{"product_id":"duke-student-f-cut-nylon-strung-guitar-utterly-stunning-classical-guitar","title":"Duke Student F Cut Nylon Strung Guitar.  Utterly Stunning Classical Guitar","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"mt-40 mb-30 gitarre-info\"\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuke Student F Cut – Forget What You Think You Know About Laminated Guitars\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI am becoming more and more excited about Duke guitars, and the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuke Student F Cut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is a perfect example of why.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFirst of all, let me get the elephant in the room out of the way!  I need to start with something that, on paper, really doesn't explain what I hear when I play this guitar!!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt has laminated rosewood back and sides.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou simply would never guess - and frankly, now I have played this guitar and a couple of steel string samples, I can confidently say Stan from Dowina was right, that 90% of the tone of a guitar comes from the top, combined with build technique, knowledge and experience.   Clearly whoever is making Duke guitars know exactly what they are doing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNormally, when I see laminated back and sides, I have a fairly good idea of what I'm going to hear. You can still get a perfectly nice sounding guitar, of course, but there are certain qualities that I generally associate with a really good solid-wood instrument – clarity, sustain, note separation, harmonic detail and, perhaps most importantly, that wonderful sense of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003edrive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e and responsiveness beneath your fingers.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Duke Student F Cut has all of these.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd I genuinely don't quite understand how they are doing it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt reminds me of the old Stonebridge guitars\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis isn't actually the first time I've experienced this.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMany years ago, when Furch guitars were sold in the UK under the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStonebridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e name, I remember coming across some of their laminated back and side models and having exactly the same reaction.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThey sounded far, far better than I believed a laminated guitar had any right to sound.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere was still perhaps a hint of less fullness and complexity - maybe -  compared with their equivalent all-solid instruments, but the important ingredients were there – \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ebeautiful clarity, wonderful sustain, excellent note definition and that lovely sense of energy and drive\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e that makes a guitar feel alive.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd that's exactly what the Duke Student F Cut has reminded me of and each and every Duke I have had the pleasure of trying has had me so excited to show my next customer!\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI don't know whether Duke are employing some particular construction technique that achieves a similar result, and I certainly wouldn't pretend to know their secrets! But whatever they are doing, they have managed to produce a guitar whose specification simply doesn't prepare you for what comes out of it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd then there's that Swiss Alpine spruce top...\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eI was saying about Stan (He owns Dowina guitars - originally a violin maker and has the most fascinating insights into woods and their use in guitar building) and his view that 90% of the tone of a guitar comes from the top.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWell in this case we are talking about the high grade Swiss Alpine Spruce.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSo rather than compromising the soundboard due to its mid range price point, Duke have given the Student F Cut a \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esolid Swiss Alpine spruce top, voiced precisely to get the maxium tone possible.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat's coupled with East Indian rosewood back and sides, a Cedro neck reinforced with rosewood, East Indian rosewood fingerboard and bridge, and \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ereal bone for both the nut and saddle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe scale is a traditional 650mm with a 52mm nut, so this is a proper full-size classical guitar rather than a crossover masquerading as one (but they also produce the most wonderful cross over instrument with all solid woods.... ohhhh my) \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe cutaway simply gives you much easier access into the upper register.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuke fit Savarez strings as standard - Considered a benchmark string for classical players, but of course we can set the guitar with whatever string you personally want.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEvery Duke Student F Cut is \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efinalised and optimised by guitar builders in Tübingen, Germany before it is released for sale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat, to me, begins to explain why Duke guitars consistently seem to punch so ridiculously far above what their specifications and prices might lead you to expect.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003ePlease don't judge this guitar by the word \"laminated\"\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIf you have followed me for any length of time, you'll know I have always encouraged people to buy guitars with their \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eears and their hands\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, rather than from a specification sheet.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Duke Student F Cut may be one of the best examples I've encountered of why.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThink \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eclarity\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eseparation \u0026amp;\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003esustain :)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYou hear a beautifully controlled, articulate classical voice with a surprising amount of energy behind the note.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAnd most importantly, you get that wonderful sensation that the guitar is actually responding to what you're putting into it.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat is something I simply don't expect from the vast majority of laminated guitars or guitars at this price which almost without question can feel very \"commercial\/mass produced\" in nature.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"isSelectedEnd\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe more Duke guitars I play, the more excited I am becoming about the brand and yes, its still early days for me but am proud to be saying first in the UK - and putting my reputation behind the statement that you cannot find a better guitar for the money.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuke Student F Cut sounds absolutely exquisite and spoils anyone with such a budget - or even someone with a much higher budget frankly.\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch1\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDuke Student F Cut – Specification\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSpecification\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDetails\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eType\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eClassical 4\/4 Cutaway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eTop\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolid Swiss Alpine Spruce\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBack\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian Rosewood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSides\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian Rosewood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBack \u0026amp; Sides Construction\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eLaminated\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNeck\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCedro with Rosewood reinforcement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFingerboard\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian Rosewood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBridge\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian Rosewood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNut\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSaddle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBone\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBinding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian Rosewood\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHigh Gloss\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eMachineheads\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDER JUNG\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eScale Length\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e650mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eNut Width\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e52mm\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eStrings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSavarez\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eCutaway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eYes\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinalisation \u0026amp; Optimisation\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cspan\u003eFinalised and optimised by Duke guitar builders in Tübingen, Germany\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e\u003cspan\u003eKey Features\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSolid Swiss Alpine spruce top\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian rosewood back and sides\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eTraditional \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e650mm classical scale\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eTraditional \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e52mm nut width\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eBone nut and saddle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eCedro neck with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003erosewood reinforcement\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEast Indian rosewood fingerboard, bridge and binding\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eElegant \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ehigh-gloss finish\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eUpper-fret access courtesy of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003ecutaway\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eQuality \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003eSavarez strings\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eIndividually \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cspan\u003efinalised and optimised in Tübingen, Germany\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Duke","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57857648460158,"sku":"Student F Cut","price":729.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0195\/1906\/files\/0263F496-06C8-480A-8410-F40E23750633.jpg?v=1786905426","url":"https:\/\/rguitars.co.uk\/products\/duke-student-f-cut-nylon-strung-guitar-utterly-stunning-classical-guitar","provider":"Richards Guitars Of Stratford Upon Avon","version":"1.0","type":"link"}