Enhancements to our 2008 instruments
2006 model Lionheart Bouzouki with natural acacia fingerboard, plain bridge and simple tailpiece
Older recent models of some instruments have unstained acacia fingerboards. We still have a few of these instruments left for those who want them. All of our current stocks use types of rosewood, or related woods, for their fingerboards (do not confuse this with the black stained acacia used, for example, in the Blue Moon travel guitar which superficially resembles our Blondel!).
Our fingerboard wood is described as sonokeling or rosewood, and does vary. The sonokeling is darker, midway between Indian rosewood and ebony in appearance. Both woods appear to be similar in having a tight closed grain, where the acacia was relatively open and tends to collect dirt with use. Both are preferable to the stained acacia which leaves your fingers black and gradually wears off.
Our new stock Blondels have a redesigned bridge (classical style) which, again, is solid hardwood and different from other variants of the the instrument. We also use a laminated three-piece neck which is unique to Troubadour, and a modified headstock design. The new 2008 delivery mandolas and bouzouki have a new type of twin-foot carved bridge, and a two-piece chased metal tailpiece which permits slightly shorter loop end strings to be used.
Although HORA is a luthiery factory, half the machines are people – mechanical output is not something we have ever expected from them. Each year’s delivery includes ‘improvements’ made by the staff, whether it’s a change in the styling of a bridge to the colour of fingerboard dots (or the absence of them). The classical guitars are all individual, with different wood bindings or rosette patterns chosen to suit the colour of the woods.
The cost of investing in new stock for the high-end solid wood classicals means the four or five we have remaining will be the last. These guitars are built more lightly and responsively than any Spanish ‘artisan’ level guitar – not that you can buy a solid rosewood/cedar Spanish made instrument in our price bracket anyway. Email david@troubadour.uk.com if you are interested.
- David