2009 Brian Burns Classical Guitar Used

Here’s an excellent classical guitar by a solo builder with many decades of experience, but a luthier who is virtually unknown and has made a concentrated effort to keep it that way. Brian Burns has been involved in fine woodworking since the early 1970s and along with guitar-making also worked in the custom furniture shop that shared the same building Gryphon still occupies. Never one to focus on any one aspect of craft and repeat a success over and over, for many years Brian was focused on teaching flamenco guitar and building flamenco instruments as part of his quest to present the basics of true Spanish guitar music. His flamenco guitars were well-received despite their bare bones simplicity, and as a result he began taking orders for fully appointed classical models like the one you see here. But for many years those guitar orders were not completed, and it wasn’t until he moved from Palo Alto to Fort Bragg almost twenty years ago that a new shop, and fewer distractions, kicked his guitar making into gear again.

This is a very traditional Spanish-style classical, in its specs, appearance, and especially in its construction. The European spruce soundboard has beautiful “bear-claw” figure. The tone is even and balanced, with strong G string tone much like the wound D string next to it (always a hurdle for classical builders). Its French polish finish has settled nicely, and while it has been played the owner has excellent technique so there are only the very slightest signs of playing wear. Comes in a hardshell case.