Gary Southwell - 2025 - No. 380
Gary Southwell - 2025 - No. 380
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
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Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Gary Southwell is one of Britain’s most distinguished luthiers, known for his work with guitar legends such as John Williams and Julian Bream. Trained at the London College of Furniture, he initially focused on historical guitars, particularly early 19th-century models. Over the years, he developed modern innovations including the A Series and Temperate Guitars, incorporating sustainable materials and responsive design. Southwell’s instruments are renowned for their clarity, tonal complexity, and sensitivity to the player's touch.
About the guitar
This 2025 model, No. 380, is a traditional concert guitar inspired by a mid-20th-century German instrument closely associated with Julian Bream, with whom Southwell worked directly in refining the model. It features a spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides, finished in French polish. Its tonal character is distinguished by exceptional balance, precise note separation, and a soft, rounded treble that blends effortlessly with the mid and bass ranges. The basses develop with openness while preserving clarity. The guitar responds with nuance to dynamic shifts and subtle phrasing, making it a compelling choice for performers seeking expressive flexibility and refined tonal color.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.