A world-renowned guitar from Esperance

@JudyEv (381952)
Rockingham, Australia
January 21, 2022 5:51pm CST
While touring the museum in Perth, Western Australia, I spotted this ordinary-looking guitar in a display cabinet. However, it is no ordinary guitar at all. I thought @TheHorse for one might be interested in it and I know there are others here who play guitar, although perhaps not classical guitar. This Greg Smallman and Sons classical guitar was built in 2020. The following is taken from the information panel in front of the cabinet: In mid-19th century Spain, the guitar design innovations of Antonio Torres formed the basis of the modern classical guitar. Then, in 20th century Australia, a significant development occurred in the workshop of Greg Smallman. His key structural innovation is the internal ‘lattice-brace’, which supports a very thin guitar top. Since 1981, the Smallman guitar has been the instrument of choice for renowned classical guitarist John Williams, who praises the brilliance, fullness, volume and resonance of the Smallman guitar sound. End of quote. What was especially interesting to me is that Greg and his sons, Damon and Kym, make their guitars in Esperance, on the south coast where we used to live. Eight different woods are used in the construction of the guitar and the nut and saddle are made of cow bone. The fingerboard is carbon fibre. Photo is mine.
17 people like this
14 responses
@RasmaSandra (97994)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
21 Jan 22
That is a classy-looking guitar, Than k you for the interesting information behind it,
3 people like this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
It looked like any other guitar to me.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (17038)
• United States
22 Jan 22
Thanks for the information about the Smallman guitar. I never was able to pick up playing the guitar however my brother picked it up from a young age and has quite a collection of them.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238297)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 22
I hope his GAS (Guitar Acquisition Syndrome) does not become chronic.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
Some of the brands are very well known. I hadn't heard of a Smallman before.
1 person likes this
@Dena91 (17038)
• United States
23 Jan 22
@TheHorse At one time he had around 30 different ones. Had damage to his home from a storm and some were destroyed. Not sure how many he has now. He has acoustic, electric, and bass.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238297)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 22
Interesting that they use carbon fiber for the fingerboard, rather the the African ebony wood of most elite guitars.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238297)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 22
@mildredtabitha I do love guitars
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
I don't really have any idea what woods they'd use.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238297)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 22
@JudyEv Heh. A subject for conversation with your son. I play whatever bass is available to me. I'm not sure what woods are most often used on the fingerboards of basses. On guitars, ebony is seen as elite.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (238297)
• Walnut Creek, California
21 Jan 22
I am reading now. But tell them to correct this: "...a significance development occurred in the workshop of Greg Smallman..."
2 people like this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
Duh! That was me - my mistake. I've fixed it now and thanks for pointing it out.
@porwest (112813)
• United States
24 Jan 22
Very nice guitar, and I would say most guitarists do keep at least one classical guitar in their collection. I have one as well, although I do not play it often.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
26 Jan 22
@porwest I guess there is always one more 'special' one that you'd like to own.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 22
I wonder how many John Williams has.
1 person likes this
@porwest (112813)
• United States
25 Jan 22
@JudyEv Some have many. I have about 6.
1 person likes this
• Southend-On-Sea, England
21 Jan 22
It's good to hear about the different woods and carbon fibre used in the construction of the guitar.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (238297)
• Walnut Creek, California
22 Jan 22
The "elite" fingerboards I'm most familiar with are African ebony wood.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
I was surprised that so many different woods were used in the construction of it.
1 person likes this
@bunnybon7 (50970)
• Holiday, Florida
22 Jan 22
must make a beautiful sound for all that care and display.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
Having John Williams prefer them is a very good recommendation.
1 person likes this
@marguicha (230351)
• Chile
22 Jan 22
This is a post the my grandson Felipe would be interested in. I like to listen to people playing but have no idea of the guitars.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
I don't know anything about the different brands either.
• Philippines
22 Jan 22
I had only touch my brothers guitar once, but never played it.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
I was never able to play one. I blame my short fingers.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
24 Jan 22
That's fascinating. I'm going to show my ignorance by saying I thought they were all made alike.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
26 Jan 22
@JudyEv I'm glad I'm not alone.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
25 Jan 22
I used to think that too.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21500)
• London, England
23 Jan 22
Another step in the evolution of the guitar. I guess nothing stands still
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jan 22
True. Most instruments are really complex pieces of engineering now.
1 person likes this
@Ronrybs (21500)
• London, England
24 Jan 22
@JudyEv Hadn't really thought about it, but I am sure new materials must affect the quality and tone of sound
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (222319)
• United States
22 Jan 22
Interesting. The guitar in the case was built in 2020?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
Yes, that's right but he has been making them for a long time before that.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 Jan 22
Sounds amazing. My Dad loved guitars.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
I love the sound of them. They are never 'in your face'.
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203396)
• Nashville, Tennessee
22 Jan 22
@JudyEv Right. I know what you are saying.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
22 Jan 22
wow I learned something (thank you for that) so cool
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
22 Jan 22
The connection with Esperance was interesting to me.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (381952)
• Rockingham, Australia
24 Jan 22
@DocAndersen I was reading the notice and got to the end and wow! there was the link to Esperance.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54399)
• United States
23 Jan 22
@JudyEv i did enjoy the way you laid out the information. i learned something and that is important to me!
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