Daniel Stark Española II Limited Edition, 2026

When a maker sets aside his best wood for a handful of guitars, we pay attention. That is exactly what Daniel Stark has done with these Limited Edition Española II models, built with tops and back and sides from his personal collection. The standard Española II already stands out as a rare exception at its price point, something we have appreciated since first visiting Daniel's workshop in Oldenburg, Germany. So we just had to get our hands on these, and they blew us away. We have just one in spruce and one in cedar, so once they find homes, that is it.

The back and sides are absolutely beautiful Madagascar Rosewood, and the spruce top was hand selected from Daniel's personal collection. We are the first to say that back and sides are not always so critical in determining the sound of a guitar. On this one, though, it is not just the incredible Madagascar Rosewood. It is the pairing with that hand selected top, which is quite impressive.

Just as notable is the wonderfully comfortable 640 mm scale. Paired with a 51.5 mm nut width, the shorter scale takes noticeable effort out of the left hand and keeps the guitar feeling effortless through long sessions, without sacrificing the voice of a full sized instrument. For those who have been eyeing the Española II and wanted something a little more beautiful, more hand selected, and easier on the hands, this might be just the guitar for you.

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Specifications

Luthier: Daniel Stark
Model: Española II Limited Edition
Year: 2026
Top: Spruce, hand selected from Daniel Stark's personal collection
Back & Sides: Madagascar Rosewood
Fingerboard & Headstock: Makassar Ebony
Construction: Traditional
Scale Length: 640 mm
Nut Width: 51.5 mm
Tuners: Rubner Superior Series
Case: Crossrock hardshell case
Condition: New

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Construction & Design

Like the rest of the Española II series, these guitars are made in Spain, then quality checked and adjusted by Daniel in his own workshop in Germany. We also personally check each one to make sure it meets our standards, along with Daniel's.

Beyond the upgraded tonewoods, this Limited Edition features a Makassar ebony fingerboard and headstock and Rubner Superior Series tuning machines that are ultra smooth in use. The Simplicio-inspired rosette and bindings that distinguish the series add a refined touch, beautiful without being tacky.

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Sound

These guitars are braced similarly to Stark's concert models, and as a result they sound surprisingly close to them. The voice is powerful and projects with ease, offering a broad range of colors under the right hand.

Trying this guitar left us in wonder. Is it the high quality, hand selected top from Daniel's personal collection? Is it that jaw-dropping Madagascar Rosewood? What is it? Whatever the answer, the result speaks for itself. Notes are well defined and cleanly separated, the trebles are bright and singing, and the basses stay firm and articulate rather than washing out. There is real headroom here as well. The harder you lean into the instrument, the more it gives back, which is not something we can say about many guitars in this range.

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Playability

The action is low, extremely comfortable, and the guitar simply plays beautifully. The 640 mm scale is a real feature here. It shortens the reach in the left hand and eases string tension just enough that stretches which feel like work on a 650 come easily, and long practice sessions stay relaxed. Combined with the 51.5 mm nut width, the neck feels quick and natural in the hand.

The ultra smooth Rubner Superior Series tuning machines round out the playing experience, making fine tuning precise and immediate. Players coming from a standard 650 mm scale will feel at home within minutes, and we suspect many will not want to go back.

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New. Includes a high quality Crossrock hardshell case, an upgrade over the softshell case included with the standard models.

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