2012 Thomas Norwood "1932 Esteso" SP/CSAR

Thomas Norwood has been building guitars out of his atelier in Paris for over 35 years. Born and raised in Pasadena, CA, Tom moved to Paris in the mid-70's after he fell in love with the city during a bicycle tour through Europe. For several years Daniel Friederich has been recommending Tom's guitars to GSI and so on a trip to Paris in 2010, we were able to meet him and see the guitars he builds. At the time, Tom was making 3 models, all replicas of guitars that have made their strongest impressions on him over the years of his career. They are: a 1910 Manuel Ramirez, 1932 Domingo Esteso and 1935 Santos. All are built not only to the same specs and with the same woods and decorative details as the originals, but they are also built to sound as the originals would have sounded when first built. GSI agreed to offer all 3 of these models as they are all spectacular and unique in their own way. This guitar was the third we received (which completed the series) - the 1932 Domingo Esteso. This model is the most elaborate and ornate of the three and requires the highest level of attention to woodworking details, and Tom has stepped up to the challenge and executed this with the same exact precision as seen on the original. Of course for sound, it elegantly captures the old-world charm of the original as well. Although a "contemporary" guitar, the sound is warm, velvelty, open and very loose - it has all the ingredients for a successful replica, and is simply a fine instrument in and of itself. Now being a secondhand guitar, it is in excellent condition with only modest signs of use. Note that tuning machines in these photos are no longer on the guitar - the previous owner upgraded to Rodgers with MOP buttons. Photos of this guitar during construction.Orfeo Magazine #7 - French School Luthiery