LaPatrie Etude Classical Guitar

LAPATRIE 0357 Details ^top

Nestled in the forests of the Eastern Townships in Québec, Canada, there is a small village named LaPatrie. What started as a small luthier shop in 1982 has evolved into a village of guitar builders. Today there are over 200 people in LaPatrie dedicated to the art of hand crafting guitars. in honour of that tradition, our line of classical guitars has been named after the village where they were created.

The LaPatrie Series of classical guitars consists of five models. The Motif, Etude, Presentation, Concert and the Collection. All LaPatrie guitars are crafted from top quality tone woods to produce instruments of exceptional resonance and structural integrity.

800 Year Old Trees
All LaPatrie guitars feature solid cedar tops. The wood used in these tops can be found only in cedar trees that have an average age of about 800 years. The tight, straight grain in this wood makes it strong in the direction of the string tension while at the same time flexible across the grain lines. It is this combination of rigidity and flexibility that give the top its resonance. The vibration of the guitar top is the most crucial element of the sound.

Lacquer Finish
LaPatrie guitars are finished with a special lacquer formula. This finish is light enough to allow the wood to breath and vibrate freely. The tops resonating capacity actually improves as the guitar is played over an extended period of time. This gradual improvement in the response of the top is often referred to as "aging". Poly finishes inhibit top vibration and are therefore never used on LaPatrie guitars. Many other guitars use a thick plastic finish that smothers top vibration and prevents the benefits of aging.

Classics that are comfortable to play
Classical guitars of the past have typically been made with thick neck dimensions, while this promoted a certain amount of neck stability, it often made certain playing aspects difficult to execute. It is for this reason that special attention was directed to the neck design of the LaPatrie guitars. Neck width and string spacing conform to classical standards, but a new truss rod system allows the profile of the neck to be reduced producing a neck of extraordinary comfort, while increasing stability. The LaPatrie necks are carved from Honduras mahogany. All LaPatrie models feature a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

Etude
The Etude is the most popular model in the La Patrie lineup. The Etudes specifications match those of the Motif but with a full size body. Incredibly responsive thanks to the feather-light lacquer finish, this guitar features great dynamic range along with the harmonically rich sound that you usually find in a guitar several times the price.

Top : Solid Cedar
Back & Sides : Mahogany
Neck : Mahogany
Fingerboard & Bridge : Rosewood
Finish : Semi-Gloss Lacquer

Review of LAPATRIE 0340

RATING:

Sound Quality	10
Features	10
Ease Of Use	10
Value	10
Reliability	10
Overall	10

I've played a LaPatrie Etude as a work instrument for the past three years. I'm a music therapist for a hospice, and travel and play at bedside for nursing home, hospital and home-bound patients and their families. The Etude is sturdy enough to be dragged around the city all day long, has gorgeous bass tones and lovely action in both chording and melody playing. I recommend it highly for this sort of work.

-CJBowes
-Chicago IL, 01/17/06

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