{"product_id":"rafal-turkowiak-2026-opus-virtuoso-no-766","title":"Rafal Turkowiak - 2026 Opus Virtuoso No. 766","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAbout the luthier\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eRafal Turkowiak is a Polish luthier born in 1966 in Golanice near Leszno. His early relationship with wood was shaped by his family, especially by his father, who was a carpenter, and his grandfather, who worked as a wheelwright. This background gave him an intimate understanding of wood, structure and craft long before his name became associated with highly experimental classical guitars.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eTurkowiak’s path into guitar making began unusually early. As a teenager, after dismantling an old guitar, he built his first classical instrument with a sound hole and an individual soundboard concept using suspended bracing. This early curiosity developed into a career defined by invention, technical research and a strong desire to expand the possibilities of the nylon string guitar. His instruments often include construction ideas that go far beyond the traditional Spanish model, including the WAVE type resonator, Acoustic Tubes inside the neck and several patented design elements.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eHis work is especially recognisable for the way it joins acoustic experimentation with a highly decorative visual language. Turkowiak guitars often treat the instrument not only as a sound producing object, but also as a sculptural and architectural form. Materials, internal structure, ergonomics and ornamentation are brought together with a strong sense of individuality, making his guitars immediately identifiable within the field of contemporary classical guitar making.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the guitar\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThis 2026 Rafal Turkowiak Opus Virtuoso No. 766 is one of the most elaborate modern concert guitars in this selection. It is conceived as a highly developed double top instrument with radial bracing, Amboyna burl back and sides, a 21 fret ArcFrets system, elevated fingerboard, Floating ArmRest and Turkowiak’s patented Acoustic Tubes inside the neck. It is a guitar built around the idea of maximum resonance, comfort, visual richness and acoustic efficiency.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe top construction is especially important. The visible outer layer is curly redwood, while Alpine spruce is used inside the double top structure. This gives the guitar a carefully layered soundboard concept, bringing the warmth and richness associated with redwood together with the clarity and response of spruce. The radial bracing supports this modern soundboard system, helping the instrument produce a powerful, rounded and long sustaining voice. The result is a guitar with a soft and full tonal surface, strong projection and an unusually generous sustain across the register.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe back and sides are made from Amboyna burl, giving the instrument an extraordinary visual presence. The figure of the wood is dense, dramatic and almost painterly, making the back of the guitar one of its most striking features. This natural visual complexity is complemented by translucent Baltic amber details in the rosette and headplate, which allow light to pass through and create an almost architectural effect. The decorative elements have the character of small illuminated windows, especially under stage or studio light.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe material concept continues in the details. Natural Baltic amber is used for the decorative work, while mammoth bone is used for the nut, saddle, fret markers, bridge tie block and crown logos. These choices give the guitar a highly individual visual identity, where each functional detail also contributes to the overall aesthetic. The lacquer finish enhances the depth of the Amboyna burl and the clarity of the decorative work, while giving the instrument a polished contemporary appearance.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe playing design is equally distinctive. The ArcFrets system was developed for nylon string instruments to improve intonation while preserving a natural playing feel and standard tuning. The 21 fret layout expands the available range, making the guitar suitable for both older repertoire and music that reaches further into the upper register. The elevated fingerboard improves access in high positions, while the neck shape and general setup give the instrument a comfortable and inviting playing character.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe modified magnolia neck is internally reinforced and semi hollowed, reducing weight while supporting resonance. Inside the neck are Turkowiak’s patented Acoustic Tubes, a construction idea intended to involve the neck more actively in the instrument’s sound production. The Floating ArmRest is mounted on rods attached to the sides and does not touch the soundboard, allowing the top to vibrate freely while giving the player a wide and comfortable support. The body construction also departs from the traditional classical guitar, with a micro heel, almost no internal foot and no traditional internal linings, all intended to free more of the soundboard’s vibrating area.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eTonally, this Opus Virtuoso No. 766 has a very round, soft and sustained voice. Notes bloom with notable length, and the balance across the strings is even and controlled. The sound remains full even under a light touch, making the guitar feel immediately responsive and easy to draw into resonance. Its softness does not mean lack of clarity. Rather, the tone has a rounded edge, a generous body and enough colour to let the player shape different shades with confidence.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Siccas Guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53994261250381,"sku":"KS17921","price":17990.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/4011\/7325\/files\/rafal-turkowiak-2026-opus-virtuoso-no-766-17.jpg?v=1779953790","url":"https:\/\/www.siccasguitars.com\/products\/rafal-turkowiak-2026-opus-virtuoso-no-766","provider":"Siccas Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}