2006 Thomas Humphrey "Millennium" SP/CSAR

From the Raccosta Collection in Italy, this 2006 Thomas Humphrey "Millennium" is a classical guitar in spruce and CSA rosewood with a flamed maple center strip, in almost like-new condition.

A Late Humphrey Millennium

Thomas Humphrey's famous "Millennium" model has been played by countless concert artists, among them Sharon Isbin, the Assads, Eliot Fisk and many more. Its revolutionary design re-thought the bracing of the soundboard to increase the transmission of tone and improve playability; its most famous feature is the elevated fingerboard, a practice several other makers have adopted since Humphrey popularized it.

Sound and Materials

The 2006 guitar has the tone Humphrey lovers know – powerful, "hollow" and very focused – which suits these instruments especially well to the concert stage, where audience and player alike welcome the added projection.

Materials used are also exceptional, including a breathtaking set of CSA rosewood for the back and sides with a flamed maple center strip.

Condition

Condition of this guitar is almost like-new – no damage or repairs, and only a few areas with tiny marks in the finish. This is a beautiful instrument from this legendary maker.

From the Raccosta Collection

We acquired this guitar from the exceptional Raccosta Collection in Italy.

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.