Guitar by Graham Caldersmith- Picture of Guitar (65 kb)
Photographed at Rick Falkiner's guitar centre, Sydney.

      Specifications:

        Timbers:    

      Scale Length:
      650 mm or 670 mm ('magnum lock')

        Sound board:
        Spruce/Cedar

      Neck width at the nut:
      52 mm

        Back and sides:
        Australian blackwood or Indian rosewood

      Overall length:
      1000 mm

        Finger board:
        Rosewood or Ebony

      Body length:
      485 mm

        Bridge:
        South American rosewood

      Body width:
      upper bout 284 mm
      waist          240 mm
      lower bout 364 mm

        Bracing:
        Lattice Bracing, Balsa
        wood/carbon fibre

      Body depth:
      increasing from 98 mm to 105 mm

        Finish:
        French Polish - top
        Lacquer back and sides


Graham Caldersmith has researched the physics and history of guitars and violins since he gained his masters degree in fluid physics at the Australian National University in 1972. He continues researching the behaviour of instruments old and new with equipment granted by the Australian Research Council in 1980. He publishes regularly in national and international journals. Graham tries to integrate the powers of intellect and intuition into his workbench procedures. He maintains flexibility and originality by using a minimum of jigs and machinery, instead relying on hand tools for most of the tasks.

Caldersmith Guitars are advanced 'new general' instruments. They have an internal frame to support a soundboard which is reinforced with a lattice of carbon fibre and balsa. The lattice is shaped so that soundboard resonances are distributed for tonal balance. This shaping is critical for the evenness and quality of sound. Back and sides are sturdy and rigid to minimise energy drain from the light resonant soundboard. The result is a classical guitar with power and balance. Notes sustain even in the high treble range where many classical guitars fade. These guitars are the outcome of decades of comprehensive research in musical acoustics and they offer new possibilities in classical guitar sound.

In addition to the standard size guitar (650 mm string length), Caldersmith has developed the 'magnum lock' (670 mm) with a larger soundboard. These design features provide for an even richer bass and a clearer projecting treble. The longer string length is easy to play in higher positions, and the guitar top curves down to the neck joint to provide easier access to the highest notes on each string.

In the past twenty years, Caldersmith has been developing the guitar family to offer new dimensions in guitar sound and performances. The baritone guitar is tuned a fifth lower than a standard guitar, with a string length of 710 mm. It has a rich cellistic sonority and is played with normal guitar technique. The classical 4 string bass (EADG) is played with a heavier technique and provides a unique classical bass sound to instrumental ensembles. The treble guitar is tuned a fourth above the standard guitar (like the requinto), which sets it an octave above the baritone. It provides a clear sweet treble to guitar ensembles.

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