Steven Walter, 2020

Steven Walter is one of the most respected modern American luthiers, a GFA prizewinner and doctorate holder in guitar performance whose instruments have earned a devoted following among concert players. This 2020 example, No. 285, is a particularly special one for us: it spent time in Evan Taucher's personal collection and was the guitar he recorded on at TrueFire Studios.

Built with a spruce top and Brazilian rosewood back and sides, this is a rare pairing in Walter's work and a combination prized for its clarity, projection, and tonal complexity. Brazilian rosewood remains the most sought after tonewood in the classical world, and finding it on a modern Walter, on an instrument with real playing history, is not something that comes along often.

For a player looking for a proven concert guitar from one of America's finest makers, with the added rarity of Brazilian rosewood and a personal connection to our shop, No. 285 is a genuinely uncommon opportunity.

---

Specifications

Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood

Strings: D'Addario XTC45FF with normal tension nylon first string
https://ddar.io/guitar-collection

Condition: Excellent, with three professionally repaired cracks in the Brazilian rosewood back and sides

---

Sound & Playability

The spruce and Brazilian rosewood combination gives this guitar clarity and definition across the range, with a focused, singing treble and basses that carry weight and articulation without muddiness. Spruce lends immediacy and projection, while Brazilian rosewood adds depth, sustain, and a shimmer of overtone color that spruce and Indian rosewood guitars rarely match.

As with all of Steven Walter's instruments, playability is a highlight. His guitars are known for their comfortable neck profiles and effortless access to the upper positions, making advanced repertoire feel natural under the hand. At a 650mm scale with a 52.5mm nut width, the instrument sits in a familiar, comfortable format for most players.

The sound ports add openness for the player and give an immediate, up close connection to the instrument's response.

---

About the Luthier

Steven Walter, based in Arlington Heights, Illinois, brings a performer's sensibility to every guitar he builds. A prizewinner at the Guitar Foundation of America competition and a holder of a doctorate in guitar performance, he understands from the inside what concert players need from an instrument.

Walter's guitars are celebrated for their combination of power, color, and refinement, along with a consistency of quality that has made him one of the most reliably excellent makers working in the United States today. His instruments hold their value well and remain in steady demand on the used market.

---

This guitar has been played and cared for and remains in excellent overall condition. There are three small, professionally repaired cracks in the Brazilian rosewood back and sides. These have been properly addressed, are stable, and are not a structural concern going forward.

Otherwise the instrument presents beautifully and is fully ready for concert level playing.

---