{"title":"Modern","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"maxwell-t-sipe-2025-no-117","title":"Maxwell T. Sipe - 2025 No. 117","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAbout the luthier\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nMaxwell T. Sipe is a luthier based in Portland, Oregon, whose work emerges from a lifelong dual passion for music and craft. After studying classical guitar at the University of Portland—where he worked with teachers including Jeffrey Ashton and Scott Kritzer, he performed and taught professionally before turning to instrument making. His early years were shaped by hands-on repair experience, including six formative years assisting master luthier Kerry Char. Through extensive work in restoration, refretting, and custom builds, Sipe developed an exceptional sensitivity to instrument behaviour across centuries and styles. He is largely self-taught, but credits a vibrant local luthier community with deepening his skills and aesthetic judgment. For him, lutherie is not only a convergence of disciplines, but “a meaningful, superbly functional, and aesthetically pleasing” practice in dialogue with music itself.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the guitar\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nGuitar No. 117, completed in 2025, represents a mature stage in Sipe’s search for a voice that is, in his own words, “both modern and lyrical with good sustain in the trebles throughout.” The top is made from Engelmann spruce, braced with a 7-fan system augmented by floating ties: small lateral connections between the fan struts that help regulate motion across the soundboard. The back and sides are made of Madagascar rosewood, contributing a rich, dark tonal base, while the slightly elevated ebony fingerboard (with 20th fret) enhances comfort and access.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nOne of the standout features of this guitar is its intricate “New Waves” rosette. It combines California buckeye burl, a rare native American species, with pearwood and dyed koto, forming a visually striking, almost topographic pattern. This motif is echoed in the matte-finished bridge, carved from ebonized rosewood, whose dark tone flows naturally into the fingerboard and the headstock veneer, giving the entire instrument a visual unity and compositional elegance. The bindings are ebony, and the guitar is fitted with Barnett tuning machines and Jescar EVO Gold fretwire.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nTonally, the guitar has a warm, enveloping voice with deep basses and a responsive, singing treble. Its sustain is long and clean, especially in the upper register, and the tonal balance remains consistent across dynamics. Separation between voices is excellent, and the instrument’s light build contributes to a quick and expressive response, particularly appealing to players seeking both sensitivity and projection.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Siccas Guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52723092947277,"sku":"KS17791","price":7490.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/4011\/7325\/files\/Maxwell-T-Sipe-2025-No-117-44.jpg?v=1766155832"},{"product_id":"mario-gropp-2018-no-596-la-onda","title":"Mario Gropp - 2018 No. 596 \"La Onda\"","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAbout the luthier\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nMario Gropp has been active as a professional master guitar maker since 1983. His comprehensive background in classical guitar performance provides him with a deep understanding of the practical and ergonomic demands placed on the instrument, enabling him to address the specific needs of guitarists with precision. This dual perspective informs both the playability of his guitars and the realisation of individual customer requirements.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nSince 1997, Gropp has focused intensively on the structural and tonal development of the top level concert guitars produced in the workshop. His work has gained international recognition, with leading guitarists valuing the tonal quality and reliability of his instruments. In addition to models with standard scale lengths, he has devoted significant research to the development of high performance concert guitars with shorter scales, addressing the highest artistic demands without compromise in sound.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nIn 2022, the Musical Instrument Museum in Markneukirchen honoured the workshop’s centenary with the special exhibition “100 Jahre Kurt Gropp.” Portraits of the Gropp workshop and its work have appeared in international publications and broadcasts, including Classical Guitar magazine, Korean television KBS, Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk, Concertino, and Orfeo.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the guitar\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nThis concert guitar was built in 2018 and represents Mario Gropp’s mature approach to contemporary concert instrument design. The combination of a cedar top with Madagascar rosewood back and sides supports a tonal profile that is rich, stable, and well balanced across the registers.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nThe sound is characterised by a strong fundamental presence and a broad dynamic range. The bass register is full and supportive without becoming diffuse, while the trebles remain clear and controlled, retaining definition even under greater dynamic pressure. The midrange integrates seamlessly, contributing to an even and coherent overall voice.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nThe response is predictable and stable, offering the player a high degree of control in both articulation and dynamic shaping. The guitar maintains clarity in complex textures and supports sustained phrasing, making it well suited to demanding concert repertoire and extended performance contexts.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eCondition\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nThe guitar is in excellent condition. There are no cracks, damages, or structural issues, and no visible marks or wear worth noting.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n","brand":"Siccas Guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53250954264909,"sku":"KS17852","price":6790.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/4011\/7325\/files\/mario-gropp-2018-13.jpg?v=1770383842"},{"product_id":"toby-rzepka-2026-no-110","title":"Toby Rzepka - 2026 No. 110","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAbout the luthier\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nToby Rzepka began building guitars in 2001 after studying with Walter Stanul at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. His early development as a luthier continued under the guidance of the American guitar maker Stephan Connor, where he refined his understanding of contemporary classical guitar construction.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nSeeking a broader historical perspective on instrument making, Rzepka later attended the West Dean College of Arts and Conservation in England, where he specialised in the construction of Baroque and Renaissance instruments. His work there was recognised with a President’s Award and a Distinction in 2008. These experiences provided him with a foundation that combines historical knowledge with an openness toward modern design concepts.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nRzepka approaches guitar making as a craft that continues to evolve. His instruments reflect a dialogue between traditional aesthetics and contemporary structural ideas, aiming to explore new tonal possibilities while maintaining a clear connection to the classical guitar’s established form.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the guitar\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nThis guitar from 2026 represents Toby Rzepka’s modern approach to classical guitar construction. Built with a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, the instrument incorporates a contemporary structural concept that emphasises projection, sustain and tonal depth. The design includes modern features such as a soundport and an elevated fingerboard, both intended to enhance the responsiveness and acoustic efficiency of the instrument.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nThe tonal character is notably dark and rounded. The bass register develops with considerable depth, while the overall sound remains soft in its attack and rich in overtones. Rather than producing an overtly bright response, the guitar favours a smooth tonal profile that maintains warmth even under stronger articulation.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003e\r\nDespite this dark tonal centre, the instrument retains strong projection and a wide dynamic capacity. The sound can be shaped through subtle adjustments in right hand position, allowing the player to introduce brighter colours when required while preserving the instrument’s characteristic warmth. The result is a powerful modern concert guitar with a distinctive voice and a broad expressive range.\r\n\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Siccas Guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53485041320269,"sku":"S18874","price":8490.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/4011\/7325\/files\/toby-rzepka-2026-No-110-16_sdky1zj0i9uak5ky0rnj.jpg?v=1772803116"},{"product_id":"adrian-heinzelmann-2026","title":"Adrian Heinzelmann - 2026","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAbout the luthier\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eAdrian Heinzelmann is among the notable German luthiers of his generation. His work reflects a refined approach to modern classical guitar making, with an aesthetic rooted in the Spanish tradition and shaped by the precision often associated with contemporary German workshops. His instruments are played by teachers, soloists, and advanced students, and have proven themselves in major European concert settings.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eA defining aspect of Heinzelmann’s work is his treatment of the soundboard. His Groove Bracing concept uses narrow, parallel channels inside the cedar top to influence weight, flexibility, and response. Combined with a lightweight lattice structure, this approach gives his guitars a high degree of sensitivity, strong volume, and a sound that remains clear and controlled under a wide dynamic range.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the guitar\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThis new 2026 Adrian Heinzelmann is a modern concert guitar with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides. The instrument follows Heinzelmann’s Groove Bracing concept and offers immediate response, depth, and tonal stability. Its sound is powerful without becoming rigid, with a dark, piano like character and a strong sense of balance across the register.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe guitar offers an unusually wide dynamic range, allowing the player to move naturally from softer passages to a fuller concert sound without the instrument reaching its limit too quickly. The sustain is long, the response is easy, and the voice remains consistent in different positions and on different strings. This evenness gives the guitar a high level of musical control, especially in repertoire that demands clarity, projection, and finely shaped dynamics.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eDespite its modern construction and considerable power, the guitar keeps a natural tonal profile. The cedar top contributes warmth and immediacy, while the Indian rosewood body supports depth, resonance, and a solid bass foundation. Kris Barnett tuning machines complete the instrument with precise and reliable function, in keeping with the guitar’s concert level character.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Siccas Guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53775519383885,"sku":"S18875","price":999999999.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/4011\/7325\/files\/adrian-heinzelmann-2026-01.jpg?v=1777029255"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.siccasguitars.com\/collections\/modern.oembed","provider":"Siccas Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}