2017 David Rouse SP/CSAR

A 2017 classical guitar by David Rouse, with a spruce top and CSA rosewood back and sides, made at his workshop in Harlow, Essex – with a stunning set of rosewood showing dark heartwood and golden sapwood.

In the video above, Maciej Staszewski plays the Lento from his "Sonitus Noctis" on this guitar.

Dramatic CSA Rosewood

One look shows the impeccably clean workmanship and superb materials, above all the CSA rosewood, with its dramatic interplay of dark heartwood and lighter, yellowish sapwood. The tuners are by Scheller.

Sound and Construction

The build is light, so the sound is surprisingly big, with a rich palette of colors and a great deal of warmth for a spruce top – textured, clear and balanced. Rouse braces the top as lightly as possible, and under the fingerboard he places two supports between top and back to make the neck–body junction strong but light. A slightly raised fingerboard and slender neck make it a breeze to play.

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.