{"product_id":"yan-lei-2026-no-77","title":"Yan Lei - 2026 No. 77","description":"\u003ch3\u003eAbout the luthier\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eChinese luthier Yan Lei began making guitars in 2012, initially teaching himself the craft before joining a workshop with several experienced makers in 2014. His development continued under British luthier Simon Ambridge in 2016, and just two years later, he achieved fourth place in the 2nd Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada. Further studies with American luthiers Jeffrey Elliott, R. E. Brune and Ervin Somogyi broadened his understanding of acoustic construction. His work encompasses traditional designs inspired by Torres, Hauser and Friedrich, alongside contemporary double top guitars. A significant turning point came in 2021, when restoring a 2012 Matthias Dammann double top guitar introduced him to the possibilities of asymmetrical bracing and Nomex sandwich construction. Since then, Yan Lei has experimented extensively with different soundboard structures and bracing arrangements, seeking greater control over response, balance and tonal variation.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003ch3\u003eAbout the guitar\u003c\/h3\u003e\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eA remarkably direct and responsive sound characterises this 2026 double top guitar No. 77 by Yan Lei. Its cedar soundboard, constructed around a lightweight Nomex core, is paired with beautifully figured Indian rosewood back and sides. The workmanship is precise throughout, with a carefully executed rosette, a subtly elevated fingerboard and details that reveal the maker's attention to proportion and finish.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThe guitar responds to the lightest touch with an immediacy that makes even delicate passages feel effortlessly projected. Its voice is warm and beautifully rounded, yet possesses a distinctive dryness and focused clarity that give individual notes a particularly well defined character. There is a gentle softness at the heart of the sound, accompanied by a concentrated, slightly nasal quality that sets it apart from more conventionally voiced instruments. Perhaps most striking is the remarkable equality of volume across the strings. Notes emerge with almost pianistic consistency, allowing chords to unfold with an unusual sense of balance and every voice to remain clearly perceptible.\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp style=\"text-align: justify;\"\u003eThis evenness, combined with the quick response of the soundboard, allows rapid scales and intricate passages to retain their clarity without the individual notes becoming blurred. Softer playing reveals a delicate sweetness and a beautifully rounded tone, while a stronger attack produces considerable volume without making the sound harsh or losing its definition. The instrument follows these changes in touch naturally, giving the player considerable freedom to shape a phrase. Its combination of power, precision and tonal softness is particularly appealing for musicians seeking the immediacy of a modern double top guitar without sacrificing warmth or delicacy.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Siccas Guitars","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55279824634189,"sku":"S19038","price":10490.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0765\/4011\/7325\/files\/yan-lei-2026-no-77-18.jpg?v=1793794520","url":"https:\/\/www.siccasguitars.com\/products\/yan-lei-2026-no-77","provider":"Siccas Guitars","version":"1.0","type":"link"}