Stephan Connor, 2025
Spruce / CSA Rosewood
While this guitar has sold, please contact me about reserving the next Stephan Connor guitar which is set to arrive soon!
This latest creation from American luthier Stephan Connor represents a remarkable combination of power, refinement, and comfort. Built exclusively for GuitarCollection.com, No. 529 “Mana” features a spruce and cedar doubletop with Connor’s signature lattice bracing system, resulting in one of the most powerful and harmonically rich instruments he has made to date.
At just 640 mm scale, it feels exceptionally comfortable while maintaining a full concert-level projection. The guitar is extremely loud and responsive, yet it stays stable and musical even when pushed, which is a quality that top-level performers will immediately appreciate.
Sound and Feel
The tone is deep, open, and richly layered. The basses are resonant and commanding, while the trebles remain clear and brilliant. The spruce outer layer adds sparkle and focus, and the cedar core provides warmth and tonal depth. Each note sustains beautifully, filling the air with a natural chorus of overtones that make the guitar feel alive and responsive.
A standout quality of this instrument is that it never breaks up under pressure. Even at maximum intensity, the tone remains round and musical, giving the player total freedom of dynamic expression. It is a guitar that rewards both delicate phrasing and powerful playing with equal poise.
Features and Construction
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Top: Spruce doubletop with lattice bracing
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Back and sides: Old Brazilian rosewood, straight-grained and elegant
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Scale length: 640 mm
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Neck: Refined C-profile and a slightly wider first-string edge for better control
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Fingerboard: Ebony with position markers at 5, 7, and 12
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Bridge: Brazilian rosewood with bone saddle and an additional Sonoran ironwood saddle included
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Armrest: Integrated and smoothly tapered
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Bindings: Flamed maple with double-line purfling
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Rosette: Classic Connor design with green, tan, and black mosaic
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Soundport: Magnetic adjustable cover, allowing open or closed configurations
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Tuners: Scheller with white rollers and plain baseplates
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Removable tornavoz included, lowering the main body resonance and producing a deeper, old-world tone reminiscent of early 20th-century Spanish guitars
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Finish: High-gloss hand-applied French polish
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Label: Stephan Connor, 2025, No. 529 “Mana”
Playability
The short 640 mm scale and Connor’s precisely refined neck profile make this guitar extremely comfortable. It responds effortlessly to every touch, providing a natural connection between the hands and the sound. Sustain is outstanding, with a singing upper register and rich bass resonance that lingers beautifully in the room.
About the Maker
Stephan Connor is among America’s leading classical guitar luthiers, with instruments played by the Assad Brothers, Eliot Fisk, Marco Tamayo, and many other top artists. Working from his workshop in Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Connor has built more than 500 guitars, each reflecting his pursuit of clarity, depth, and projection. His instruments unite the warmth of the traditional Spanish voice with the responsiveness and tonal balance that modern performers seek.
If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com
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