HILL SIGNATURE GUITARS are custom made using the most up-to-date designs, methods and materials to produce the highest quality sound, playability and beauty. This is Kenny Hill's finest guitar.
The current Signature Model features a "double top" as first practiced by Damman, Wagner, and others. It is a sandwich of Nomex, an ultra light cell structure, between two very thin layers of cedar or spruce. This makes an extremely light sound board, but is also quite stiff, in a good way. Outwardly it seems just like a normal cedar sound board. This technique is borrowed from ultra light aviation technology. This guitar is braced fairly traditionally, with a bracing pattern similar to Miguel Rodriguez.
The Signature Model also features optional sound ports in the upper shoulders, as influenced by Robert Ruck. This is a feature Kenny Hill has grown to love (maybe addicted to is more like it); a guitar without these ports seems incomplete to him. The design works very well with or without the ports, but they would be two very different guitars.
The 2006 HILL SIGNATURE GUITAR achieves a real breakthrough in the standard for classical guitars. These instruments offer world-class qualities of beauty, power, dynamics, color, balance and ease of playing, all while building on the haunting beauty of traditional classical guitar sounds. For over 40 years Kenny Hill has been pursuing the beauty of the classical guitar-as a player, and as a builder. The Signature Model combines decades of experience and a lifetime of love for this instrument, creating a state-of-the-art concert instrument, while embracing the exquisite beauty and tradition of the classical guitar.
Kenny Hill says "I am more in love with the guitar today than I have ever been. Since the beginning, the guitar has fascinated and hypnotized me. I've worked with the most basic and traditional designs, and I've worked with some of the most avante garde designs. What is startling is how many possibilities there are, and how many ways to combine new and old elements. I feel that I'm just beginning to explore the possibilities, and at the same time I'm thrilled to be producing guitars that have the sound qualities and feeling that I've always dreamed of producing. It is a very exciting time."
"In 2002 I began working with a 'double top' as practiced by a few other contemporary luthiers. This structure offers tremendous potential for power and dynamics, while allowing the character of sound to be shaped by the guitar maker and the player. Because the double top uses two thin soundboards I have been using BOTH cedar and spruce together. This takes advantage the best qualities of both tonewoods. The wood selected for the outside actually determines the dominant traits of the sound. Also I have been using sound ports in the shoulders of many guitars since 1998. This is optional in the Signature Model, but including ports is definitely my personal preference. The ports give more of the natural guitar sound, while giving up nothing."
"In 2005 I began experimenting with an elevated fingerboard design. This engineering causes the string to pull on the soundboard at a somewhat different angle, changing the way the soundboard works, adding a very quick and potent response. It makes for exceptional penetration in the concert hall."
"The HILL Signature Model is a strong guitar, not just loud-beautiful. The dynamic range is wide and very easy to control, and the color palette is also very wide and extra easy to control. The neck is carefully designed for the most comfortable playing, and the action is adjusted to play as easily as possible. Many fine players use these guitars, and their reaction is consistent: it's great, it's exciting to play, and IT'S ADDICTIVE! There are certainly worse vices in the world."
"There are many, many different design elements and wood choices to consider in each guitar, and our results are consistently outstanding. Each guitar is an adventure, and each guitar is its own miracle. I love this work."
Features:
- Model: Classical
- Soundboard: Double top, with spruce and cedar combined
- Body style: Traditional, with elevated fingerboard
- Rodriquez-style bracing
- Sound ports: located in the sides, upper shoulders
- Back & sides: Indian rosewood
- Fingerboard: ebony
- String length: 650mm
- Tuners: Sloane
- Finish: French polish
- Elevated fingerboard
- Includes hardshell case
For more information, call us toll free at 1-866-331-8893 or email sales@thepodium.com.
| Model: |
SIGNATURE-RS |
| Manufacturer: |
Hill Guitars |
