Heikki Rousu - 2025 No. 487 11-string
Heikki Rousu - 2025 No. 487 11-string
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
This 11-string guitar was built by Swedish luthier Heikki Rousu, who has been crafting classical and plucked instruments since 1990. With a portfolio that spans guitars, lutes, mandolins, bouzoukis and more, Heikki has built nearly 400 instruments for musicians in Sweden and abroad. His guitars reflect both a strong traditional foundation and a deep sensitivity to musical ergonomics, developed over decades of personal playing and ongoing refinement. By keeping one of his own instruments always close at hand, he ensures his building approach is continuously informed by real-world musical practice.
About the guitar
Guitar No. 487, completed in 2025, is a traditionally built 11-string model that offers an expansive harmonic palette and extended bass range. The fingerboard extends over the zero fret, allowing for a longer scale on the additional bass strings. This design increases string tension in the lower register, adding definition and clarity to the lowest octave—an essential feature for players exploring extended-range or polyphonic repertoire.
The spruce top is matched with Madagascar rosewood back and sides, chosen for its fine, uniform grain and rich visual depth. The guitar is finished in French polish and fitted with Schaller tuners. Despite its structural complexity, the instrument responds with a sweet and brilliant voice, and its overtone-rich sound benefits from the sympathetic resonance of the added strings. Sustain is remarkably long, not only due to the body’s resonance but also thanks to the continuous ringing of sympathetic tones. The result is a harp-like character that lends the guitar remarkable complexity and presence.
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.