I just wanted to thank everyone of you, for that fantastic forum and for giving me the opportunity to share my love for my future alto guitar

As probably the majority here I am alone on my planet. Here most people, when I say that I play classical guitar, they reply "Cool, me too I like Francis Cabrel!" (a french singer playing fingerstyle guitar) And when I say I play the viola da gamba they just don't understand at all, even after explanations. So I just don't talk about my 11-string guitar project

I am lucky, my husband is a former harpsichordist. He is tired to hear me play non-baroque music. Now it is worse, I work on Domeniconi's Turkish variations, and he can't support the finale He is the trigger of my project; he wanted me to play baroque music, and I answeared I hate to play it on my modern guitar, he told me to buy a baroque guitar, I answeared I would not like to play it either and the repertoire is limited and not the one I love, I just passed some times on internet looking for something suitable for me and here I am!!!

Lovely! Thank you for sharing your passion in the forums. This community has really turned into something special the last few years!

I agree. These pages are a feast to read through. Lots of knowledge and enthusiasm.

And to you,tomzooki: I have just ordered my first alto a few weeks ago. I went for 11-strings, from Mr.Heikki Rousu. It will be finished in september! I can't wait!! And though I haven't actually played it yet- my hopes are high. Mr.Rousu is very professional, very open to suggestions and a pleasure to work with.
For a while I was contemplating 13-strings versus 11, but ended up with 11 because I think the sound is just right,the possibilities are great (I don't mind transcriptions,or changing keys) and so many people are getting so much out of their 11-strings (like mr.Sollscher).
Good luck with your choice!

Great! I plan to order a 11-strings from Mr Rousu too, I give me 2 or 3 weeks to decide exactly what I want. I exchanged several emails with him, and I agree with you about his professionnalism and the pleasure to work with him

Just a side note...

Today I had the opportunity to try out one of Heikki's alto guitars, for the first time. I'm giving lessons to one of his customers.

I have tried many different alto guitars over the years, from many builders (not all Swedish builders, but most). I think I've played at least 5 or 6 by George Bolin. And even though it's been a few years since I heard the Bolin ones...I have to say that Mr.Heikki's guitar was one of the best alto's I have ever heard! Actually better than any of the Bolin models I have tried.

Very warm and deep tone, superb separation - and it struck me how light it was. My alto is rather heavy, but Heikki's felt very light and had a very fast response. It still has that compact alto guitar tone, but it adds a big part of the rich , open and more explosive character of a Spanish guitar. On Thursday I will get the opportunity to hear it in a larger room.

Bottom line... I would LOVE to own one of his alto guitars.

Toffe wrote:

QUOTE:
Just a side note...

Today I had the opportunity to try out one of Heikki's alto guitars, for the first time. I'm giving lessons to one of his customers.

I have tried many different alto guitars over the years, from many builders (not all Swedish builders, but most). I think I've played at least 5 or 6 by George Bolin. And even though it's been a few years since I heard the Bolin ones...I have to say that Mr.Heikki's guitar was one of the best alto's I have ever heard! Actually better than any of the Bolin models I have tried.

Very warm and deep tone, superb separation - and it struck me how light it was. My alto is rather heavy, but Heikki's felt very light and had a very fast response. It still has that compact alto guitar tone, but it adds a big part of the rich , open and more explosive character of a Spanish guitar. On Thursday I will get the opportunity to hear it in a larger room.

Bottom line... I would LOVE to own one of his alto guitars.

Thanks for that review. Honestly I would seriously consider ordering one from Mr. Heikki except for the scare I have been given importing guitars to the US, all the regulations and severe penalties for importing any wood (and other things) on the protected species list (even as small as the bridge), not having proper documentation from the luthier that it was harvested legally ... having the guitar confiscated and subject to severe criminal penalties. It's just not worth that worry. Perhaps if I knew what I was doing it wouldn't be so bad.

Mr. Heikki, have you ever had a purchaser in the US, especially recently after the Lacey Act and CITIES have been enforced so strongly?

Glen