Douglas Bryce Hamp is a luthier in Arizona. Although his interests in stringed instruments started in his pre-teen years when I put together some scrap wood, nylon fishing line and pegs to make ukuleles for the neighbourhood kids, it has only been since he retired from a career in teaching that he has become an avid classical guitar luthier. Under the tutelage of Pablo Riqueña, a luthier from Malaga, Douglas has become steeped in the Spanish tradition of guitar construction. The body of his guitars follow those of Antonio Torres, the same shape that that inspired Hermann Hauser. He uses a bracing pattern which combines what he believes are the best elements of Hauser, Herandez y Aguado, and Fleta. For his sides, he uses Bogdanovich's split side method, which eliminates the need for all the long vertical braces of traditional construction. Instead of tantalones to attach the top to the sides, he uses solid linings which he believe enhance tone. He uses Romanillos the wedge method of attaching the neck to the sides which Pablo Requena also promotes as the most secure method.

Douglas prefers to use sustainable woods. The sitka spruce is from old growth Sitka,all salvaged material from naturally downed trees or from ancient stumps left by loggers.

This is a new guitar, and is being offered by the lutheir. We list it in our used section to disguish it from those we own. This guitar is his number 37. The quality of workmanship on the whole is very good, but there is one notable correction to the grove for the nut (see photos of the headstock).

I have played this guitar, and it is very much in the Spanish tradition: responsive and powerful. It has excellent balance between trebles and basses. Its tonality is complex and offeres a rich color pallet. The trebles sing nicely.