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Simon Ambridge - 2020

Simon Ambridge - 2020

Overview

Simon Ambridge was born in 1951 in London. He comes from a family with a long cabinet-making tradition dating back to the 18th century. Although a keen woodworker from an early age, he studied graphic design before setting up a successful furniture-making business in London. In 1978 he made his first acoustic guitar based on a Martin 0045, then soon after, I made a small Torres-style classical with help from Kevin Aram, who has since established himself as a leading luthier. At this point, his path was clear; he was hooked. However, it was ten years before he could devote himself to guitar-making full-time.

Becoming a full-time guitar maker coincided with his move to Devon in the southwest of England, thanks to a setting up grant from the Crafts Council of Great Britain. He was particularly honored by this grant since the selectors included Jose Romanillos, David Rubio, and Paul Fischer. In 1991 he received awards from the David Canter Memorial fund and Southwest Arts. In 1995 he moved into a studio on the Dartington estate in South Devon, home of the renowned Dartington International Summer School. Over the years, he has enjoyed a growing international reputation with customers in North and South America, Canada, the Far East, Australia, mainland Europe, and the UK.

His concert guitars (like this one) owe their appearance to the instruments of Antonio de Torres, the early 20th-century Spanish makers. Combining these guitar-makers design elements with his ideas, he produces traditional instruments in style, lightly built, and very responsive. He’s aiming for a sound with natural beauty, with the notes evenly focused and well-balanced across the musical spectrum.

This superb guitar number 280 comes directly from Simon Ambridge’s workshop. Its striking beauty shows fine and abundant marquetry and a fantastic selection of woods. Moreover, the spruce soundboard shows only a couple of almost invisible nail marks, and the stunning Indian rosewood back and sides also only show very superficial playing wear, making this instrument in excellent condition. The German Scheller tuners with their Silver Nickel plate underline the unique character of this instrument. From the first notes, this guitar captivates the ear with its powerful and open tone, which is impressive for such a young instrument. This aspect is very promising for the development of sound. The playability is perfect, and you can feel that Simon Ambridge puts the guitarist in the foreground. This concert guitar is effortless to control and offers the discerning concert guitarist many possibilities for sound creation. The quality of the timbre and the subtlety of the resonances add a charming final note to the overall appearance of this guitar.

Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you will find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.

Luthier: Simon Ambridge
Construction year: 2020
Top: Spruce
Back and sides: Indian rosewood
Scale: 650 mm
Nut: 51,5 mm
Weight: 1465 grams
Air body frequency: F#/G
Tuners: Scheller
Strings: Knobloch EDC 34.0
Case: Hiscox Pro II
Condition: Excellent
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Video overview

Irina Kulikova plays Allemande, Cello Suite No. 1 by J. S. Bach on a 2020 S. Ambridge Guitar
Simon Ambridge 2020 No. 280 Classical Guitar review
Sound From HEAVEN | The Weekly Guitar Meeting #37 | Vogl, Ambridge, Montero | Siccas Guitars

While this guitar is sold, these are ready for you

  • Classical Guitar

    The classical guitar, with its soft nylon strings and characteristic timbre, has become a symbol of chamber music, Spanish tradition, and concert repertoire. Its modern form was shaped by Antonio de Torres in the 19th century, setting the standard for the body, fan bracing, and the 65-centimeter scale length that are still used today. Instruments in this category open up a rich palette from the refined Romantic miniatures of Tárrega to the majestic concertos of Rodrigo. Here you will find guitars that preserve historical continuity and at the same time inspire new interpretations.
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  • Luthier: Edgar Mönch
    Construction Year: 1958
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Brazilian rosewood (CITES certified)
    Soundboard Finish: French polish
    Body Finish: French polish
    Air Body Frequency: F sharp / G
    Weight (g): 1415
    Tuner: Landstorfer
    Condition: Very good
  • Luthier: Kim Lissarrague
    Construction Year: 2010
    Construction Type: Lattice
    Top: Cedar
    Back and Sides: Ziricote
    Soundboard Finish: Wax
    Body Finish: Lacquer
    Air Body Frequency: F sharp / G
    Weight (g): 2390
    Tuner: Gilbert
    Condition: Excellent
  • Luthier: Angelo Vailati
    Construction Year: 2025
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Indian rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: French polish
    Body Finish: French polish
    Air Body Frequency: F sharp / G
    Weight (g): 1460
    Tuner: Alessi
    Condition: New
  • Construction Year: 1976
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Indian rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: Cashew
    Body Finish: Cashew
    Air Body Frequency: G / G sharp
    Weight (g): 1680
    Tuner: Klaus Scheller
    Condition: Excellent
  • Luthier: Sebastian Stenzel
    Construction Year: 2003
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Indian rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: French polish
    Body Finish: Nitrocellulose
    Air Body Frequency: G sharp
    Weight (g): 1405
    Tuner: Landstorfer
    Condition: Excellent
  • Luthier: Nick Branwell
    Construction Year: 2025
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Indian rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: French polish
    Body Finish: French polish
    Air Body Frequency: F sharp / G
    Weight (g): 1435
    Tuner: Kris Barnett
    Condition: New
  • Construction Year: 2025
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Cedar
    Back and Sides: Madagascar rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: Polyurethane
    Body Finish: Polyurethane
    Air Body Frequency: F sharp / G
    Weight (g): 1630
    Tuner: Aparicio
    Condition: New
  • Luthier: Vicente Carrillo
    Construction Year: 2025
    Construction Type: Double Top
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Madagascar rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: French polish
    Body Finish: French polish
    Air Body Frequency: A / A sharp
    Weight (g): 1700
    Tuner: Aparicio
    Condition: New
  • Manufacturer: Armin Hanika
    Construction Type: Lattice
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Ziricote
    Soundboard Finish: French polish
    Body Finish: Uv-cured finish
    Air Body Frequency: G sharp
    Weight (g): 1865
    Tuner: Alessi
    Condition: New
  • Manufacturer: Armin Hanika
    Construction Type: Traditional
    Top: Spruce
    Back and Sides: Indian rosewood
    Soundboard Finish: Uv-cured finish
    Body Finish: Uv-cured finish
    Air Body Frequency: F sharp / G
    Weight (g): 1720
    Tuner: Rubner
    Condition: New

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