Raymond Burley

With Indian rosewood back and sides bound with multiple rosewood and maple bindings, mahogany neck, 19 fret rosewood fingerboard and a beautiful top crafted from A grade solid German spruce, the new Santos Martinez Raymond Burley signature model, is a fine example of the company’s exquisite series of high quality nylon strung classical guitars.

Combining power and sound characteristics, with exceptional playability and performance, additional appointments that contribute to the visual elegance of this exquisite model finished in high gloss, include the familiar profile-contoured, capped headstock with engraved SM logo and maple inlay, gold-plated machine heads with white pearl buttons, capped heel and detailed rosette inlay.

Having brought classical guitar music to concert halls worldwide, Raymond Burley is one of Britain's most experienced classical guitar players, performing solo concerts, concertos, on film scores, radio, and television and in virtually every possible guitar ensemble combination.

“This is actually my second signature model,” explains Raymond, “The first dates back to 2002 when I started working with Santos Martinez, which received enormous praise and recognition in the media.

The skilled luthiers at the company were aware of my favourite tonewoods and my playing style of course, so for this latest model, I let them have carte blanche to go ahead. I received the prototype and expected to suggest some changes or improvements, but it was absolutely fine as it was, no alterations were necessary.

The appearance was stunning and the playability, action and balance between treble and bass and volume were all excellent. It suits my playing style totally, I couldn’t ask for more from a guitar at this price that for me, is perfect in the studio and a live stage environment.”

Paired with its rosewood body, a tonewood renowned for its ability to add warmth, punch and sustain, internal fan bracing and the natural richness of the tight grained German spruce top, rosewood bridge and bone nut, this intriguing nylon strung classical guitar, delivers rich sustain and excellent projection with a long-throw.

Superb note clarity is notably apparent when playing arpeggio style chords or indeed, the more aggressive and typical rasgueado or Spanish classical fast finger strumming techniques.