When a luthier's instruments are chosen by players like Pepe Romero, Ana Vidović and Sérgio and Odair Assad, you know you are in the presence of something special. Jim Redgate, working from his home workshop in Adelaide, Australia, is widely regarded as one of the finest classical guitar makers alive — a builder whose powerful, refined instruments stand at the cutting edge of modern lutherie.
From player to maker
Born in London in 1963, Redgate moved to Australia with his family as a small child. His father, a skilled craftsman, introduced him to woodworking early on, but Redgate first came to the guitar as a musician: he studied performance at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide, graduating with honours in 1988. That double background — a trained guitarist who is also a gifted woodworker — is the key to his work. He builds for the player because he is one.
A full-time master
After his studies, Redgate decided to devote himself entirely to building. He supported himself by teaching at first, then became a full-time luthier in 1992. Today he produces only around twenty instruments a year — a small, deliberate output that allows him to give each guitar the attention of a true master. Such scarcity is part of why his instruments are so sought after.
Innovation in construction
Redgate is known above all for his pursuit of power and projection without sacrificing beauty of tone. Like his countryman Greg Smallman, he builds lattice-braced guitars with a slightly arched back to boost volume, and he uses lightweight carbon-fibre reinforcement under the soundboard. His range includes acclaimed lattice, double-top and "wave" double-top models — different routes to the same goal of a big, clear, responsive sound that carries effortlessly in a large hall.
The Redgate sound
What players prize in a Redgate is the combination of sheer power with clarity and warmth — an instrument that fills a concert hall yet remains beautiful and singing up close. It is no accident that Ana Vidović, who values exactly that balance, plays his guitars exclusively. For many, a Redgate represents the modern concert guitar at its most refined.
FAQ
Where does Jim Redgate work?
In his home workshop in Adelaide, Australia, where he builds around twenty guitars a year.
What kinds of guitars does he build?
Lattice-braced and double-top concert guitars, designed for power, clarity and projection.
Which artists play his guitars?
Among others, Pepe Romero, Ana Vidović and the Assad brothers.
