1993 Thomas Humphrey "Millennium" SP/CSAR

This 1993 Thomas Humphrey "Millennium" is a classical guitar with a spruce top and a breathtaking set of CSA rosewood for the back and sides, made in New York – with no damage or repairs.

The Thomas Humphrey Millennium Model

This is a fine example of the famous "Millennium" model, pioneered by the late American builder Thomas Humphrey and played by countless concert artists, including Sharon Isbin, the Assads, Eliot Fisk and many others. The revolutionary design consisted in re-thinking the bracing of the soundboard with the purpose of increased transmission of tone, as well as playability – perhaps the most famous feature of this model is the elevated fingerboard, a practice which has been adopted by several other makers since Humphrey popularized it on the classical guitar scene.

Sound, Materials and Condition

This example from 1993 has the trademark quality of tone known to Humphrey lovers – a powerful, "hollow" and very focused sound, which makes these instruments particularly well-suited to the concert stage, where added projection is welcomed by audience and player alike.

Materials used are also exceptional, including a breathtaking set of CSA rosewood for the back and sides with some lovely sapwood in the sides. Condition is excellent – no damage or repairs and only some minimal playing wear in the finish. This is a beautiful instrument from this legendary maker.

Thomas Humphrey (1948–2008): Classical Guitar Maker in New York

Thomas Humphrey was born in 1948 in Minnesota. Around 1970 he moved to New York City, where he apprenticed with the guitar maker Michael Gurian, and for many years he built his guitars in an apartment workshop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Tom died in Gardiner, New York, in April 2008.

The Millennium: A Revolution in Classical Guitar Design

In the mid-1980s Tom introduced the design that made his name: the Millennium. With its raised fingerboard and newly conceived soundboard bracing, it changed the way many players – and makers – thought about the classical guitar, and the elevated fingerboard has since been taken up by luthiers all over the world. His earlier, traditional instruments are now known as "pre-Millennium" Humphreys. Humphrey guitars have been the concert instruments of many leading guitarists, among them David Starobin, Sharon Isbin, the Assad brothers and Eliot Fisk.