2009 robert garcia custoM ADIRONDACK SPRUCE

Robert Garcia came to guitar making through the instrument itself: he began studying classical guitar at San Jose City College in 1985 under the instruction of Bahram Behroozi, and as his passion for the music deepened, so did his curiosity about the instruments. He began collecting fine guitars — a Ruck, a Brune, a Ramírez 1a — and became increasingly drawn to the relationship between construction and sound. He built his first instruments as a hobbyist under the direct guidance of Kenny Hill before formalizing his skills through an apprenticeship with Hill Guitars. He subsequently worked with Howell and Forsyth before establishing his own home-based shop in the San Jose area. His instruments have since attracted professional players: guitarist Carlé Costa recorded his Villa-Lobos disc Alma de uma terra using a Robert Garcia guitar, and Garcia is consistently recommended by Northern California players and teachers as one of the most capable builders working in the Bay Area. He is genuinely uncommon on the used market.

This 2009 instrument pairs an Adirondack spruce top — the classic pre-war American tonewood, denser and stiffer than Sitka, with the kind of dynamic headroom and projective clarity associated with the finest vintage Martin and Gibson flattops — with Indian rosewood back and sides. Traditional 7-fan bracing. Spanish cedar neck. The combination produces a concert guitar with strong projection, excellent sustain, and a wide dynamic range: responsive at low.