Double-Top Guitars

The double-top classical guitar is one of the most significant innovations in modern instrument making. If you have heard a great double-top played in person — the projection, the immediacy, the way it fills a room — you understand why concert performers have increasingly adopted them. This guide explains how double-top construction works, who pioneered it, and how to decide whether a double-top guitar is right for you.

How Double-Top Construction Works

A conventional guitar soundboard is a single piece of solid wood, perhaps 2.5–3 mm thick. A double-top replaces this with a three-layer sandwich: two extremely thin sheets of tonewood (typically 0.5–0.8 mm each) bonded to either side of a Nomex honeycomb core. Nomex — the same material used in aerospace engineering for its exceptional strength-to-weight ratio — provides structural rigidity at almost zero mass. The outer wood layers can therefore be made far thinner than any solid top without structural compromise.

The result: a soundboard that vibrates more freely at lower playing force, responds faster to touch, and projects further — without the tonal warmth or nuance of solid wood construction being lost, since the outer layers still determine tonal character.

Double-Top vs. Lattice: Which Should You Choose?

Both technologies aim for maximum projection through lightweight construction — but they sound different and suit different players.

The Builders Who Defined Double-Top

Matthias Dammann and physicist Gernot Wagner pioneered the technology in the 1990s — their instruments remain among the most sought-after double-tops in the world, with waiting lists measured in years. Wolfgang Jellinghaus brought the construction to a wider audience through models at various price points, with consistently excellent results. Jim Redgate in Australia has built a global reputation on his double-top instruments, played by leading concert artists worldwide. Yulong Guo offers exceptional double-top quality at more accessible price points — his instruments consistently overdeliver for their price.

What a Double-Top Guitar Feels Like to Play

The most immediate sensation playing a great double-top for the first time is the projection — the sense that the sound is going somewhere, filling the room without effort. The response is faster than most solid tops: pianissimo passages speak cleanly without requiring extra pressure, and the transition from soft to loud is immediate rather than gradual. Players who perform frequently in medium to large venues often find double-tops transformative.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are double-top guitars more fragile?

Surprisingly, no. The Nomex core actually makes double-tops more resistant to humidity-related movement than solid tops — the wood cannot expand and contract as freely because of the core's rigidity. They are more susceptible to impact damage than a thick solid top, but under normal playing and storage conditions they are highly durable.

What is the double-top guitar price range?

Double-top construction is labour-intensive and requires expensive materials, so prices start higher than equivalent solid-top instruments. Entry-level double-tops from reputable makers begin at mid-four-figures; top-level instruments from Dammann or established European luthiers command significantly more. Yulong Guo offers the best value entry point in the category.

Do double-top guitars need special strings?

No — standard classical guitar strings work perfectly on double-tops. Some players experiment with slightly lower tension strings to take advantage of the increased sensitivity, but this is personal preference rather than necessity.

Browse Double-Top Guitars

Every double-top in our collection is filmed so you can hear the projection and tonal character in full. 14-day home trial, worldwide insured shipping, personal advice. Browse double-top classical guitars or speak to our team.