2017 David Rouse CD/CSAR

David Rouse built this classical guitar in 2017 with a cedar soundboard and dark, dramatic CSA rosewood back and sides – a phenomenal guitar, in excellent condition.

In the videos above, Maciej Staszewski plays his "Alcázar" and the Scherzo from his "Sonitus Noctis" on this guitar.

Cedar and Dark CSA Rosewood

The workmanship is impeccably clean, and the materials superb – especially the dark, dramatic CSA rosewood. The tuners are by Scheller.

Sound and Construction

Lightly built, it has a surprisingly huge sound with a rich color palette, even for a cedar top – textured, clear and well balanced. Rouse braces the top as lightly as he can, and two supports under the fingerboard link top and back for a strong but light neck joint. With its slightly raised fingerboard and slender neck it is very easy to play. Although used, it shows only minor signs of prior use.

Photos of David Rouse's 2017 guitars being built

David Rouse: Master of the English Classical Guitar

David Rouse is, in our opinion, one of the best English guitar makers. He began building guitars professionally in 1991, after four years studying instrument making in London, and later taught guitar making at London Guildhall University, where his students included Jake Fuller. His workshop is at Parndon Mill in Harlow, Essex.

Lightly Braced Guitars with a Singing Voice

Rouse aims for guitars that are both powerful and graceful, subtle and strong – with clarity, balance, consistency and separation. He keeps his tops as lightly braced as possible for maximum freedom of vibration, and adds two supports between top and back at the neck end to make the neck–body junction strong but light. His guitars combine impeccably clean workmanship with a textured tone that blends the Spanish and Northern European styles.