Overview: A connoisseur's guitar maker, Simon Ambridge crafts among the finest projecting, traditionally braced, musically refined classical guitars in the world today. About his Hauser I copies Simon Ambridge writes:

"In 2008 I had the opportunity to measure and absorb a fine 1940 Hauser I guitar, a copy of which I am now offering in my range of instruments. For me the original represents a kind of perfection of the luthier's craft in terms of its restrained aesthetic and refinement of tone. In November 2009 Julian Bream purchased a Hauser I copy from me, a guitar which he is delighted with not only for its overall appearance but in terms of its weight, feel and sound qualities." View a video performance on a Simon Ambridge Hauser I copy here:

About his guitars in general, Simon Ambridge writes:

"My classical guitars owe their inspiration to the instruments of Antonio de Torres, Santos Hernandez and Hermann Hauser I. By combining design elements from these three great masters with my own ideas, I produce a concert guitar which is traditional in style, lightly built and very responsive. I aim for a sound which is clear and focused across the whole spectrum and favor a slightly thicker soundboard with light struts which make for more efficient sound radiation and help give an instrument character, widening its range of available colour."

We concur with all that Simon writes. The sound of his magnificent concert guitars is solid, round and focused with wonderful depth and harmonic complexity. Capable of projecting both impressive power and delicate nuance, responsive to a wide range of color changes and attack, his instruments are beautifully balanced in every way. They are also remarkably devoid of extraneous harmonic noise: what you hear is each sparkling note and the accompanying silence surrounding that note. Finally, these musical instruments possess one of the loveliest, strongest, bell-like third strings we've heard in years. In sum, beautiful to look at, an inspiration to play, Simon Ambridge's individually handcrafted classical guitars represent a unique and wonderful contribution to the musical arts.

Concert artist Pablo Cohen who currently performs on a Simon Ambridge guitar writes: "For more than thirty years, I have had the opportunity to perform with guitars made by some of the best known makers from South America, France, Spain, and the U.S.A. It is from this perspective that I can say Simon Ambridge ranks among the very best guitar makers in the world." (Learn more about this classical guitar maker).

Materials: Old, book matched Ind. sides and back; select, very old European spr. soundboard; perfectly executed "V" graft head to neck joint; French polish of shellac finish; Rodgers precision tuning machine heads (the finest in the world) with mother of pearl oval buttons; workmanship ranking with the finest in the world and master grade materials throughout; unusually comfortable neck and action set up; 650mm string length, hardshell case.