Robert Ruck – 1995 No. 599

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 1995 Robert Ruck numbered 599 is a masterpiece of the late American master. Built with a solid spruce soundboard, Indian rosewood back and sides, and wearing wonderful Rodgers tuners, it is an elegant and classy guitar. The two additional sound ports on the upper part of the sides are a distinctive feature of Robert Ruck guitars. With their relatively small diameter and intelligent positioning, they offer enjoyable feedback on the guitar’s sound yet provide a very natural playing feeling.

Apart from a very small and harmless hairline crack on the lower part of the rib, the guitar is in impressively great condition. It only had one previous owner, who fitted it with a Schlemper amplifier system. This system originally included both a piezo and a microphone, but the latter was removed so that the piezo pickup can currently be used. Of course, the Schlemper amplifier is also included and is specially designed for a very natural reproduction of the classic guitar sound. Even unamplified, this guitar has a beautiful and satisfying sound.

The sound of this Robert Ruck is ample and rich with a striking openness. Its notes come through with precision and develop a mature texture rich in overtones. It is rare to hear such a thick yet clear sound, and this Robert Ruck is much joy to play, especially in counterpoint, where both qualities are outermost important. This instrument is both a genuine concert guitar and an instrument with a vintage collectible quality to it.