Stephan Connor – 2022 Doubletop No. 437 “Sueno en La Floresta”

Description

Stephan Connor is one of the most sought-after luthiers in the US. His guitars are regularly played in concerts around the world by first class artists such as the Assad brothers, Eliot Fisk, Angel Romero, the Amadeus Guitar Duo, and many more. Stephan has specialized in building high quality concert classical guitars in 1994. He uses the absolute finest materials possible, in order to built instruments with robust projection while maintaining a beautiful, versatile voice. The aesthetic of his guitars is rooted in the Spanish tradition. However, his bracing patterns and other elements that control the sound, have evolved and are distinctly his own.

Built in 2022, this guitar numbered 437 is a unique work of art. This exclusive model, named “Sueno en La Floresta”, was crafted with the finest woods and is a manifestation of Stephen Connor’s artistry at its best. The three-piece top is made of European moon spruce on the outer sides, which has a breathtakingly beautiful figured grain, and ancient cedar in the middle, whose trunk was submerged in water for centuries and turned almost black from minerals. It gained a fantastic density on its way to petrification and now has a bell-like sound. Stephen personally rescued this particular piece of cedar when he found logs on the beach in British Columbia, Canada, where he afterwards split it himself. As it was not wide enough for a two-piece top, he decided to use this wood as part of a three-piece top, as Antonio de Torres often did, but of course with his own design and using a double top Nomex construction.

This instrument is sold with two saddles: one made of unbleached bone, and one made of Sonoran Desert Ironwood. This incredibly dense wood is Stephen’s current favourite for making saddles. It mellows the bass, produces a less metallic sound, and adds a certain charm to the tone. A small removable Tornavoz is included with the guitar as well as a wooden cover for the lateral sound port.

Check out the presentation video of this specific guitar below in which you will find plenty of extra information about its playability and sound.