The Alhambra Crossover CSLR is, as the name suggests, a crossover model, aimed at players coming from the steel string world who want the responsive expression nylon strings can provide. Built in Muro de Alcoy, Alicante, Spain, the Alhambra Crossover CSLR features a solid Red Cedar top, with Indian Rosewood for the sides, back, head plate, fingerboard and bridge. The body is based on a standard classical design but includes a cutaway and shaped heel.
Crossover
Here is a rarity for North America – a Julian Mario Rabaza Crossover guitar dating to 1982 and built at Rabaza’s shop in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Julian Mario Rabaza has been well known South American circles for decades, and mostly builds Spanish style Classical and Flamenco guitars. This example is what we would now call a ‘Crossover’ model, meaning that it has a couple of adaptations for those playing other styles – Tango and Latin Jazz for example.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Part of the Conservatory line intended for serious students, the Alhambra 5PCT cutaway classical guitar verges into the area of ‘Crossover’ models, meant to make nylon string tone and responsiveness available to players in non-classical musical contexts. This model is based on the popular Alhambra 5P Conservatory Series Concert Classical guitar. Several factors help define the ‘Crossover’ models. Typically, the body has a cutaway and is thinner, and there’s a recognition that the guitar will be amplified. The thinner body reduced feedback, and the pickup and preamp help restore fullness.
The Godin Multiac ACS SA in Denim Blue Flame is a direct descendant of a Chet Atkins idea and is intended as a ‘crossover’ guitar for those coming to nylon strings from the electric world. With this in mind, the neck is slightly narrower than a Classical or Flamenco guitar, and the fingerboard is crowned. The chambered body and solid neck of the Godin ACS SA are Mahogany, with a Richlite fingerboard – a composite material that does a good job of simulating Ebony. The top of this model is a figured Maple Veneer with a lovely translucent denim blue shade, providing an unusual and quite attractive appearance.
The Godin Multiac Grand Concert has become a very successful and immensely practical instrument, and is based directly on the Gibson Chet Atkins CE Classical Electric from 1981.
By the early 1980s, Chet Atkins had shifted largely to playing nylon string guitars, but the instruments available at the time were strictly acoustic and not really suited to the realities of touring, and amplified or broadcast stages. On Atkin’s request, Gibson produced two models of a solidbody nylon string guitar, using Mahogany for the neck and a slab body, adding a Spruce top.
This instrument has sold
MORE →Here we have a custom order Volkert classical, cutaway and crossover guitar, signed and dated to 1994 at the Volkert shop in Lauf an der Pegnitz. This guitar was designed for the player’s needs, which included playing Gypsy Jazz and Flamenco styles. This interesting, well built guitar has a Florentine cutaway and, very unusually for a classical, a 14-fret neck! Because of the player’s needs, full Golpeador or Tap Plates were installed to protect the top.
This instrument has sold
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