2008 Géza Burghardt "Grand Concert" SP/CSAR

This 2008 Géza Burghardt “Grand Concert” is a pre-owned classical guitar with a spruce top and CSA rosewood back and sides, made in Vancouver, Canada, by the Hungarian-born luthier, with a rosette inspired by Torres.

The “Grand Concert”: A Nod to the Torres “Cumbre”

This guitar, his “Grand Concert”, is a beautifully made instrument with high-grade materials and elegant design work – most noticeably in the rosette, which bears a tip of the hat to the “Cumbre” guitar (FE 08) of Antonio de Torres in the mosaic section, with a checkered pattern alternating with MOP inlays. The same level of intricacy can be seen in the tie-block inlays, also featuring elegant use of MOP. The quality of the CSA rosewood for the back and sides is absolutely stunning, as is the burled wood used for the binding.

Sound and Power

Sound is lush and smooth, with a loose, relaxed, played-in quality. Trebles are warm, basses are plump – simply a wonderful guitar in every regard. It also has impressive power and would easily satisfy the needs of any contemporary concert performer.

Like-New Condition

It is in AMAZING condition for its age – basically in brand-new/mint condition, with not a single mark anywhere on it. Burghardt guitars rarely appear on the second-hand market, so it’s a real treat to be able to have this fine guitar on offer.

Géza Burghardt: From Budapest to Vancouver

Géza Burghardt is the top builder of traditional classical guitars to emerge from Hungary. He learned to work wood entirely by hand, apprenticing as a pattern maker at the age of fourteen, and went on to build boats – racing shells, kayaks and canoes – before turning to the guitar. He earned his master’s certificate in Budapest in 1981 and opened his own shop there that same year.

The Influence of José Romanillos

In 1983 Géza met José Romanillos in Budapest, the beginning of a friendship and an influence that would last for decades. His guitars follow the Spanish tradition of Antonio de Torres and Romanillos: the neck joins the head with a V-joint cut entirely by hand, each rosette is made individually, and every guitar is French polished, never sprayed – his French polish is considered among the finest in British Columbia.

A Workshop on Granville Island

In 1984 Géza and his wife Tini left Hungary, and after about four years in an Austrian immigration camp they arrived in Vancouver, Canada, in April 1988. He first ran the string repair shop at Ward Music, and in the mid-1990s he opened his own workshop on Granville Island. Besides classical guitars he has built violins, cellos and double basses, restored instruments for the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, and mentored several Vancouver luthiers.