Jim Redgate is a designer and builder of modern cutting edge classical guitars. His models include the lattice braced, double top, and the new “wave” double top (pictured). Redgate’s creations are the first choice of an increasing number of professional guitarists.

Played by:

Ana Vidovic (USA) Lattice

Ralph Towner (Italy) Double top

Slava Grigoryan (Australia)  Wave Double top

Leonard Grigoryan (Australia) Double top

Bertrand Thomas (France) Lattice

Jeff Young (USA) Lattice

Gareth Koch (Australia) Wave Double top

Odair Assad (Belgium) Double top

Wolfgang Muthspeil (Germany) Wave Double top

Karen Schaupp (Australia) Wave Double top

Emmanuel Rossfelder (France) Lattice

Hucky Eichelman (Germany) Lattice

Phillipe Mariotti (France) Lattice

Inquiries and orders to Chris Kamen guitars@classicguitar.com

Specific questions to jim@redgateguitars.com

The guitar, its makers and its players have sojourned for over 500 years, always changing and growing to bring the whole sphere of the guitar’s development to its current level of beauty. Because of this rich history, the ongoing development of the guitar should always hold in consideration what has already taken place, and use the best of what has been learned from the past to contribute to the continued maturing of the instrument.

Combining these advances from the past with contemporary knowledge and vision, I am able to lovingly produce instruments that are moving towards the sound ‘image” that is stored away in my musical imagination. I refuse to be a slave to either tradition or technology, but keep a broad perspective of the entire process so the ultimate musical goals can be attained for each of the instruments produced. This is why I can have a high regard for such a great maker as Antonio Torres, yet build using the lattice braced style that has become so popular.

I started building guitars in 1985 using the traditional fan braced design, yet after eight years of building I came to realise that the sound of the traditional guitar, as beautiful as it is, was always missing something that left me, personally, wanting more, even though my guitars were receiving flattering comments. It wasn’t until I built my first lattice braced guitar that I finally heard the sound that had been in my head for many years. In hindsight, I now know that the sound that I am currently producing, is simply not possible to obtain using the tried and true traditional processes. With the considerable extra time and effort it takes to painstakingly produce a lattice braced guitar, who would do it unless they were totally committed to their own sound image? The over riding guide for me is,quite simply, musicality. In other words, whatever makes the instrument more musical for the player, the audience and the maker should be pursued, even if this means one has to move away, to some degree or other, from what is commonly held as the traditional way. Looking at it another way, tradition is an ongoing process. Just ask Torres!

http://www.sheridanguitars.com.au/

In 1984, Simon Marty was given an Australian Government grant to use advanced research methods (laser holography and computer finite-element analysis) to explore and further develop his design innovations. Simon began building guitars in 1982 because as a player he became interested in exploring new approachs to guitar design that could produce performance improvements. He has a doctorate in electrical engineering and science majors in physics and mathematics.

Commencing a detailed investigation of the physics and construction of stringed instruments in general, he applied his ideas to the construction of non-traditional (i.e Torres based) designs. The fruits of these endeavours were loud, responsive, well-balanced instruments.

An obsessive and consuming interest led to Simon departing from his career as a research scientist to build guitars full-time (engineering now being a spare-time activity) and continue their evolution. While Simon is not interested in building fully traditional instruments, the aesthetics and fundamental Mediterranean quality that attracted him to the guitar in the first place remain the guiding principle of his work.

For more information regarding Simon Marty Guitars please phone or email via the contact details below.

Simon Marty uses only Karura flight cases – for more information visit www.karuracase.com

Simon Marty Guitars are played by many fine and elite musicians including: Hucky Eichelmann
Jose Antonio Escobar
Anthony Garcia
Slava Grigoryan
Franz Halasz
Gareth Koch
Karin Schaupp
Scott Tennant
Robert Wetzel
Zagreb Guitar Quartet