Previously in-the-white classic guitars:
A gallery of Cumpiano classic guitars that were previously in-the-white—then selected, finished, and now, proudly owned!
wrc 223
Brazilian rosewood classic
My finisher, Henry Pagán, obtained this guitar and lent it to the outstanding guitarist Ramiro Malagón who filmed himself playing it: once before it was finished and later, after it was finished.
wrc 267
Honduras mahogany classic
$7500.00 plus case and shipping
The great, late, classic luthier Manuel Velázquez, my mentor, the greatest maker that ever lived, once confided to me that his personal favorite tonewood for soundboxes was Honduras mahogany—for its warmth and musicality, he said,. But he lamented that too many of his customers insisted that rosewood was best—their choice weighted undoubtedly by rosewood's higher cost and rarity. Otherwise, he said, he would be building mahogany guitars exclusively. This mahogany classic guitar is evidence that mahogany's lower material cost should not relegate it to a lower grade than those made of rosewood. What it does, is make this instrument an excellent value for the money!
wrc 270
East Indian rosewood/Englemann spruce classic guitar
$5100.00
Chicago classical recitalist Jeff Kust came to my shop and selected this rare Sycamore in-the-white, loved it and bought it. Listen to a subsequent recording he made with it:.
wrc 243
East Indian rosewood/Englemann spruce classic guitar
$5100.00
wrc199
Cocobolo rosewood
Classic guitar
Click on photograph to see before and after versions
$6500.00 plus case and shipping
wrc202
Beeswing Mahogany
Classic guitar
Imagine my surprise when visiting a local lumberyard by chance to find a locker full of mahogany stair treads just the right size each for several classic guitars. But what was extraordinary was the proliferation of this extremely rare "beeswing" figure throughout the timber. The late Manuel Velazquez, perhaps the greatest living guitarmaker of his day, once admitted that if he was allowed his own choice he would exclusively use mahogany for his all his classical guitars, except that it was dismissed by players for being too "common", My customer thought otherwise.
he, writes, " I am overdue to write to thank you for your magnificent work and the beautiful guitar that you kindly make available to me, the WRC 202. I have been relocated to Vienna to work for the UN and as you expect, my first passenger and companion was your guitar. She has evolved to have a bright sound with a punchy, woody tone in each note. She has a quick attack and great separation of notes, with plenty of volume to fill a concert hall...and as a nice vintage wine it is only is getting better with time, All the magic is there."
wrc201
White cedar/redcedar
Flamenco guitar
A flamenco guitar is simply a Spanish/classic guitar built especially lightly and set up for lower action. The flamenco tradition calls for back and sides made from Spanish cypress—not because it offers a culture-specific sound quality—but rather because the flamenco tradition was originally a Spanish Roma tradition, and the Roma, a historically dispossed class, could not afford guitars made from imported woods, and so chose the local cypresses which were common to the region. Cypress is a gymnosperm (i.e., "softwood") and other coniferous timbers have emerged as suitable alternatives. One is White cedar, prized for its uniformity and even texture.
wrc198
Cocobolo
Cutaway classic
This elaborate Cumpiano cutaway classic, originally an in-the-white,, was purchased, finished and delivered to an expert guitarist who traveled from Spain to pick it up. He loved it. He plays and sings its praises here:
wrc 248
East Indian rosewood classic
William, I just wanted to drop you a line after I really had a chance to live with and play this guitar. I think you made an incredible instrument and I am as pleased as can be. I especially love the E and A strings - pedal tones never sounded like that on any guitar I have ever played. That said, the guitar is still balanced across the entire fretboard and the trebles are clear and precise. I would describe the tone (how I hear it at least) as warm and full... The neck shape, taper and thickness is perfect. I have alot of other feelings about the guitar, but those are not easy to express in words. Quite honestly, its taken me some time to learn how to play certain pieces or passages in a way that makes the most of the guitar. It is a very rewarding instrument to play.
Many thanks, E. F.