News

Manuel Adalid Anniversario Classical Guitar

The huge classical guitar shipment has arrived from Manuel Adalid after numerous customs issues with UPS.  Lacey Act paperwork filed and the guitars arrived 2 days later.  Beautiful classical guitars from his 3E model to 3Z – 7SR – 7C/B – 9C/B and then some of his concert models.  The Lacote is gorgeous with superb Spruce and Maple.  I brought in 2 Torres models, one in 650mm and another in 640mm.  I also brought in an Adalid 8F Flamenco Guitar with superb Cypress

I also have 2 of his Anniversario models, one Spruce, one Cedar, which are simply superb.  Loud, sweet powerful guitars.  Full write ups, photos, measurements and listings to follow in the next week.  It was a ton of work today, and this was only the beginning.  The listings will start to appear in the next day or so.

Also have a number of Kenny Hill Player Series Classical Guitars that came in today as well, rounding out my Hill Player inventory.

So, updates to follow, stay tuned.  Nice guitars.   Best…Rich

Randy Angella #132

Hi All,

Hope the weekend is good.  A few classical guitars came in to the studio, as well as an amazing acoustic guitar by Fabrizio Alberico, and quite a few more are on the way.  These need to be photographed and recorded, and then posted to the site.  They are so nice, they need a preview before I can post them proper.

• Fabrizio Alberico – 2007 OM Concert Acoustic Guitar with German Spruce and Madagascar RW – Mother of Pearl Highlights, in extraordinary condition.  Sounds like a harp, plays like a dream.
• Kenny Hill Signature #3395 – Western Red Cedar with East Indian Rosewood – Sloanes – Elevated Fingerboard – Double Top with Lattice Bracing – clear sounding, vibrant, resonant and musical with a surprising ease of play.
• Woodley White – 2007 – Spruce Italian Style  LOL  Amazing classical guitar
• Robert Vincent – 2013 – Incredible work by Rob
• Randy Angella  – 2001 – Spruce and Port Orford Cedar classical guitar – clear sounding, vibrant with easy play
• A few South American builders are incoming.  Exceptional work
• I am in contact with quite a few Italian Classical Guitar Luthiers.  I’m hoping for some more great work to grace my gallery.

Woodley White November 2009

Hey,

So, I woke up today, after a whole weekend of working, saying, whoo, I gots more stuff to do.  Photography.  Nice.  I started at 10AM.  I’m still at it at 10PM.  So, when you ask, hey, Rich, how much do you work on presentation, either take a deep breath or run away.

Oh yeah, it’s 10PM, and I’m not even close to done.  Photos are done, but now it’s the editing, and then the process of getting them on to the site.  Too much detail I ask?  Maybe, but that’s what I do.  It just takes a stupid long amount of time.

I was going to record today?  Seriously?

Enjoy the Woodley White, Randy Angella and the Kenny Hill Performance and Signature photos and descriptions.  Ill be done with it all tomorrow as I can barely keep my eyes open.  To the right is a photo of Woodley White‘s work from late 2009.  The man builds a nice classical guitar.

Best…Rich

backyard decking after the flood

Hi All,

workshop after the flood

March is half over, Spring is around the corner, and it seems I’m moving non-stop.  I’ve finished rebuilding the house in its entirety.  New furniture is here (wife is way happy), and the place looks great.  At least on the inside.

My outside, yards, gardens, you name it, were destroyed in the storm and floods.  Not covered, I have to fix everything, from lawn to landscaping.  Pool was destroyed, sheds, hot tub, decking needs a cleaning, and reinforcement, and a slew of other stuff needs attention.  Sucks, but it has to be done.

In the meantime, business keeps cranking.  Manuel Adalid of Spain confirms a large delivery of super nice guitars, of which I’ve spoken in an earlier post, so I won’t recount.

front entry way

Studio and gallery area…this is where all my desks and tables were in the studio

New Hill Guitars are on order, including a 640mm Spruce and and a similar 640mm Cedar Signature.  July delivery is expected.  I’ve also ordered a 640mm Performance in Cedar.  Player Series and Estudios are also on order.

More guitars are en route, but I’ll speak more of this when they are a reality.  Hint, WoodleyWhite, Robert Vincent, Douglass Scott, and Larry Breslin.  Also Bob Desmond , Kate Hauser, yes, Hermann’s daughter (nice) and quite a few more big names coming round the corner when she does…how does that go?

Best, enjoy the weekend.  Rich 631-335-5447

Kenny Performance 630 Classical Guitar

Hi,

In a nutshell, my business insurance finally came through with their settlement of my claim deriving from Superstorm Sandy and the flooding/damage I sustained.  My consignment clients are happy as I can finally settle all of their accounts thru the end of next week.

Importantly, I can now move on, continuing the rebuilding of the home, the business and my sanity.  Sweet.

Manuel Adalid is sending me a boatload of guitars.  Some of these guitars are flat out gorgeous, well priced, very accessible and a dream to play.  Hausers Torres – 2 of his Anniversario Models in Spruce and Cedar and then Esteve and Adalid 9C/Bs – 7SRs – 7C/Bs – and then some 3Es and 3Zs with Ziricote.  This is the beginning of handling his North American representation, of which I will speak more in the coming months.

Kenny Hill sent me an outrageously gorgeous Performance Classical Guitar in a 630mm scale but a 7/8 sized body.  This body size is an 1/8 of an inch smaller in all the dimensions of the guitar than a standard 650mm scale.  What a honey bunny.  You can check it out here.

I’ll write again next week as more stuff is coming in, with lots happening now that I can move forward without worrying what was behind me.  Best and enjoy the weekend.  Rich

MJR #737 with Cedar and Madagascar RW

By myself for the first time in a while, as Dan is pursuing other ventures, I’m actually having a good time playing again, being able to focus on the site and being able to get stuff done.  Saying that, I spoke with a Greek Luthier by the name of Vassilis Lazarides.  We’ve come to an agreement where his instruments will be available thru my classical guitar shop to the North American Continent.  He’s a sweet wonderful gentleman with enormous talent and passion for his classical guitar and flamenco guitar builds.  His first instrument should be here by July of this year.

Today was a good day, where I recorded 3 guitars, having posted the MP3s.

They are the Hill Torres F5 #3412 – The Manuel Rodriguez FG Madagascar with Cedar – and the Rodriguez MJR Model #737 built by Manuel JR using similar woods.  All exceptional classical guitars.  check them out..the photos are great as are the recordings.

I’ve firmed up order quantities for various strings such as Hannabach and Augustine Regals – new Alessi orders in place as well as Gotoh supplies being replenished.

Mostly, I’ve updated the site and tightened things up a bit.  Of course, this is an on-going process, but I have a better hold on how I wish to proceed.

In the next few days, I’ll be getting a few more guitars in to the studio.  That will give me an opportunity to write again…talk soon.  Rich

Hi All.  I have to say, running a classical guitar studio is a lot of work.  Some think, yeah baby, that must be great.  Most times it is, but what you all don’t see is the work in the background.  It took half and hour to write this post, add links, make sure of syntax, etc.   On top of that, there are the  photo shoots, recording sessions, video work with processing time, measuring and inspecting, mail, tracking, correspondence, time on the phone, writing for the blog and the site, tweaking the site, categories, SEO work, and so on.  Add to that the work needed on the house, coordinating contractors, my own work, kids and family, and by 9PM, I need to sleep like a baby with a baba, a nook and a blankie.  LOL

A strange New Year continues with house reconstruction, which almost complete, with lots of hard work and much expense.  Ack.  Insurance Companies continue to drag their butts.  I am hoping to resolve soon.  But, new Classical Guitars continue to flow into the studio.  Here’s a sampling of what’s coming or in already…

Kenny Hill Torres F5 Classical Guitar with Birds Eye Maple

A Manuel Rodriguez Jr. Model with Brazilian is here and she is sweet.   This guitar is built by Manuel using his highest quality woods and expertise of decades.

A Manuel Rodriguez FG Madagascar with Western Red Cedar is also here, to complement the Spruce top that is already here.  these are built under the supervision and approval of Manuel and the shop steward in Spain.

Kenny Hill sent me a magnificent Torres F5 Classical Guitar with Quilted Maple that looks 3D in her appearance.  Her voice and sound equals her beauty.

A Sergei deJonge Concert Classical Guitar  from 2002, that was recently refinished, is en route in the next week

A Randy Angella is on its way, probably by Friday or Saturday.

Kenny Hill has a few Signature Series and Performance Series Classical Guitars en route in the next week or so.

A slew of Manuel Adalid and Esteve higher end guitars are ordered, including Anniversary models, Torres, Hauser, Lacote.  Believe me, these are allexceptional guitars, priced very nicely with beautiful play and sound.

Photos, videos and recordings with updates for all guitars will be processed in the next week.  Call or write to me to ask any questions while I work on the updates.  Best…Rich 631-335-5447

Terry, a wonderful guy who knows what he wants in a guitar wrote this to me upon receiving his new Hill Torres F5 with a gorgeous Spruce Top and impeccable Birds Eye Maple.

It speaks for itself…

——

Rich,

 

Hi Everyone,

Recovering from a 4 day excursion to Anaheim and a whirlwind of business and activity at the NAMM Show, held at the Anaheim Convention Center.  I have a lot to write about, some cools pics to upload and so on.  I’ll get to it tomorrow or over the next few days, but it was great.  A whole lot of new business has been generated with some exciting news along the way.  Updates to follow…talk soon.  Rich

Hi All,

A busy New Year, guitars in, guitars out.  Larry Breslin sent me a Spruce Cocobolo beauty that was out the door before I could photograph or record her.  Pics below, impromptu when the buyer came to pick her up.

Kenny Hill sent me a new Spruce Signature and a 640mm Spruce Performance Classical Guitar.  Both are gorgeous.

Robert Vincent has a Spruce East Indian RW beauty en route to me.  Can’t wait to see her.

Darren Hippner sent me an interesting Romanillos 630mm with armrest that I can’t wait to try.

Photos and recordings are slightly delayed as I work toward rebuilding my studio and gallery area.  Floors are in, paint is on, now working on recreating my moldings, which were 4 layered and stained.  PIA  LOL  Then, instead of rebuilding all of my desk spaces, work stations, and cabinetry, I’m simply going to work Spartan like, simple tables and chairs, and painted tubular construction to hold and house the guitars on the walls.  I should be able to get to a semblance of normalcy by Monday or so?  Then I can set up for photos and recording easily.

Best and enjoy the coming months.  Spring feels not so far away all of a sudden.  🙂  Rich