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Philip Woodfield Ex. Alexandra Whittingham, 2009

Spruce / CSA Rosewood

Overview

This 2009 J. Philip Woodfield Grand Concert is an extraordinary instrument with both remarkable provenance and tonal sophistication. Built by the celebrated English luthier Philip Woodfield, it was owned and concertized on by Alexandra Whittingham, one of today’s leading young classical guitarists. Alexandra used this guitar extensively in performances and recordings, including tracks from her upcoming album, and it comes with a signed letter of provenance detailing its use.

Woodfield is widely admired for guitars that bridge tradition and innovation. This instrument exemplifies that balance, combining spruce top, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, lattice bracing with carbon reinforcement, and doubled sides for stability and projection. The result is a guitar that delivers natural warmth, tremendous sustain, and extraordinary evenness across the strings, while avoiding the midrange harshness often associated with lattice bracing.

Key Features

Year: 2009
Model: Grand Concert, ex-Alexandra Whittingham
Top: Spruce, traditional styling with Woodfield mosaic rosette and red accents
Bracing: Lattice, carbon reinforced
Back & Sides: Quartersawn Brazilian rosewood with reddish tint and decorative looped center strip, doubled sides (likely maple or cypress)
Neck: Comfortable, fairly flat and thin D-profile; easy bar chords in first position
Fingerboard: Standard (no raised fingerboard), includes subtle black-marked extra high C note at the end of the fingerboard
Bridge & Nut: Crafted from wood, a unique Woodfield hallmark
Headstock: Elegant Woodfield design with Sloan tuners
Scale Length: 650mm
Nut Width: Approx. 52mm
Case: BAM France case included
Provenance: Letter from Alexandra Whittingham included, listing recordings made on this instrument

Sound & Playability

Woodfield’s guitars are beloved by performers for their reliability and expressive versatility. This 2009 example exemplifies those qualities:

Basses: Wide, open, and thunderous without overshadowing the trebles
Trebles: Sparkling, lyrical, and endlessly sustaining, even in upper positions
Balance: Remarkable evenness across strings, eliminating the tonal jumps between registers that many guitars struggle with
Projection: Powerful yet natural, supporting both whisper-quiet passages and hall-filling fortissimo
Character: The guitar feels like a true partner in music-making, supporting and elevating the player’s input with ease

The result is a concert instrument that inspires confidence. Upper-fret notes retain the same fullness and sustain as first-position notes, making it secure and trustworthy for both live performance and recording.

Condition

The guitar is in excellent condition with no cracks or repairs. Light, honest playing wear and minimal nail marks are present on the top. Overall it has been extremely well maintained, preserving both its beauty and structural integrity.

If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com