2011 Gregory Byers "630 Lattice" SP/MP

This 2011 Gregory Byers "630 Lattice" is a short-scale (630mm) spruce and maple classical guitar made in Willits, California – a rare combination of scale, bracing and woods in Greg's work.

Played by David Russell, David Tanenbaum and John Dearman

Greg Byers is one of the most established US luthiers, having been working at his craft for over 40 years. Several notable players have concertized and recorded on Byers guitars, including David Russell for his album of the music of Torroba and David Tanenbaum for his album "Great American Guitar Solo". Additionally of note, John Dearman also recorded the LAGQ's "Interchange" album on this custom-built 7-string made in 2007.

A Short-Scale, Lattice-Braced Byers

This 2011 guitar we have on offer here is also a fairly unique instrument from Greg's output: it's a shorter-scale instrument with lattice bracing and maple back and sides! It features Greg's personal bracing system of criss-crossing lattice braces, and has an elevated fingerboard fitted with a 20th-fret extension. The set-up is perfect and concert ready. Even though it has a shorter scale length, there is plenty of power in this instrument to satisfy the concert needs of any contemporary player. Condition is excellent for its age, with no prior damage or repairs, only some minor respectable wear in the finish from years of regular use.

Tiger Maple and Wheat-and-Leaf Inlays

Materials are beautiful, including a gorgeous set of tiger/curly maple with a very velvety texture for the back and sides. Greg's inlay work is beautiful too – most notably his use of alternating leaves and ears of wheat in his purflings, found in the central part of the rosette, back seam and head strip. Beautifully built, this is a perfect instrument for a recitalist looking for great projection and ease of play.

Orfeo Magazine No. 10 - West Coast Luthiers

Gregory Byers: Classical Guitar Maker in Willits, California

Gregory Byers builds classical guitars in Willits, in Northern California. A biologist by training – he holds a PhD in ecology and evolutionary biology – Greg finished his first guitar in 1981, and that same year attended a week-long workshop with José Romanillos. He also benefited from the advice and encouragement of John Gilbert, and over four decades he has become one of the most established guitar makers in the USA. Every guitar is French polished by hand.

Intonation Research and the Byers Lattice

Greg is known among luthiers for his research into guitar intonation: a mathematical model, developed with the help of guitarist Cem Duruöz, that sets the nut and saddle individually for each string. He presented it at the Guild of American Luthiers convention in 1995 and published it in American Lutherie the following year. His early guitars were fan braced, often with an asymmetrical pattern and a treble bar. He later developed his own lattice: stretched, elongated braces that are actually two overlapping sets of fan braces. Compared with "typical" (i.e. Australian) lattice-braced guitars, it gives a more traditional sound, with an open, loose and warm quality to the tone.