In the middle of the Ninentieth Century the luthier Christian F. Martin began working on a new guitar model.
Thanks to the apprenticeship by Johann Georg Staufer, one of the most famous luthiers in Europe at the time, Martin worked with an innovative and experimental approach, following the style of the Austrian master.
Martin contributed to the project changing the internal structure of the soundboard.
His invention is called “X-bracing” and consists on the disposition of the struts to a X form, which not only reinforces the guitar’s structure, but also influences the vibration of the soundboard and therefore the quality of the sound itself.
From this moment on C.F. Martin continued working on his model until he reached the Dreadnought version at the beginning of the Twentieth Century: the acoustic guitar with metal strings.
I build my Allegra model inspired by Martin’s tradition, using a different kind of wood for the soundboard: he used Sitka spruce to which I prefer italian red spruce (see “Why choosing a guitar of mine”) because it gives increased dynamics and a powerful tone.
The soundboard has an X strutting which I build using italian spruce.
Sides and bottom are made of indian rosewood that combined with the spruce and the kind of sounding board, produce a full, rich and balanced sound. Moreover taking up the instrument you feel a strong and robust guitar.
The sounding board dimensions and the woods give a lot of headroom to the guitar, that can be played without using a PA system even in big spaces.
It is a versatile guitar that adapts to all music genres and can be played in fingerpicking, because of the unique full bodied sound which is very detailed when playing both flatpicking and strumming.
I decorate the model Allegra with a patchwork rose in Picassian style, as I do for all my production.
Johnny Cash, Elvis, Neil Young, Neil Daimond, Jimmy Page are some examples of guitarists who have used this guitar model.
It is the instrument for those who are looking towards tradition wanting a more refined and versatile sound.