Graham Caldersmith 2016 No. 105

This No. 105 from 2016 offers, as usual, the same musical qualities for which Graham Caldersmith guitars are famous: a warm sounding guitar with creamy and singing trebles. However, Graham made some important changes: Whereas the former Concert Models were very dark, there is some more brightness which definitely balanced the warmness which is Graham sound signature. A classical guitar with a big personality. Loud with a large range of sounds,  very loud basses, dark trebles with great playability. Many french guitarists are playing on Caldersmith guitars. The trebles are creamy and thick and sing like perfection. The tick notes are wonderful and fill up the easily big concert hall. Lots of musicality. Mint condition as new !

As soon as you open the case, you are gripped by the beauty of the essences, the scent of the wood and the instrument’s unusual appearance; you’re in the presence of a classical guitar that has been made in the purest Australian tradition.

The magnificent cedar soundboard is superbly enameled; the sides are made of a classy Indian rosewood, Australian cedar neck, Schaller actions, Padouk bridge, and the head veneered with blackwood. All the woods are of Australian origin, the result of years of physics and acoustics research by Graham Caldersmith.

You may be surprised by the weight: it’s very heavy compared to a traditional classical guitar, but that’s the secret of Australian classical guitars. The outside is very sober and all the design is on the inside, and having seen what goes on in there, I can assure you that it’s all rather complex.

The classical guitar has a rather unusual neck profile as it’s the same thickness along its entire length, which gives unrivalled playing comfort. It’s also fitted with a trussrod which allows you to adjust the curve of the neck and refine the adjustments to suit the way in which the guitarist plays. The height of the strings, or the action, is fairly low but quite standard: 3mm on the 12th fret first string and 4mm on the sixth string.

The Caldersmith is a very well-balanced guitar from the sound point of view; the bass notes are deep and powerful, the mediums are there but not invasive, and the high notes are very resonant with an incredible length of the sound. But the really spectacular aspect is the harmonics, which are released with every note: you feel sustained, enveloped, each phrase played is in three dimensions: clarity, depth, and harmonic resonance.

Everything becomes a pleasure, whatever the style of music you play: baroque, classical, romantic or contemporary. It adds richness, intensity, brilliance, and dynamics, and it’s left to the musician to vary his playing style and simply interpret the music!

To conclude, I’d say that it’s an enchanting guitar.

A great classical guitar and one to discover!

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