2017 SHORTLIST
JOHN PRICE CLASSICAL GUITARS
Category
PRODUCT DESIGN
DESIGNERMAKER
Design
JOHN PRICE
About
I build primarily Classical guitars using modern and traditional materials and build techniques which maximise the quality of sound and enhance projection and volume which are critical aspects of the modern Concert grade instruments.
Design Challenge
Classical guitar players are constantly searching for the very best sounding guitars. It is my challenge to keep up with their demands and expectations. I am constantly trying to improve and enhance my guitars by trying different woods and other materials in their construction. In an effort to have my guitars placed in the hands of renowned players, I have employed the use of prominent dealers around the world who can demonstrate my instruments in an intimate environment where the players can take their time in evaluating each guitar based on their own merit. By exporting my instruments to my dealer network my guitars can be shown to players who would not necessarily be able to come to my workshop and are able to choose their guitar with confidence and with the full knowledge of how the guitar performs, sounds and feels in their hands.This is very important and is something that can not be achieved without the need to send an expensive instrument around the world which entails a risk of damage or loss and involves the chance of a potential customer not liking the guitar or finding it not quite what he/she was looking for.
Design Solution
There are certain design parameters which are expected to be adhered to in the Classical guitar, none so more than the woods used in their construction. The use of some of the more exotic species (Rosewoods) for the back and sides has increasingly been restricted due to the rarity and difficulty in obtaining wood that is at best questionable as to its legal procurement. I have been making guitars using traditional woods and increasingly Australian woods for many years now and have gained a place in the market where it is understood that some of our woods are as good or better than some traditional woods. The arched back is a design which does away with internal bracing which restricts airflow and enhances the projection of sound whilst having an appearance of a cello like back and is very comfortable to hold and play. This is achieved by laminating beautiful "face" veneers over a lesser value core which minimises the impact on threatened species.
Design Impact
My guitars are sought after by some of the more prominent players around the world along with advanced students and a some collectors. My market is mainly overseas where I send most of what I make which presently is around 10/12 a year. There are many recordings available on CD and players have put many video's onto Youtube. It is my intention to write a book on guitar making highlighting my methods of construction which I hope to have put into print in the not too distant future.