2009 Jeremy Cooper "CD/SP" CD/CSAR

This 2009 Jeremy Cooper is a Nomex double-top classical guitar – Western red cedar and Engelmann spruce over a honeycomb core – with CSA rosewood back and sides, built in Tucson, Arizona, by a maker whose guitars have been played by Sergio and Odair Assad.

A Nomex Double Top, Inspired by Dammann and Wagner

This instrument was built in 2009 by American luthier Jeremy Cooper with a Nomex-core soundboard, a construction method inspired by the pioneering work of Matthias Dammann and Gernot Wagner. The cedar forms the exterior playing surface, while Engelmann spruce is used for the interior skin. This composite construction gives the soundboard a very high stiffness-to-weight ratio – hence the quick response, dynamic range and projection for which the best double-top guitars are known.

Soundport, Elevated Fingerboard and CSA Rosewood

A soundport in the upper bass-side bout gives the player a more immediate impression of the instrument's sound. An elevated ebony fingerboard provides comfortable access to the upper register, while the neck design and overall construction reflect Cooper's emphasis on efficiency and playability. The back and sides are a beautiful set of CSA rosewood, with dramatic dark chocolate and reddish coloration and striking figure throughout; CSA rosewood is also used for the headplate, creating visual continuity with the body. It also features a highly figured wood rosette, fine contrasting purflings and bindings, a decorative bridge treatment and a three-dimensional relief in the headstock design.

Sound

Sonically, the design is intended to provide the immediacy and carrying power associated with modern double tops while preserving the warmth and complexity expected from a fine classical guitar. Cooper describes his Nomex design as having exceptional volume while retaining a clear, articulate and balanced voice, and players of his instruments have likewise commented on their combination of power, sweetness, balance and unusually broad tonal palette.

Condition

In excellent condition with no damage or repairs (only some very mild playing wear in the finish), this is a striking and bold example of Jeremy Cooper's work, and an excellent value for the concert player looking for a modern instrument that will provide versatility in any musical setting – solo playing, ensemble work, live performance or the recording studio.

Jeremy Cooper: Double-Top Guitar Maker in Tucson, Arizona

Jeremy Cooper is an American classical guitar maker who has built guitars by hand, one at a time, in his studio in Tucson, Arizona, since 2002. He is known above all for his Nomex-core double tops, a construction method inspired by the pioneering work of Matthias Dammann and Gernot Wagner, and he has continued to experiment with double-top construction to this day.

Jeremy remains committed to building highly responsive concert instruments that combine power with a rich and colorful musical voice. Players of his guitars often comment on their combination of power, sweetness and balance, and his instruments have attracted several top players – most notably Sergio and Odair Assad.