Master Luthier Richard Prenkert offered to you by Richard Sayage and Savage Classical Guitar

Richard Prenkert

Richard Prenkert of Sebastopol, California, started building guitars in 1979 after years of doing repair work at a music store. “A person can take an intensive course to learn how to do this,” Prenkert says, “but refining your sound is something you work at for many years.”

Having begun with traditional building methods, Prenkert now uses more contemporary techniques, including lattice bracing systems and double tops. “The first 100 guitars I made had traditional fan bracing,” he says. “Once in a while I tried something different. I’ve been using the lattice bracing system for about 15 years now. I don’t make the soundboard as thin as [Australian luthier] Greg Smallman does, but the lattice allows me the leeway to make a stiff or floppy top.” Prenkert does continue to use fan bracing on his double-top guitars, which allows him to experiment with the sound of using honeycomb Nomex in the center of the top while keeping a sense of tradition and control in the bracing approach.

Prenkert currently makes three models: a traditional classical, a flamenco, and a cutaway model. He also makes some requinto guitars. “My wood choices are driven by my market and the availability of woods,” he says. “I like spruce and cedar for the tops, but if forced to make a choice, I might lean toward spruce.” For the backs and sides, Prenkert likes Indian or Brazilian rosewood, but is mindful of the cost involved in using Brazilian rosewood. “I also use Madagascar rosewood, which is a wonderful wood that costs more than Indian but less than Brazilian,” he says. Prenkert also occasionally uses cocobolo.

Prenkert offers traditional models with different combinations of woods for the top, sides, and back and other variations such as handcrafted spalted oak rosettes and binding made from Brazilian rosewood or flamed koa. His traditional models are played by Brazilian guitarist Carlos Barbosa-Lima, Richard Stover, and others.

His flamenco guitars feature locally grown Monterey (California) cypress for the sides and back and tuning machines rather than traditional wood pegs, as well as a transparent tap plate to protect the top.

RICHARD PRENKERT

A traditional classical model with a cedar top.

Prenkert is excited about his cutaway model, which is popular with jazz-oriented players, including Romero Lubamba. It comes with a pickup system made by Barbera Transducer Systems (barberatransducers.com). “This is the best pickup I’ve heard,” Prenkert says. “It reproduces the natural sound of the instrument with no piezo quack and few feedback problems. It has a very transparent sound and doesn’t damage the acoustic response of the instrument.”

One of Prenkert’s ideals has been to build guitars that feel good in the hands and produce ample volume without taxing the performer. “Overall, I try to make an instrument that’s comfortable to play and responsive, so the player doesn’t have to hammer on it to get a sound,” Prenkert says. “If a strong player wants higher action, fine, but I like lower action and think players should learn to adjust to it. The easier an instrument is to play, the less tension there will be in the music.”

Prenkert builds between 12 and 15 instruments a year, and his prices start at $6,500. There is currently a six-month wait for a new instrument.

Richard Prenkert - Sebastopol, CA

Extracted from Acoustic Guitar Magazine

Prenkert’s Cutaway model with a spruce top.

Please take a look at one of my fine offerings from Richard Prenkert

~ Signature #311 ~

Double Top Cedar with Macassar Ebony

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