Reza Safavian, 2026

Among modern double-top makers, Reza Safavian has quietly established himself as one of the most sought-after builders working today. His guitars are often discussed alongside the finest contemporary double-top makers in the world, admired for combining the power and responsiveness of a modern concert instrument with unusual depth, balance, and musicality.

This 2026 cedar double-top with Indian rosewood back and sides is an excellent example of his work. The guitar delivers the immediacy, clarity, and projection players expect from a modern instrument, while retaining warmth, richness, and tonal breadth across the entire register. Rather than emphasizing a single tonal characteristic, the voice feels expansive and complete, offering deep basses, crisp trebles, and remarkable balance from string to string.

Specs

Maker: Reza Safavian
Year: 2026
Top: Cedar double top
Back & sides: Indian rosewood
Bracing: Five-fan bracing with Nomex core
Scale length: 650mm
Nut width: 53mm
String spacing at nut: 43mm
Fingerboard: Raised fingerboard
Neck profile: C-shaped
Tuners: Perona
Finish: French polish
Strings: D’Addario XTC45FF (Dynacore XT basses, carbon G & B) with nylon first string
Strings link: https://ddar.io/guitar-collection

If you're interested in purchasing, please write to me at evan@guitarcollection.com

Sound

One of the defining characteristics of Safavian’s guitars is what can best be described as the width of the sound. The voice feels deep yet clear, expansive yet focused, avoiding the common pitfalls where a guitar might have strong bass but unfocused trebles, or beautiful trebles but lacking depth in the lower register. Instead, the tonal spectrum feels evenly supported from bottom to top.

The basses are rich and foundational, providing a satisfying sense of support when playing across the strings. As the voice moves upward, the trebles remain crisp, colorful, and articulate. Up the neck, notes maintain strong sustain and an impressive level of evenness.

There is also an appealing organic quality to the sound. While many modern double tops emphasize power and projection, this guitar manages to retain warmth and musical flexibility. It speaks naturally without requiring the player to manipulate the sound in order to achieve different tonal characters.

Playability

Playability was clearly a focus in the conception of this instrument. The neck features a comfortable C-shaped profile that sits naturally in the hand without feeling overly thick or slim. The action is set low and effortless, allowing the instrument to respond easily while remaining controlled and stable.

Slurs and ornaments come off with surprising ease, and the guitar responds quickly to both light and more assertive playing. Combined with the raised fingerboard, which provides improved access to the upper positions, the overall feel of the guitar is modern, responsive, and extremely comfortable for extended playing.

Aesthetics & Craftsmanship

Visually, the guitar reflects Safavian’s careful attention to detail. The cedar top features his signature rosette with striking green tones that give the instrument a distinctive character.

The French polish is particularly impressive, presenting a mirror-like finish that is rarely seen even among new instruments. This level of finish quality immediately conveys the care and precision that went into the construction.

The Indian rosewood used for the back and sides is handsome and well chosen, complemented by a rosewood bridge with a simple mother-of-pearl tie block detail. The headstock design is elegant, featuring a subtle central sapwood accent that recalls the refined aesthetic choices seen on instruments by makers such as Gernot Wagner and Michel Brück.

Additional craftsmanship details include a beautifully executed V-joint at the back of the headstock and extremely clean overall construction throughout the instrument.

Internally, the guitar features a Nomex double-top construction paired with an uncommon five-fan bracing layout with two outer braces and three closely grouped central braces. This design contributes to the guitar’s responsiveness, sustain, and tonal balance.

Brand new, built in 2026.