Robert Ruck – 1978 Russel Cleveland Collection

Description

Robert Ruck (1945-2018) was a prolific and respected American luthier. His guitars were particularly known thanks to Manuel Barrueco and Shin-ichi Fukuda, who both recorded on Ruck’s guitars. Moreover, Robert Ruck had a strong personality as well as an immense love for musical instruments, and he deeply marked the history of guitar making in the United States.
This extraordinary guitar comes from the famous Russel Cleveland Collection, which was illustrated in the book by John Morrish “Classical Guitar: A Complete History” and can be found in this on pages 72-73.
The condition of this guitar built in 1978 is remarkably good so that it seems almost hard to believe that this fascinating instrument was already built 42 years ago. Obviously this gem has been well treated and maintained by its previous owner. The spruce top has a rich and wonderfully matured color which is a wonderful contrast to the dark CITES-certified Brazilian rosewood for back and sides.
But this instrument is more than just a beautiful looking and very collectible guitar; it is a wonderful concert guitar with breathtaking sound characteristics. It has a mature tone with perfect balance, powerful voice, and almost endless seeming sustain. The deep rounded basses blend perfectly with the overtone-rich trebles and the sound has a great charm and openness. Although it is a guitar with a long scale, it is easy to play due to the pleasant neck shape.