Dake Traphagen, 2018

This guitar is no longer available, but if you’re looking for a Dake Traphagen guitar, please contact me!

Dake Traphagen is among the rising stars of contemporary guitar making, and this latest spruce double-top guitar is a testament to his refined aesthetic and deep tonal sensibility. While many modern double-tops can lean overly bright or brittle, Traphagen's work stands out for its warmth, musicality, and responsiveness. This instrument in particular delivers a beautifully balanced voice, combining the nuance of a traditional concert guitar with the power and projection expected from a high-end double-top.

• Top: Spruce double-top construction for clarity, projection, and warmth.

• Back & Sides: Old-growth Brazilian Rosewood (CITES certified), deeply figured and rich in tone.

• Bracing: Five asymmetrically placed fan braces with additional tone bars, creating tonal depth and balance.

• Soundport: Side-mounted soundport for enhanced player feedback.

• Armrest: Smooth, well-contoured armrest for comfort and efficiency.

• Neck: Thin, C-shaped neck profile with low action for superb playability.

• Bridge & Rosette: Elegant matte-finished bridge and a multicolored rosette with matching tie-block detailing.

• Tuners: Precision Sloane tuners with white rollers.

• Scale & Nut Width: 650mm scale length, 52mm nut width.

This guitar has a rare combination of sweetness and strength. At soft dynamics, it produces an inviting, velvety tone that feels like the musical equivalent of someone gently humming nearby. When pushed harder, the clarity and articulation increase without losing that warmth. Each string responds with a lively fundamental and colorful overtones, and there's no sense of the guitar "fighting back" when asked for more power.

The responsiveness is exceptional across all registers, and players will appreciate how easy it is to shift between subtle phrasing and commanding projection. The sustain is generous, the tonal palette broad, and the overall feel of the instrument encourages long practice sessions and deep musical exploration.

Dake Traphagen has built an inspiring double-top that avoids the common pitfalls of the genre. Its sound is elegant, colorful, and full of character—a perfect match for players seeking a modern instrument with an expressive, traditional voice. This guitar is an exciting opportunity to own a beautifully made, concert-level instrument by one of today’s most promising luthiers.

For inquiries, contact: evan@guitarcollection.com

This guitar is in excellent condition, with just a few small, superficial marks here and there on the top. It comes with CITES certification for the Brazilian Rosewood used.