2008 Paul Fischer "Premier" CD/CSAR

This 2008 Paul Fischer "Premier" is a traditionally fan-braced classical guitar with a cedar top and CSA rosewood back and sides, built in Oxfordshire, England – the highest-grade concert model of one of England's foremost makers.

The Paul Fischer "Premier"

This is one of Paul's highest-grade traditional concert guitars, which he calls his "Premier" model. It is a traditional version of the "Premier": unlike his well-known "Taut" version, it has a traditionally fan-braced soundboard, offering the warm, refined tonal palette for which Fischer's conventional designs are equally admired.

Cedar, CSA Rosewood and Snakewood

Materials are top quality, including a beautiful quartered cedar top with extremely fine, even grain and an old-growth, straight-grained set of colorful CSA rosewood for the back and sides, with wonderful color and black veining – the kind many luthiers actually prefer acoustically. It is elegantly framed throughout with snakewood bindings, also used for the heel cap. Tuners are Rodgers with pearl buttons. Top materials all around for this extremely refined instrument.

Playability and Sound

Playability is very smooth, with a very punchy responsiveness, resulting in great ease of right-hand playing. Soundwise, it has a plump, warm tone with a very clear core to each note, and great balance all the way from the lowest bass note to the highest treble, with impressive power to satisfy the concert needs of any performing guitarist.

Condition

It is in excellent condition, with only one small hairline crack on the top just behind the bridge, recently repaired by German Vázquez Rubio here in Los Angeles. Otherwise the guitar is pristine, with virtually no wear in the finish. This is clearly a great example of Paul Fischer at his absolute best.

Paul Fischer: One of England's Most Respected Guitar Makers

One of England's most respected builders, Paul Fischer (b. 1941) has been making guitars in his own workshop in Oxfordshire since 1975. Before that, he studied first with harpsichord maker Robert Goble in Oxford, and from 1969 to 1975 built guitars in the famed David Rubio workshop – first as chief instrument maker, later as its manager. Rubio guitars from those years carry his initials "PF" stamped inside, a practice well known from the José Ramírez shop before 1971.

The "Taut" and the Traditional Fischer

In the 1980s Paul developed his well-known "Taut" bracing system, drawing on ideas from the physicist Bernard Richardson, while continuing to build traditionally fan-braced guitars that are equally admired for their warm, refined tone. His guitars have been played by numerous concert artists over the years, including the Assads, Eduardo Fernández and Jason Vieaux.