2013 Robert Ruck Spruce/Double (composite) top

Top: Master Grade Spruce Double Top
Back and sides: Very old aged Rosewood
Tuners: Rodgers
Scale: 650mm
Origin: USA
Price: Please inquire

I miss Bob Ruck, it is always bittersweet when one of his masterworks finds its way to my shop as it inevitably brings up many fond memories of his visits to me here in Santa Barbara and our many discussions about ‘all things guitar’ on the phone over the years.

This guitar is an absolute treasure, just a jewel. It was custom ordered by a very good client of mine who brought Bob his own set of very old aged Brazilian Rosewood for the back and sides. Bob used some gorgeous Master Grade Spruce filled with jewel like medullary rays, it is stunning. The guitar is one of his lovely sounding Double Tops, though Bob always admonished me to ‘more properly refer to them as composite tops’, something I attempt to do even to this day ( you won Bob!). In addition he added matching sound ports, which ’surround’ the player with an inspiring ‘envelope’ of sound, The fingerboard is raised for excellent playability, The back and sides are lacquer but the top is French Polished, my own personal favorite combination, and it is topped off with a lovely set of fine Rodgers Tuners and comes in an Accord Case.

I don’t know what I can say about this guitar other than it is perfect, I won’t attempt to describe the sound, won’t do it justice.The best part is the owner lives in another country and this guitar never left the USA, a friend kept it for him, but after all these years he has been able to come and retrieve it, so it is literally in unplayed new condition, it is as if Bob was still with us, and just finished this new guitar yesterday.

Definitely an ultra rare treat…