the first and is making fine double-tops which are played by famous concertists. Like the German guitar makers, Dake produces double-tops which are very balanced with a warm sound and a wonderful craftmanship. Listen to our video to discover Dake’s guitars.Dake is maybe one of the most famous US double-top guitar makers. He is still using a lot hand tools. His guitars are played by great musician.

This double top gives the response a surprising liveliness. Whereas certains double-tops could be too dark and/or too projective with a short sustain : this one is well balanced between projection and sustain. Although the overall sound color is warm , there is some brightness in the guitar which produces an elegant musicality. The notes are thick and creamy. Playability is more than perfect.

Lots of pleasure from a light instrument.

Here are some information taken from Dake website :

“I still primarily use hand tools so that I may feel the wood as I work with it. Moreover, I still use traditional glues and finishes, for I believe this helps the instrument maximize its potential. I try to build each section of the guitar in such a way that all its parts work together, and the instrument becomes a unified expression. This, to me, is the art of luthiery. When a guitar becomes a “product”, it ceases to be a true expression of musicality.

That is not to say I don’t experiment and try to broaden the potential of the modern guitar. I do; however, I do this by increasing my understanding of what the wood can musically produce. My guitars are considered among the loudest, yet I know I can build guitars that are louder still; however, I am more concerned with whether or not an instrument is musical. With this in mind, I try to find the guitar’s voice rather than just make an instrument based on scientific theory.”