Philip Woodfield Ex. Alexandra Whittingham, 2009

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.

• 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

• Nut Width: Approx. 52mm

• Provenance: Letter from Alexandra Whittingham included, listing recordings made on this instrument

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.

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