Max Cuker, 2025
Spruce / CSA Rosewood
Overview
Built for GuitarCollection.com by Lithuania based luthier Max Cuker, this instrument represents an innovative and elegant approach to the modern double top concept. Cuker describes it as a natural double top, constructed with routed channels in the spruce rather than a balsa core. The internal structure is approximately seventy percent spruce and thirty percent cedar, resulting in a voice that retains the warmth and authenticity of a traditional concert guitar while offering the power and responsiveness expected from a modern design.
The guitar has an immediately striking presence. It delivers notable volume, quick response, and a remarkably natural tonal character that is often difficult to achieve in double top construction. The balance across the register is refined, with a clear and expressive voice that is both warm and articulate. The overall sound quality places this instrument among the more naturally voiced modern double tops available today.
Aesthetically, the guitar features numerous thoughtful and distinctive details. A side soundport with a removable magnetic cover adds both projection and elegance. The asymmetrical headstock design is visually striking and pairs well with the smooth Barnett tuners. The raised fingerboard transitions into a beautiful strip of sapwood as it approaches the higher positions, creating a refined visual accent. The rosette is colorful yet understated, complementing the clean lines of the guitar. The integrated armrest enhances comfort without interrupting the aesthetic flow of the instrument.
Ergonomics are carefully executed, with a comfortable neck profile and clean setup that support effortless playability. The combination of high responsiveness, natural tonal character, and refined visual craftsmanship makes this guitar an exceptional example of Cuker’s work and a strong representation of his partnership with GuitarCollection.com.
Key Features
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Natural spruce and cedar double top with routed channels rather than balsa
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Back and sides: Santos rosewood
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Scale length: 650 mm
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Nut width: 52 mm
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Raised fingerboard featuring an attractive sapwood accent
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Side soundport with a removable magnetic cover
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French polished top
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Integrated armrest
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Barnett tuning machines
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Comfortable neck profile and clean setup
Sound and Playability
The guitar offers the clarity, headroom, and immediacy of a modern double top while retaining the character and warmth of a traditional concert instrument. The attack is quick and controlled, enabling both articulate passage work and flexible dynamic shaping.
Basses are firm and well defined, mids are connected and even, and trebles carry a lyrical quality with excellent sustain. The instrument maintains a cohesive balance across all registers, allowing chords to project as unified sonorities and melodic lines to emerge without effort. Color changes, vibrato, and dynamic contrasts are communicated cleanly, making this a strong choice for players seeking a refined yet powerful modern instrument with a natural tonal identity.
Materials and Construction
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Top: Natural spruce and cedar double top with routed channels
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Back and sides: Santos rosewood
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Neck: Traditional classical profile
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Fingerboard: Elevated design with sapwood detail near the upper register
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Finish: French polish on the top
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Hardware: Barnett tuners, magnetic soundport cover, integrated armrest
Aesthetic Details
The guitar reflects Cuker’s cohesive and distinctive visual style. The asymmetrical headstock immediately establishes the guitar’s identity, while the Barnett tuners complement its geometry. The rosette adds color and visual interest without overpowering the design.
The armrest is carefully integrated into the body, maintaining smooth visual continuity. The sapwood detail near the elevated fingerboard provides a natural and tasteful accent. Together with the magnetic soundport cover, the instrument presents a modern, refined, and elegant aesthetic.
Condition
Brand new condition, direct from the maker. No marks, cracks, or repairs.
About the Luthier
Maxim Cuker is a professional guitarist and luthier based in Vilnius. He built his first guitar at age eighteen under the guidance of Yuri Zirin, later refining his craft through independent study and close examination of the work of Ukrainian luthier Nikolay Rudenko. His experience with instruments by Masaru Kohno, Jose Ramirez, Manuel Contreras, Dieter Hopf, and John Price has informed his tonal goals and design sensibilities.
In 2014 one of his guitars received first prize at the Guitar Virtuosos luthiers competition in Saint Petersburg. Today his instruments are played worldwide, and his work continues to gain recognition for its blend of musicality, craftsmanship, and modern design.
If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com
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