Description
Built in Montreal during 2024, this Mathieu Dallaire-Walker classical guitar is very well built and has a number of interesting, advanced, even modernistic features and material selections. Mathieu Dallaire-Walker has been building guitars since 2012 and is a member of the Mile End Guitar Co-Op in Montreal, with indirect influences from Sergei de Jonge via other Co-Op members.
While this instrument is innovative, it is not at the expense of performance or quality. It is well thought out, plays well, and has a full, even tone. The construction is of high quality and attention to detail is impressive. As a relatively new guitar that has not been played much at all, it has not yet developed its full voice.
The body is a design developed by Dallaire-Walker over the last decade. The Engelmann Spruce top uses a 7-strut fan brace with cross bracings. The 'Structured sides' are laminate or and quite thick, as can be observed through the upper bout sound port. Looking through the soundhole, there is no traditional kerfing, rather the sides are constructed with Indian Rosewood for the outer layer, Red Cedar for the core and Mahogany for the interior layer. Similarly, the back is laminated with Indian Rosewood on the exterior and Mahogany on the interior. The bridge is a 12-hole tie block Indian Rosewood piece, reinforced with aluminum tubing and with a lightly angled saddle providing very good intonation. The purfling and rosette materials include Canary wood and are visually very appealing.
This all provides an extremely stable platform for the top to vibrate freely with minimal energy dissipation to the sides, and as on some higher end Ramirez models, helps prevent 'wolf tones' when the guitar is played with force.
The neck also has a number of advanced features including an elevated mount allowing significantly improved access to the upper registers, an adjustable joint, extra stiffeners, and a sustainably sourced fingerboard. The tuners are Gotoh models with aluminum string rollers, always an excellent choice.
The basic neck material is Mahogany and uses an adjustable joint, involving carbon dowels and bolts, allowing simple and quick adjustments to the neck angle and hence the action height. This design draws from work by Sergei de Jonge, via other members of the Mile End Co-op who studied with Sergei. While there is no adjustable truss rod, there are carbon fiber stiffeners under the fingerboard.
The fingerboard is Blackwood Tek, a sustainable material made by passing Pinus radiata (New Zealand Pine) through a process of heat and treatment with organic compounds, perhaps similar to the way that other woods are treated with heat in a low oxygen environment to simulate aging, like torrefaction. The result is said to be similar in appearance and feel to Ebony or Rosewood.
The finish is a gloss French Polish. French Polish is often used by independent builders as it is hand-applied, not requiring spray equipment or the use and storage of explosive, often toxic materials. Perhaps more importantly, it provides a thin, light protective surface with minimal restriction to the guitar's vibration.
This guitar is sold as new from the builder; it has some minor wear from handling, having been exhibited at a few guitar shows.
Sold with a black TKL hard shell case.
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |
DETAILS:
- Instrument Model: Classical Guitar
- Instrument Manufacturer: Mathieu Dallaire-Walker
- Instrument year: 2024
- Instrument Finish: Gloss French Polish
- Instrument Class: Classical Guitars
- Instrument serial number: 02/2024, dated to February 2024 at Montreal, QC Canada
- Country of Origin: Canada
- Handcrafted in Canada 🍁
- Instrument Condition: Very Good
- Playing Condition: Very Good
- Right-handed
- CITIES Documentation Required: No
- Instrument Weight Imperial: 4.268 lbs
- Instrument Weight Metric: 1.94 kgs
- Scale Length Imperial: 25.59 in
- Scale Length Metric: 650 mm
- Nut Width Imperial: 2.047 in
- Nut Width Metric: 52mm
- Case included: Yes
- Case original: Yes
- Case Type: Hard
- Items in Case: Key
- Consignment: Yes
- Product ID: 190417
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There are no refunds or returns on used items unless authorized in advance by a Twelfth Fret Sales Associate at time of sale. View Our Full Terms Here |