Pavan TP30

I deliberately waited for more than a year to give my opinion of this guitar, during which time I have fallen in love with...over and over again!

I wanted to be absolutely sure about what I was saying, so beware: I have A LOT to say!


Made in spain
Top: Solid Cedar
Sides and Back: Solid Indian Rosewood
Finish: Gloss, Lacquer.
Body Style: Torres Style Classical
Fingerboard: Ebony
Neck: Unsure of the material, either Cedar or Honduran Mahogany with center Ebony reinforcing strip
Bridge: Rosewood... Very Nice
Tuners: Like another reviewer, I am unsure of the brand, but they are very high-quality.
Scale: 650 mm.
Nut Width: 52mm.
Nut and Saddle Material: Nicely polished bone
Frets: 19
Year Made: 2007

Classical Guitars are "minimal" when it comes to 'features', so there's little to no room for sub-standard ones, and the Pavan TP-30 does NOT disappoint.

THIS is a Classical guitar in every sense of the word, no electronics; it's down to the player to make this guitar "sing", which is precisely what it does.

I am studying Classical at this time; I used to play my Takamine C132S, and I thought that it sounded just fine...but I am forever spoiled by the sound of this guitar which I will describe as follows:


Rich
Resonant
Warm
Bright or Dark...that's up to your technique!
Clear
Refined
Well-Balanced
Incredible note separation
Loud when you need it
Soft and gentle when you need it
Haunting
Responsive
Evovative
Sensual
Romantic
Dramatic
Huge variety of possibilities of tone coloration
VERY "Spanish"!!!

This guitar seems to sound its best with D'Addario EJ-46 Hard Tensions Strings; I tried the Savarez composite trebles , and I didn't like them on this guitar...at all, which is fine by me, since D'Addarios cost a heck of a lot less than Savarez!


I simply love this guitar's sound!!! What a beautiful "Voice"!!!

This guitar literally reverberates throughout my entire body when I "dig-in" to it, so very responsive! Impressive, to say the least.

O.K. , let's get one thing out of the way:

The Pavan Guitars sound so great because they are not being "choked-out" by "heavy-handed" applications of the finish, so they're not going to have that "dipped" look like many Japanese guitars, etc. have.

My guitar has some visibly sunken pores in the Rosewood, at-first I felt disappointed that it didn't look like my Takamine C132S, which has a flawless application of finish...but, alas an overabundance of finish as-well.

The Pavans are built to sound good, no "great", and the sparingly applied finish allows these guitars to responsively project, without any of the sound being sacrificed in a "wall of finish".

I'm not saying that my guitar is "ugly" by any means; it's an example of something crafted with human hands, and deftly executed, for that matter.

I'll take one point off for the fact that the finish on the face, just where the top meets the binding looks like somebody got a bit aggressive with the buffer at the edge; I carefully touched that area-in with a bit of lacquer, though it probably didn't need it, but I wanted to be sure that no sweat, or any oils might make their way into the guitar's structure.

I later came to find that some people find these 'sunken' pores to be an indicator of an instrument that has "just enough" finish to protect the instrument, and to be a "desirable attribute".

The woods of this guitar are obviously high-quality, and well bookmatched, and the nut and saddle are perfectly formed pieces of bone, with extremely well-dressed frets.

The overall "build" of the guitar feels light in the hands, but it's this lightness that lets this guitar project and sustain seemingly endlessly.

I also attribute much of the sustain to the Spanish "Foot" at the neck-joint, but it's not any single "feature" that makes this guitar what it is: It's the DESIGN, and the proper execution thereof.

So, please tell whoever that was in the custom shop, to be a little nicer when it comes to the buffer!!!

This Guitar should be more than adequate for live performance; I thought of having the L.R. Baggs "Element" installed, but I really like my Classicals to be sans-electronica, so I am somewhat of a traditionalist, in that regard...but never say "never"...I just don't want to do anything that might change the sound of this beauty.

It's plenty loud for a decent sized hall.

And I think that this guitar will be around LONG after I am gone.

Everybody talks it up about Tom Prisloe, and Tom "Lives-up" to all of the "Talking-up".

Tom gives you a week to try the guitar: if you don't like it, just ship it back, though you'll have to pay for all shipping...I'll say this: Tom wouldn't enjoy this level of acclaim for having his guitars shipped back to him all of the time!...there was no way he was going to get mine back!

I have the utmost faith in Tom, he won't oversell you, and will patiently indulge any questions that you might have; I emphatically recommend that you get your Pavan FROM TOM.

Tom is "encyclopedic" where Classical Guitar construction is concerned, as well as honest.

He offers a lifetime warranty, and I don't think it'll be necessary, but if it ever is, I have no doubts that Tom will always make it right.

If you're thinking to go with the Pavan, do yourself a favor and call Tom.

I have been playing on and off (more off than on) since my youth, but there's about 25 years of doodling about, until I formally, and seriously took-up Classical Guitar last year.

(Mom and Dad were too cheap for lessons, so I learned bits and pieces in the public school systems, as I could, and taught myself a little.)

I asked Tom so very many questions before I bought this guitar, and he honestly answered all of them.

I love this guitar, I got mine at a discount due to a slight bit of damage to the soundboard, which didn't affect the sound or structural integrity of the guitar at all; Tom stabilized the "wound" with some glue (Cyanoacrylate), and said he will back it with his full warranty!

So, when I say "what I love about this Guitar", I'll say that I love its sound, the feel, and even the smell...there's not a single thing that I dislike about this guitar; if it were stolen there would certainly be an armed "manhunt", and if it were lost or damaged, I'd feel as if part of my very soul were ripped-away...just that thought makes me terribly sad.

I used to be focused on its "imperfections", like the little "wound" that saved me a VERY good bit of money, and the sunken pores....all of those things have "disappeared/faded from my awareness" in-light of the very reason I wanted a guitar like this: THE SOUND

In-closing I will say that I sold 3 guitars, and sold, and scrounged and saved any which way I could to get this baby, so most-of-all I love "The Story" behind this guitar; it's minor imperfections endear it to me even more, and its voice, oh that lovely voice.

This guitar compares to NOTHING that I have played, including Ramirez (generally unimpressive until you crack the $2,500.00-3,000.00 threshold); there is really no "competition"; it's just that some people have to have "name-brand" everything.

Tom has since raised his prices to $1500.00 (Cedar or Spruce), but even at these prices the guitars are really, honestly the best you're going to get for your money, if you want to make it count.

I see a bunch of "Fickle-Nickels" selling these on Ebay; I guess some folks are just never satisfied; I want to keep mine forever, I don't like to even entertain the notion of selling this guitar.

I SERIOUSLY doubt that I'll ever be guitarist enough to outgrow this guitar, let-alone exploit its full potential.

One Final note: BUY The TKL Professional Series 8900 Case; it's the nicest case I have EVER owned, and Tom gives a great deal on them with your purchase; it is a PERFECT fit for your investment.

My children (now aged 14 & 16) have been studying classical guitar for several years, taking lessons from university-level professors who are nationally-known. Through this period, they each played mid-quality Yamaha guitars, for which we had paid around $900 per instrument. Latterly, however, their abilities began to obviously outstrip the capabilities of these older instruments. In my son's case, a growth spurt made it challenging for him to play on his smaller-necked guitar. Hence, after making arrangements with Tom Prisloe, in late-July we made the 5 hour drive to Trumansburg. Both of my kids had emptied their bank accounts and wished to try out the TP30 models. In the end, we purchased two 2008 Pavan TP30 guitars - one with the cedar top and the other with the spruce. Each is made of solid hardwoods, 650mm, and they are otherwise exactly as described on Tom Prisloe's website (pavanguitars.com). We also purchased the TKL 8900 cases for each; they are perfect fits for these guitars. The materials used to craft these guitars are clearly of the highest quality. Further, given our previous experience with classical guitars, we were surprised at how little these instruments weigh.

Prior to visiting Tom Prisloe, my kids respectively played on cedar and spruce Yamaha models. They each expressed, however, that if the Pavan guitar sounded superior to their older guitar, they were inclined to go with the cedar-top model. To my surprise, they ended up purchasing instuments made of the same type of wood that they already owned.

The first thing that strikes you upon hearing these guitars is the crispness and volume of the sound. If you are anywhere proximate to the player, you can actually feel the sound waves hitting you. At the same time, while the cedar model is rich and warm, it remains just as crisp as the spruce model. The projection and separation of notes remains just as lovely whether my kids are plucking softly on the pads of their fingers or are playing sharply on the edges of their nails. We obtained the same stunning experience even when we changed the D'Addario hard-tension strings to normal-tension EJ45s. For us, the lesson learned is that a superior instrument does make for a superior sound and a happier player (especially when it comes to daily practice).

The models we purchased are elegant and beautiful. The design, wood grain and finish are gorgeous. I initially wondered that one guitar appeared to have a slight depression on its top where it was glued to the side beyond the bridge, but this corrected itself after the instrument was in a less humid setting; I do admit that my eye is more particular than most. Tom Prisloe also took the time to inspect and set up each of the two guitars, making certain that there would be no issues with the instruments, particularly in relation to the sound. The feedback from my children in all these respects is uniformly positive.

Despite the fact that my children are both responsible individuals, I opted to purchase and install clear, plastic film as top protectors. These are removable, but give added assurance that the finish on the guitars will last for a longer period of time. Once installed, these are essentially invisible; they do not distract from the character and sound of the guitars. With continued, proper care (and storage in their case), I am hoping that these instruments will last for decades.

Tom Prisloe is patient, knowledgeable, and answers every question as though he has not already heard or answered it a thousand times. Moreover, since a product is only as good as the individual who stands behind it, I expect that all future dealings with Tom will be equally pleasant.

We did a great deal of research before deciding to purchase these two guitars. My children visited both large and small music stores to try out a full range of classical guitars. Quite simply, there is nothing we came across that sounds remotely like these instruments. Given that custom guitars cost multiples of the price we paid, and arguably deliver sound differences that most audiences cannot detect, I consider the Pavan TP30s a best-fit for anyone other than full-time professionals who make their livings playing classical guitar. I only wish that I had made these purchases earlier, before economic factors led to an inevitable rise in prices.

cedar top with rosewood back and sides, 650mm scale length, slim profile neck

This guitar has a nice tone quality to it, but didn't have the strength of sound I was looking for. I compared it to 2 other guitars I own, hoping to replace the lesser of the 2, but the Pavan's overall volume and individual note size wasn't any better than what I had ( an 82 Hirade concert arte model 5)actually a little less so. I ended up getting a Loriente Clarita for $1,600.

very clean, good looking guitar

good student guitar in the $1,200.00 range. $400 more gets you into a great student/semi pro guitar with the Clarita.

My TP-30 is the Engelman Spruce topped model. I don't like the dark sound of cedar much. First and foremost, Mr. Prisloe is an absolute pleasure to work with. Conversationally, he asked me a few questions and personally matched the guitar he sent me to my preferences. The top and back are perfectly bookmatched with understated, yet very elegant appointments. Absolutely no flaws. The neck is very traditional, being rather wide and thick. I have large hands, so it fits me like a glove. The case is also very nice and fits the guitar perfectly. This is my first "expensive" guitar and my first classical so I am still growing into it but absolutely love it.

This is where this classical really shines. I am currently messing with treble strings because I do no particularly care for the "glassy" sound of the strings. The G string rings funny to my ears, but is likely a matter of playing fingerstyle steel to this point. Just preference. This has nothing to do with the guitar. It is very sensitive to touch and resonates beautifully. No dead spots and the guitar stays in tune perfectly once the strings have seated and stretched. I played quite a few classicals ranging in price from $800 up to about $4000 over the course of two years and found nothing that sounds better than the TP-30 does. This guitar was simply a steal for $1250. I have not been able to put it down.

The playability of this guitar is very high for any guitar in this price range. The nut shape, action and accuracy is first rate. The finish is also very, very nice. No flaws whatsoever. I expected some flaws (personality) in a hand-made instrument but can only say that the slots in the head are a bit rough. No problem though since it has absolutely no affect on the wonderful sound and I will likely scrape it up changing strings anyway. The woods (Engelman spruce top, Indian Rosewood back and sides with an ebony enforced cedar neck and very dark ebony fingerboard) are of the highest quality for sound and as pure eye candy. As stated earlier, simple elegance.

I am not used to such a light guitar, so it feels almost toy-like to me, but I have no reason to believe that it will not last for years. I play at least an hour a day and take very good care of my instruments so it can only get better with time. Once the spruce properly ages, I can only imagine how much better an already nice guitar will sound.

As it has been written time and time again, Mr. Prisloe provides a level of service that is second to none. He listens intently and helps whenever needed. I am a novice classical guitarist and have called a couple of times with seemingly dumb questions which he has answered accurately and without the "I sold you the guitar, leave me alone now" attitude. It is obvious he not only knows what he is talking about but actually loves the instrument and wants to provide help to those that want to play it. There needs to be a rating of 11 for this level of customers service!

Again, I am new to the classical genre of guitar playing. I played bass years ago, put it down for a few years, heard Michael Hedges live (with Michael Manring, mind you) and switched to guitar about six years ago. I started playing rock and moved to Jazz and fingerstyle. I have gone back and forth but ended up sticking to fingerstyle. My technique was poor, so I decided to drift a little bit to classical which has really opened my ears to the subtly of guitar sounds. Once I land on treble strings I like, I can see classical and fingerstyle being my exclusive styles. This guitar helps since it is of such a high quality. I only hope that I grow into its capabilities. If it were lost or stolen, I would not hesitate to get another one. In comparison, I considered one of the lower end Manuel Contreras, Alvarez Yairi, Hirade H8 and Almansa 459. It came down to the Almansa and the Pavan. Mr. Prisloe's service pushed me in the right direction. Absolutely no regrets!

I'm assuming you have been to Tom Prisloe's site and read the reviews he has posted there, and that you know what a classical guitar is. The Pavan TP-20 and TP-30 guitars are simple, beautiful, professional-quality classical guitars. My experience with both the TP-20 and TP-30 {custom) confirms the best of those reviews and the accuracy of Mr. Prisloe's remarks about his own guitars. And then some.

Absolutely full range and more of classical guitar sound, quiet to loud, full to bright - towards the rich/full side; and a sustain that lasts forever. (If you want really bright, get a flamenco guitar! Or Tom Prisloe's Pavan Flamenco Negra model.) True story: I can get a great sound out of a guitar. I had my TP-30 for about six months and some friends came over for a very informal guitar party with a bunch of guitars, everyone's pride and joy. I was in the other room and I heard a guitar that simply blew the others out of the park. I rushed in to see what it was that seemingly had put my guitar to shame: it was my guitar! The TP-30! Turns out it's a Ferrari, and I just had never got it out of second gear. Not only is it loud if you want it to be, but if you push it, it has a kind of volume overdrive that can be a goosebump experience! In short, the guitar has resources that only a very few players will be good enough to exploit fully.

Perfect set-up, no flaws. Strings can make a difference. But complaints about one note, or the like, are simply based in ignorance of the physics of tuning in general, and of guitars in particular. In particular, my guitar has no bad notes, and no mechanical, physical, or esthetic flaws.

I'm not a performer. Both the TP-20 and TP-30 seem like robust and solid guitars. I'd expect them to stand up to anything. Caveat: classical guitars do require some care in handling and storage. Still, though, these seem like they might be tougher than most.

In my opinion, at least part of what Mr. Prisloe is about is customer service. It's neat when you call a place, you talk to the man himself, and he listens, helps, and instructs. Especially when you realize that he's probably heard it all a few hundred times!

My guitar is a a TP-30 custom; I also owned a TP-20. I've been a classical guitar player for almost 45 years, and have played/tried out a lot of guitars in that time. The fact about Tom Prisloe's Pavan guitars, especially his TP-20 and TP-30 models, is that 99.99% of guitar players will never touch a guitar that even comes close in quality or sound - especially sound! Period. You'd have to spend a lot more before you even begin to approach it. And what a lot of experienced guitarists know perfectly well is that money alone doesn't do it: you can spend a lot on a bad guitar. But there's an extra, here: I emphatically recommend thinking through and talking with Mr Prisloe about a custom guitar. Mine is a 660/55. Just a few extra millimeters, but for me a tremendous difference in playability.

I received this guitar on the first days of January, 2007. The finish was excellent as per this type of instrument, i.e. a classical guitar. No missed spots or extra laquer, simply an even well applied finish as it should be. The action was nicely done as per my way of playing so no additional adjustments were due. No fret buzzing and a confortable easy to play neck with all the standard measurements. I especifically requested a "plain" neck with no markings whatsoever on it and it was done at no extra charge. UPS ground delivered it about 8 days after it was shipped and the packaging held all that weeks travels with no problem. The guitar arrived in perfect shape and I was able to open the box without any problems either. So it was well packaged and at the same time, easy to open.

This instrument is a playing instrument, as it was intended, it is not an exhibition piece to be admired, although it is beautiful work of art in its own right too...Again, although this guitar is mainly intended to be heard, its looks and finish are exellent! The tunning machines are precise and high quality too.

I'm a pure classical guitar player, no rock or anything else...I did that 30 year ago, took a vacation of about 20 years and came back to it about 3 years ago...I've had a number of expensive guitars which had had its virtues and vices...This one is probably the best in its price range and beyond that I've played so far. I'm still getting to know it but so far its sound capabilities and sound flexibility are exceptional. Over all, a good responsive instrument, with a round, well modulated sound that carries. Very much at home no matter what places you want to take it to, as long as it is a normal place for a classical guitar, as it was intended. Suitable for concert for sure. Over time, when the spruce and all the woods settle and age properly it will probably be blowing away the competition!

As stated before, the action was flawless and the finish meticulous. Top of the line woods and matching patterns. Excellent Engelman spruce top. No noisy frets or other detrimental efects.

Very dependable and suitable for public performances, especially for the concert hall. Impressive presicion tuners, probably Schaller or similar...on the upper level of the quality scale. Comes in a well padded roomy case that at first glance seems too tight and then you realize that the padding adjusts to protect the instument completely on all sides, with 5 locks that do the job right.

I haven't had it long enough for any warranty claims to arise if it ever happens but my experience dealing with Prisloe tells me it won't be any problem whatsoever. He is a serious, reliable and very friendly and approachable person that stands behing his word and business. The guitar comes with a written life time warranty too that should put buyers minds at ease.

This is probably the best deal out there, not only for the price buy for what you get for your money. A totally professional instrument for those of us that can't afford one! I own a Ramirez R4 and a Yamaha GC-41, both excellent instruments in the same price range and they don't get even close where sustain and playability matters. Even looks will put this guitar in a more than favorable possition! I played a Ramirez E4 with similar sustain but not as powerful and the price was 4 times this guitar's price. I can say that if I were to lose all my guitars and had a choice of getting only one back, the Pavan TP-30 will be my choice.

2006 Pavan TP-30 Spruce
Standard classical body style; nothing too extraordinary or fancy. The headstock has a simple carved decoration, and looks very nice. The rosette is also very beautiful and matches perrectly with the guitar. Overall, I am very pleased with the guitars appearance.
Tuners: Not sure of a brand, but they are very precise and maintain tuning very well. One of the most impressive parts of the guitar.
Neck: Ebony fretboard; reinforced cedar(?) neck; 650mm scale; 19 frets.
Top: Solid Englemann Spruce; High quality.
Back and sides: East Indian Rosewood.

The guitar has a great classical sound. The spruce top was masterfully crafted, it's one of the thinnest tops I've seen on a guitar, and it sounds great! The guitar is very clear and the voices are well balanced, but the sound is slightly darker than most spruce tops I've played. The guitar also has a lot of volume and projection. I played a lot of guitars, and the TP-30 can take on guitars 2-3 times the price. I expect when the spruce top opens up a bit more, it will sound even better.

I like the action on the guitar a lot. There are no dead spots or frets that buzz. I've played guitars with easier action, but the action on this guitar is still top notch. The neck is a little wider than a lot of classical guitars, but it doesn't affect playability from what I can tell. The guitar seems to be well made, and there are no visible flaws.

The guitar seems to be very well made, and I feel I can count on it being around for quite some time.

Tom was great to work with, he spent some time with me on the phone explaining the different options and such. I'm very pleased with his customer support. He also offers a limited lifetime warranty, and a seven day risk free trial period. Buying instruments sight unseen is very risky, but I have full confidence in Tom's customer support and his guitars. Tom and his guitars might be the only things on this planet that are too good to be true.

I've been playing classical guitar for a couple years, and electric for a few more years before that. I would definitely buy a TP-30 again if it somehow disapeared. I would recomend it to anyone looking for a nice student model classical guitar. The guitar is amazing for the price.

This is the TP30, spruce top. I previously owned a TP30 cedar, which I very much enjoyed, having upgraded from a Prudencia Saez (G4?). The cedar top blew away the Prudencia (I review the cedar top below). Tom had told me of an upcoming introduction of a spruce top for the TP30. When it became available, I made an appointment with Tom (he lives about 3 1/2 hours drive from me) and checked out the new spruce tops. I was VERY impressed. Tom honored his policy of possible trade-ins of his guitars (for trading up to another), and I traded in my cedar top, paid a reasonable balance, and purchased the spruce top. The guitar was made in 2006, it (as I said) sports a spruce top, which is a beautiful yellowish color. It has solid rosewood sides and back, cedar neck (with ebony inlay), ebony fingerboard, and real bone nut and bridge. It has a slightly different bracing than the cedar top.

Compared to my previous cedar TP30, the spruce top brings out notes in the music that I had not heard before (at least not this clearly). The cedar top was definitely warm, with a beautiful sound, but the spruce top brings a kind of clarity (and volume) to the guitar that I was not expecting, especially in the mid to higher range (I play Baroque to 20th cent, focusing mainly on 19th cent composers like Tarrega and Albeniz). The guitar suits me, and I feel as though I can make (what I think are) beautiful sounds with it...

Tom, as everyone knows, sets up the guitar. Because I was bugging him at his shop, he let me hang out a bit and watch how he does it. VERY impressive, and VERY thorough. He not only works on getting the nut just right (so the strings are easy to depress at the first fret--this, WITHOUT buzzing of course!) but he works on leveling out the frets themselves (I'm not sure what that's called). The hardware was in excellent shape, and nothing was misaligned or anything.

I'm not sure what to say here. I certainly have no reasons to think that the guitar will just fall apart or anything. After all, my Prudencia (which I still own) is of lesser quality, both in materials and craftsmanship, and it over 8 years old and still as good as ever. So, I expect that the TP30 will last! Concerning its being dependable, or whether I would use it in a concert, the answer is that it is a VERY consistent guitar (with respect to sound and playability) and I DO play it when I perform. I have every reason to think that this guitar will last as long as I will last.

Tom backs up the guitars he makes and sells. He will talk with you about any concerns, and if you look around (the internet, e.g.) you will see that everyone who has done business with him, and that is EVERYONE, says that Tom is the real deal. You can trust him.

In my review of the cedar top (below) I mention that before buying the TP30, I had tried several guitars (many in NYC and, of course, given my location, in Philly at the famous Classical Guitar Store. There I narrowed things down to either the Cervantes Hauser model or the Giambattista (either G6 or G8)--these guitars cost between $1900 and $2600. The TP30 sounds hands down as good as these guitars. The TP30 spruce top sounds (and I'm not kidding) even a bit better. Yet, it cost almost half. I have absolutely NO intentions on trading up. I am VERY much married to my current TP30. If it were lost or stolen I'd immediately be on the phone with Tom, setting up an appointment, and probably sh*ting my pants (of course). I would buy another TP30...though I do hear a rumor that Tom is thinking of introducing a spruce top modeled after his own concert guitars (the ones he builds that start at about $5600...these would go for something like $2500 or so...I'd be VERY interested in looking at these. But, in the event that this was JUST a rumor, I'd be looking to buy a spruce top TP30.

This guitar is fairly standard. There really is no super features. The tuners are probably the best thing on the guitar... super accurate. I'm not too impressed with the laquer job, as there are some dimples on the back, a run on the top of the head, and a little depression on the soundboard, near the base of the guitar, probably from the bracing. Also, it sound silly, but the ebony fretboard could be a little darker. I swear it looks like it was stained ebony... could just be me. Still a very pretty guitar. The soundboard laquer is nice and thin..not globbed and overdone... just the way it should be.

I had been searching for a new guitar for some time, and I found the Pavan by just searching around on google. I decided to call Tom Prisloe up and give him a try. Because I was so unhappy with all of the guitars that I played in various shops, I decided to take a chance on Tom... especially after reading some of the reviews. I chose a slightly damaged and blemished TP-30 that was discounted on account of a shipping mishap. The back had a 1" crack that was repaired almost to perfection.

When I got the guitar and tuned it up for the first time I was VERY disappointed, disheartened, and deflated. My first thought was that the bargain I had gotten for the crack was bitting me in the butt. For some reason, I was getting a very strange buzz on F# 4th string. I was playing Fernando Sor Estudio V bminor. I must have restrung that thing a dozen times... not no avail. What I found out was that his guitar was SO sonorous, that the F# was picking up a partial under my first finger (on the 6th) that I wasn't aware of. I just had to press down a little and it was gone. Tom sends his guitars out with Daddario J45's and I wasn't used that tension, having moved recently from normal.

Now I fall in love with the guitar every time I pick it up. I have noticed that some of the notes, like G on the 6th, lack in clarity.. seem dull, so I'm playing around with strings. I do like the J45's but I have switched out the 6th with a Savarez Corum Blue and I'm lovin it. I'm not sold on the Savarez D string yet.

Also, the intonation is amazing. It is a tad sharp on the 12th, but it's very hard to pick it up in the ear. I am VERY sensitive to intonation, and I must say that I'm very impressed.

Tom sets the guitar before he ships out. I'm so impressed with his setup that I think I might ship it back to him when I need it set in the future. Any fret buzz is simply from mis-hits... the high tension strigs help as well. The guitar is very easy to use. My test was Estudio V, Lagrimas, and Dedicatoria... all sound great and easy to play.

The TP-30 is solid wood, hand picked engleman spruce from Tom's private reserve stock... it is a hearty guitar, that feels durable and is thus far reliable. Because it is solid wood, it is a bit fussy about humidity. I've been pretty lucky in that my RH is around 49-60%. Tom sells the Planet Waves gear to keep your wood neutral... check it out if you are going solid. It's hard to pass judgement on R/D in only 4 months... but so far it's a 10.

You really need to talk to Tom. I called him and emailed him quite a bit and every interaction was a pleasant one. The man really stands behind his guitar. He is willing to spend some time with you to get you the product you need.

I think Tom has done a very good job with the design of this product, and I would not mind buying a custom made, when I get good enough. I have been playing for 15 years and I own a Takamine and Alvarez as well as an Ibanez. While they were great student guitars, and they all had great intonation, they lacked the sonorous quality that the pavan provides. While my old guitars have some sentimental value, after playing the Pavan, I liken them to firewood.... the jut sit there.

I have traditionaly played cedar tops, and I have never owned a spruce, but after playing this one I'm sold on the clarity that the spruce provides. I think I might pick up a ceder from Tom, cause I do love that dreamy overtone that cedar gives off.

If this guitar were stolen..... I would cry.... no really I would.

Standard Classical guitar...no frills. Solid cedar top, solid Indian rosewood back and sides, cedar neck, ebony fretboard, good-quality tuners, rosewood bridge, bone nut and saddle (at least I think the saddle is bone...could be a synthetic like Tusq). This guitar was hand-made in Spain in 2006. The finish is very good, though not perfect. I've noticed a couple very minor flaws in the finish, but you really have to look for them.

Awesome tone! This guitar has a lot of volume for a nylon-stringed instrument. The volume is even and consistent in all registers and the guitar responds well to different tonal techniques. The cedar top gives the guitar quite a warm sound and it is very resonant. It plays in tune and stays in tune and can produce some very remarkable sounds.

I have been experimenting with different strings to find the brand that sounds best on this instrument. To date, I have found that D'Addario hard tension strings (with clear trebles and black trebles) sound best to my ear. But, this is purely a matter of taste. But be aware that this guitar's sound, like any guitar, will change fairly significantly depending on the string used.

The action was set up by Tom Prisloe and is very, very good. I use hard tension strings...which can be difficult to play. But the TP30 has great action and is solidly built which makes playing hard tension strings not so rough.

Like I said earlier, I did find a couple of very minor flaws in the finish. But overall, this is a beautiful instrument.

This seems to be a very well-built instrument. I don't foresee having any issues. I've owned this guitar for 4 months now (and I play nearly every day) with absolutely no problems whatsoever.

I bought this guitar from Tom Prisloe (www.pavanguitars.com). These instruments are hand-built to Mr. Prisloe's specs in Spain and shipped here. I've spoken to Mr. Prisloe personally and have corresponded via email with him. He seems to be man of his word. If it breaks, he'll fix it. These guitars come with a limited lifetime warranty, and I'm sure Mr. Prisloe will honor that guarantee.

I've been playing classical guitar for over 10 years now. I've owned only a few instruments during that time, but I've played and heard a quite a few. This guitar has an incredible sound...especially considering the price I paid. Since owning the guitar, I have been very satisfied. If it were stolen or lost, I would buy another one tomorrow!!

Purchasing musical instruments over the internet can be risky business. It is always best to play an instrument before purchasing it. But I live in a very rural area and playing this instrument (or any other good classical guitar for that matter) wasn't an option. But I called Mr. Prisloe and he made me feel very secure about the purchase and I'm VERY glad I did it. The volume, tone and playability of this guitar is of the quality I would expect at instruments costing twice as much. For what you get, these guitars are a bargain.