Gary Southwell - 2025 - No. 380
Gary Southwell - 2025 - No. 380
Details
Details
Overview
Overview
Shipping important note
Shipping important note
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Details about GPSR
Details about GPSR
Video overview
More details about the guitar
About the luthier
Gary Southwell is an English guitar maker whose work has long been associated with both historical research and contemporary concert instruments. His interest in the guitar was shaped early through the music of artists such as Paul Simon, Julian Bream and John Williams. This enthusiasm eventually led him to pursue guitar making formally at the London College of Furniture, where he developed the technical foundations of his craft.
In 1983 Southwell established his workshop in Nottingham. Alongside the construction of modern concert guitars he became particularly known for his work with historical instruments, especially guitars from the early nineteenth century. Through careful study and reconstruction of historical models he contributed to reviving construction methods and sound concepts that had largely disappeared from modern guitar making.
Southwell has also developed a number of original designs, including the A Series and the Temperate guitars. His instruments are played by professional musicians internationally, and his close collaboration with performers has remained an important part of his work. This combination of historical awareness and practical musical dialogue has shaped a body of instruments recognised for their clarity, balance and refined tonal response.
About the guitar
This guitar from 2025 follows a traditional construction concept and combines a spruce top with Indian rosewood back and sides. The relatively light build supports a clear and responsive voice that remains balanced throughout the entire register.
A defining quality of the instrument is its remarkable consistency across the fingerboard. The basses and trebles develop with comparable presence, allowing the guitar to maintain an even tonal intensity in every register. This balance contributes to a stable sustain and a sense of continuity between individual notes.
The trebles appear focused and rounded while remaining strong enough to match the depth of the basses. As a result, melodic lines retain clarity even in denser textures. The overall impression is one of precision and equilibrium, giving the player a reliable and controlled tonal platform suited to a wide range of repertoire.
Regular care extends the life of the instrument
Even with careful use, a classical guitar may gradually change in appearance or respond to unstable storage conditions. Have a close look at your guitar regularly and be attentif to changes. If your instrument is suffering from its environement, it will let you know.
Protect Your Guitar: Handle with Care
Be mindful when touching your instrument with greasy or unwashed hands: any skin contact is a small attack on the varnish. Of course, a guitar is made to be played, but taking a few precautions helps preserve its beauty: wash your hands before playing, wear long sleeves, and avoid unnecessary direct skin contact with the body of the instrument.
Pro tip: Avoid playing with a button-up shirt, heavy jewelry, or a belt, as these can scratch the guitar. Also, make sure your guitar case is free of any objects that could damage the instrument during storage.
String care
A good habit to adopt is wiping down your strings briefly after each playing session. This small action significantly extends their lifespan and helps maintain a consistent, comfortable feel under your fingers.
Most importantly, clean strings are essential for keeping your instrument in tune. Corrosion, sweat, and dust can affect the uniformity of the strings and interfere with accurate tuning across the entire fingerboard.
Pro tip: If you're having trouble getting your guitar in tune, it might be time to change the strings. A useful test is to compare the pitch of the 12th fret harmonic with the fretted note at the 12th fret; if there's an unusually large gap between them, your strings may have lost their integrity and should be replaced.
Keep Your Shellac Finish Shining!
Got a guitar with a shellac (French polish) finish? Here's a simple trick: Take a clean microfiber cloth and gently breathe on the surface to create a light mist. Then, softly rub to remove fingerprints, sweat, and grease. That’s usually all it takes to keep it looking great, no products needed!
Pro tip: Every few years, treat your guitar to a check-up with a luthier to keep it in top shape.
Storing Your Guitar: Climate Matters
Your guitar can safely stay outside its case, as long as the surrounding environment maintains 42–55% humidity and a temperature between 18–25°C.
Keep in mind that humidity levels can still fluctuate inside the case, especially during seasonal changes.
- Too much humidity may cause overtightened strings and a dull tone.
- Too little humidity can lead to a bulging top, string buzz, or even cracks.
Avoid placing your guitar near radiators, air conditioners, or windows with direct sunlight.
Pro tip: Always close your guitar case while playing. This helps preserve a stable microclimate inside the case, so your instrument is protected the moment you put it back in.