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What’s the Best Latin Jazz Guitar ? ... it seems like an impossible question to answer on behalf of every guitarist. From my perspective, however, as a guitarmaker and player, I’ve always had a specific concept of what defines a truly fine instrument for creating, improvising, and interpreting Latin jazz ... I'm referring especially to Brazilian jazz (bossa nova), which was originally created and performed by musicians like João Gilberto, Antonio Carlos Jobim, Charlie Byrd, Baden Powell, and Luis Bonfa.
Although I may be best known in many parts of the world for the exotic "custom-made" flamenco guitars I design and construct, I’ve always had a parallel passion for Brazilian jazz and through the years my concept of a fine instrument, designed specifically for this unique art form, has evolved into the "Cacao" Latin jazz guitar (see details below). The prices for these concert-quality instruments start at approximately US$8,400.
If you are interested in having a very unique Latin jazz guitar made to your own specifications, please use the "Order Inquiry" form (below), or contact me directly by e-mail or telephone. I'll be pleased to discuss your requirements and make recommendations, if you wish, depending on your repertoire, playing style, and acoustic preference.
 Daniel Turner, Guitarmaker www.jazzguitarmaker.com

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 While you browse ... listen to Jazz Guitar Radio, an online stream of sample "background" tracks featuring the music of Baden Powell, Charlie Byrd, Antonio Carlos Jobim, and Luis Bonfa.

If you have any comments or questions about these uniquely handcrafted, custom-made guitars, please use the following form to contact the guitarmaker.

Daniel Turner
The Guitarmaker's Workshop,
212 - 909 Pembroke Street,
Victoria, BC, Canada.
V8T 4Z5
Tel. : +1 (250) 382-3681
info@bestjazzguitar.com
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A selection of the best photographs from the gallery of images (above) has been used to create a screensaver that can be installed on any desktop or laptop computer running on Windows XP or Windows Vista. The process of downloading and installing this screensaver is relatively quick and easy, but if you are not familiar with it, you may wish to read the "Download and Installation Guide". The sixteen photographs in the screensaver are updated throughout the year as new instruments are completed in the guitarmaker's workshop. You can view the current collection of screensaver images by clicking on "See Screensaver".
[ See Screensaver ] [ Start Download ] [ Read Download and Installation Guide ]

 Here's a mobile telephone ringtone for Latin jazz guitar enthusiasts ...
[ Listen to Ringtone ] [ Start Download ]
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A rare selection of exotic woods and a "master-grade" cedar or spruce soundboard, combined with a unique design, are used in the construction of every "Cacao" Latin jazz guitar. This special combination gives the instrument a seductive tone, a broad dynamic range, and a percussive character that makes it a perfect choice for musicians who include Brazilian jazz in their repertoire. The price of these concert-quality instruments starts at around US$8,400 and varies depending on the guitarist's final selection of woods, tuning machines, and carrying case. If you are interested in ordering one of these fine guitars, there is more information in the section titled "Ordering a Custom-made Guitar" (below).
Standard Features of the "Cacao" Guitar
Master-grade cedar or spruce soundboard
Madagascar ebony fingerboard with edge binding
Graphite-reinforced neck
Hand-made "signature" rosette
Alessi tuning machines with rosewood buttons
French polishing (complete instrument)
Cedar Creek Custom Classical case
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Woods (see other options in the next section)
Soundboard |
Western Red Cedar
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Back and Sides |
Madagascar Rosewood
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Neck |
Honduran Mahogany
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Fingerboard |
Madagascar Ebony
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Bridge |
Cocobolo Rosewood
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Head Veneer |
Cocobolo Rosewood
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Bindings |
Cocobolo Rosewood
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Ordering a custom-made guitar can be a unique and rewarding experience ... and selecting your preliminary requirements (below) is the first step. The guitarmaker's instruments are made to the highest standards and each one of his custom-made guitars takes 3 to 4 months to construct and finish by hand, so there is a waiting list (please inquire). Every "Cacao" guitar is made-to-order, which means (among other things) that the size and shape of the neck and the scale length can all be made to suit the hand size and playing style of the guitarist.
Completing the following form is a preliminary step and the options, which you select below, can be changed at a later date after discussing the details of your instrument with the guitarmaker. Standard options are marked below with an asterisk *
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Are you interested in the exotic woods that are used by the luthier to create his custom-made flamenco, classical and Latin jazz guitars ? Click here to see samples of the back and side woods he currently has in his workshop, including Brazilian, cocobolo, Siam, East Indian, and Madagascar rosewood, black acacia, flaming Hawaiian koa, Macassar, Mun, and Asian ebony, quilted bubinga, sepele, Tasmanian tigerwood, zebrawood, African and Malaysian blackwood, ancient kauri, and ziricote.

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The Spanish Guitar Seminar, which is held in Santa Barbara, California once every 2 years, is a very unique two-day event for classical and flamenco guitarists, fine instrument collectors, guitar aficionados and connoisseurs ... in other words, for anyone that has a passionate interest in the Spanish guitar. (Who should attend ?)
The Seminar focuses primarily on the “hands-on” evaluation and appraisal of high-quality, collectable, and historic instruments. The next Seminar begins on the morning of Saturday, July 10th, 2010 and concludes the following evening. Attendance is limited to 25 participants. Register online at the Seminar's website.
All Seminar activities are held at the Hotel Oceana, a charming Spanish-style beachfront hotel in the heart of Santa Barbara, a city that is located on the Pacific coastline about 90 miles north-west of Los Angeles.
For more information, visit : www.spanishguitarseminar.com |
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1 A guitar with vintage black Brazilian rosewood sides together with a "super negra" between two instruments made with Hawaiian koa.
2 Hand-sculptured Brazilian rosewood bridge with a unique black horn-white bone saddle atop a "master-grade" spruce soundboard.
3 A guitar made from highly-flamed Hawaiian koa with a Spanish cedar neck and Madagascar rosewood bindings.
4 The guitarmaker's "signature" Spanish bull horn-style head design with a set of premium-quality Rodgers tuning machines.
5 Golden sides made from exotic Hawaiian koa combined with a bear-clawed sitka spruce soundboard and Brazilian rosewood bindings.
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6 A trio of French-polished guitars with back and sides made from three exotic woods ; ziricote, African padauk, and Hawaiian koa.
7 The guitarmaker's "signature" rosette constructed from small strips of colored veneer and inlayed by hand in a cedar soundboard.
8 Perfectly-matched Hawaiian koa sides support a French-polished soundboard made from bear-clawed sitka spruce.
9 A premium-grade Madagascar ebony fingerboard constructed with African ebony bindings along its edges.
10 Highly-figured Madagascar and Cocobolo rosewoods were used in the construction of the back and sides on these "Cacao" guitars.
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