News

Ashley Sanders Classical Guitar

Hi All,

So I got to play golf yesterday.  It was fun, it was tiring, I was exhausted when I got home around 3PM.  Out like a light, after some light food and water.  Hurt my shoulder and my left wrist as well.  Po’ baby. Moving on….

Some great emails when I finally checked them last night.  Notably, Daryl Perry, one of the great luthiers of North America, who I met last year at the GFA, asked if I would still like to have one of his guitars in my studio.  ?   I even wrote this to him……let me think…….of course!!!

So, that’s happening and I’m very happy and excited to see his work here.  Time line is still up in the air, he’s busy, but I’ll keep you posted.  He updated me for the build coming Spring of 2014.  I asked (nicely) if he would keep me on his build schedule.  Hopefully he says yes.

New guitars from Kenny Hill, Darren Hippner, Manuel Adalid, Larry Breslin, Douglass Scott, and Ashley Sanders is sending a new Ziricote Guitar to me next week sometime.  I love Ashley’s work.  Very clean, meticulous, always prettier than you might or could expect, and seriously loud and punchy, with an excellent voice.

Robert Desmond (Bob to his friends) is coming for a visit on April 22, bringing 4 guitars with him.  I’ll take at least 2 or 3.  Excited to see what he has in store for us.

On the book side, I’m plowing thru Prelude #12 of the Well Tempered Clavier.  I’m committing to working on these books every day until they’re done.  They have been on my plate for too long and I need them done.  🙂

Updates to follow as the classical guitars come thru.  Best and go do something nice for yourself.  Something that makes you smile.  Enjoy…Rich

Martha and her Angel

One of the most beautiful classical guitars I have ever seen, with a warm silky tone and wondrous voice was sent to me by Mr. Kenny Hill of Hill Guitar Co.  Yes, I said Mr. Kenny Hill, because, holy maple wood, Batman, this guitar deserves some serious respect  LOL

The guitar is his Torres F5 with German Spruce and Quilted Maple #3412, which has a 3D effect when looking at her in warm light.  Gorgeous from voice to appearance.

Martha and I spoke for a bit, wrote back and forth, and a day later this beauty, which she appropriately called “Angel”  was in her hands.  Here’s what she wrote:

Hello Richard,

The guitar just arrived and is beautiful. Can’t believe the voice on her.

Thanks so much for the extra goodies. I do have a question about the Bee’s Wax spray.

Can you fill me in on how to use it? Also are the back and sides french polished? They look like maybe they are.

Kenny Hill Torres F5 Classical Guitar #3412 – Angel

She now has a name. The back and sides remind me of angel wings,and with the beautiful voice she has,her name is ANGEL.

Thanks so very much,

Martha

Kenny Hill Signature Classical Guitar #3395

Hi All,

Whoo, Spring made an entrance with 70 and 80 degree weather.  I got all geared up to play some golf.  Happy happy….and then some jerky weather from the North part of the country decided to make an entrance and screwed me up.  50mph winds?  Seriously?  When the rain kicked in, I said screw it and decided to work inside today.  So….

I recorded.

Nice.  Got some serious work done.  Manuel Adalid Anniversario #61 and #62 — Kenny Hill Signatures #3395 and #3408 (3408 isn’t on the site yet…why?…cuz I got a lot o’ sh*t to do).

It’s tax time as well.  This is fun.  It’s like taking little needles and sticking them into the bottom of my feet.  The expenses are the hardest part.  Category after category.  You’d think I’d be good at it by now, but no.  I suck at it and I hates it…hates it I tells ya..lmao

I need a break, so I do music, or I swing a club, or I transcribe some Bach (hear that Chris…yes, indeedy, Chris from Georgia has been hounding me for 2 years to finish my Bach Well Tempered Collection.  Almost there baby  LOL).

So the guitars are recorded and updated.  Also Hill Performance #3388 which is a Spruce 630 but a  7/8 Sized guitar vs. the Torres sized body, which is smaller.  I think Kenny should just call it a 630 Hauser Body, because that’s what it feels like to me, body wise anyways.  Powerful little beast she is…nice.

Also recorded the pre-owned Signature #3004 Spruce Double Top with Lattice Bracing.  All the music files are on the site.

OK, well updates continue.  Recording continues, books continue, and I continue to NOT play golf.  ack….enjoy the weekend.  Rich

Hi All,

Richard Bruné with his son Marshall

Exciting news.  Richard Bruné, all round nice guy and luthier extraordinaire from the Chicago area, just finished setting up and maximizing sound and playability on a number of guitars that will be coming my way.

One is a professionally owned, recorded and beloved 1991 Manuel Velazquez with brilliant German Spruce and Brazilian Rosewood.  Used on a number of professionally released recordings, the guitar is out of this world in terms of sound and playability, warmth and clarity.

A Reyes model built by Manuel Adalid using the finest woods is also coming.  Actually 2 of them, one with Cypress, the other with Cedar and Rosewood.

A Hauser model, again, using the finest materials, is en route.  This guitar is not capable of being ordered from Manuel.  It was a special build using his oldest woods.  This guitar will cost almost double what a typical Hauser build would cost from Manuel Adalid.

A new Kenny Hill Signature Cedar with EIRW is en route, along with a few Performance Series guitars to round out the inventory.  I’ll write more about these as they come in to the gallery.

I have a Baroque Guitar coming from Italy, and a few other immensely gorgeous instruments from around the world.  Busy place of late, which is nice, except for my ability to relax and play some golf.  🙂  Best and talk soon.  Rich

Manuel Adalid Lacote Classical Guitar

Hi All,

I’ve started the recording process for the numerous Manuel Adalid and Esteve Classical Guitars that came to the studio.  I still have a bunch more to do, but I have the Adalid Torres 650 and the 640 recorded, as well as the Lacote, which was a lot of fun.  I went with an old Renaissance piece called “The Cobbler”, fun and light sounding.  What a gorgeous guitar.  I also have a bunch of other new guitars to record in the next 3 days.  Heck, at least I’m playing again.  LOL

I’ve also begun working on the Well Tempered Clavier Books 1B and 1C again, after finishing up all the rebuilding of the home and the studio.  Nice to get back to the books.  I’m also planning a few Weiss publications and finally my Celtic compilation.

I’m also planning on recording an original CD of my own works, Celtic and acoustic guitar, for a hopeful release of October or November of this year.  I hope I get to this, as I have had numerous requests for an original CD for quite a few years now.

I’ve also listed all the variations of the numerous Gotoh Tuning Machines that came in last week.

A very large order was also placed with Nicolò Alessi of Italy.  He should be able to get his gorgeous tuning machines to me by June/July of this year.

Have a great weekend.  I’m about and around the studio most of the weekend.  I have a family obligation late Saturday, but otherwise, I’m around.  Talk soon…Rich   631-335-5447

Manuel Adalid Anniversario Classical Guitar #61 Cedar

I’ll tell you why.  Because I got a lot of sh*t to take care of gotdammit.  Christ, the photography, editing, watemarking, listing, measuring and updates alone are enough to make me feel old.  I found myself falling asleep at the keyboard last night and this late morning.  2PM and I’m still going.  Just finished the first batch of Adalid classical guitars, Kenny Hill Signatures.  4 cups of coffee and still, I feel like I could sleep.

Now I have to photograph, edit, etc all the Esteve guitars as in 3E 3Z 7SR 7C/B 9C/B (and mind you, they all come in Spruce AND Cedar…yikes!!!!), 2 concert guitars that just came on Friday (an Oribe Suprema Classica and a 1971 Ramirez 1A), and update some older photographs, such as the Gil Carnal – Hill Players – Estudios and whatever else I see as I peruse my site.

I also have updates to several pages as I fill in more of the site with my own personality, which many seem to like?   I laugh at myself alot..I guess people can connect to that.  LOL

So, an MP3 page, personal photo gallery, luthier pages, events, a newsletter for April 2013, updates to a gazillion Gotoh Tuning Machines and variants, and whatever the heck else pops out at me that is deficient on the site.  I could work for 2 weeks straight, and not feel like I’m any closer to being done with any of  it.

Fabrizio Alberico 2007 OM Acoustic Guitar

Manuel Adalid Torres Classical Guitar 650mm

Oh yeah, did I mention that I have to record all these guitars?  Videos?  Seriously?  Screw this…it’s Easter Sunday.  I’m gonna shower, watch some golf, and hang out with my buddies Johnnie and Jack, Walker Black and Daniels that is….ha…..ha…..oh yeah, I’m losin’ it….hehehehehe  peace…Rich

Kenny Hill Signature Classical Guitar #3004

Manuel Adalid Lacote Classical Romantic Guitar

Hi All,

Rich Playing…Summer of 2012

I just received a massive shipment of Gotoh Machine Heads or Tuning Machines today.  Listing these are going to be fun, as I have variants of the following machines with various button styles (such as 2M (ivory ovals) – EN (ebony ovals) – EI (Square MOP Faux) – 2W (Oval MOP Faux))

All of the machines are from there sub 35G510 Series, priced more economically.

All machines are 35mm post spacing, EXCEPT for the 40G2000, which are 39mm.

It will take me some time to catalog and list the variations properly, but in the meantime, you can always write or call me and ask any questions or order them directly from me over the phone.  Best…Rich 631-335-5447 – email is [email protected]

• 35G620
  • 2M
  • EN
• 40G2000 – 39mm Spacing for older Spanish and Japanese Classical Guitars
  • 2M
  • 2W
  • EN
  • EI
• 35G1600
  • 2M
  • 2W
  • EN
• 35G1800
  • 2W
  • EN
• 35G3600
  • 2M
  • 2W
  • EN