Product: Ashley Sanders Concert Classical Guitar
Price Paid: USD 5700
Submitted
08/12/2009
at
09:58am
by
Kayla
Email: kayla<dot>henning at gmail<dot>com
Features
:
9
Cedar top guitar with rosewood back and sides made last year. It has Australian lattice bracing. All solid with Schaller tuners. Standard scale and neck.
Sound
:
10
All I can say is WOW! I did not think a guitar could sound so good. It really sounds like a Damann or Gernot Wagner to my ears. I play a lot of piano pieces transcribed for the guitar and it is the first guitar that really makes them work. It sounds like a piano.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
No flaws. Everything is top notch.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Very dependable guitar. I have used it to record some pieces and in concerts.
Customer Support
:
10
No issues or repairs. The dealer was very helpful and friendly to work with.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing two double top guitars for a while (one which costs over $15,000) and the Sanders is now my favorite. I love it so much because the volume and sound are like nothing that I have played before. I thought most lattice guitars were sort of cold sounding which is not the case with the Sanders at all. Guitars are so subjective but this is a totally awesome guitar and you can't beat the price (I think the prices are higher this year).
Product: Ashley Sanders Concert Classical Guitar
Price Paid: USD 6000
Submitted
12/15/2008
at
09:21pm
by
Nathan Nelson
Email: stlclassicalguitars at gmail<dot>com
Features
:
9
2008 Ashley Sanders lattice braced concert classical guitar made with a German spruce top and pomele sapeli back and sides, 650 scale length and Schaller tuners with ebony buttons and a lacquer finish. The back and sides are highly figured. 19 frets, solid.
Sound
:
10
Overall, the look of the Sanders' guitar is nice, but it is the sound which really distinguishes it. It is absolutely magnificant. It has incredible volume due to the lattice bracing and a sweet, lyrical voice. The trebles are round and the bass strings are perfectly balanced, but still bold. I have owned several lattice braced guitars that all have had great volume, but they were lacking the tone that one gets from traditional Spanish bracing. The Sanders' guitar brings the two worlds together. It is perfect for concertizing and recording.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
9
The action is pretty standard and very comfortable to play. The wood are very high quality.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
I have had the guitar for three months and it seems to be a very durable instrument.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
I have not had any need to contact Ashley Sanders regarding any issues with the guitar. He is one of the friendliest luthiers that I have dealt with so I am sure he would be helpful if needed.
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing classical guitar for many years. I have owned dozens of high end concert guitars including a Thomas Malapanis, Hill Double Top, several Contreras Sr. 1As, several Ramirez 1As, Paul Sheridan, Giussani, Thames, Kolya Panhuyzen, Conde Hermanos AC23, and many other guitars. The Ashley Sanders' guitar is one of the best guitars that I have come across. The tone and volume are sublime. Although Ashley is largely unknown in the U.S. (he does not have a distributor in the US and no website), his guitars easily compare with guitars in the $10,000+ range. I like to buy and sell guitars and the Sanders, along with a Jim Frieson guitar, are the two that I have kept for my own collection and concertizing. In my opinion, you can't buy a better guitar in this price range. I just ordered a second guitar from Ashley this week.
