Recording King introduces the RP1-16C Torrefied Top acoustic guitar, featuring heat-aged Adirondack spruce top.
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This guitar is part of Recording King’s new Torrefied Top series, which features a special heating and curing process called “Torrefaction”, and designed in collaboration with historian/luthier Eric Schoenberg.
The goal of Torrefaction is to artificially “age” the spruce top, in order to replicate the characteristic and behavior of vintage acoustic guitars. The company does this by heating the Adirondack spruce top at a low temperature in an oxygen-free environment.
According to their press release, “The curing process reduces impurities in the wood and results in weight reduction and increased stiffness, producing a similar chemical transformation as wood that has been dried for decades. The end result is a lightweight, extra resonant top that produces similar tone to a vintage instrument that’s been loved and played for years”.
The RP1-16C is the first model to get the torrefied treatment, and the artificially aged top is an ideal match for the guitar’s vintage looking 12-fret single 0 cutaway body. The torrefied solid Adirondack spruce top is supported by scalloped X-bracing, while the back and sides are crafted from mahogany.
The neck of the guitar is made of mahogany as well, carved into a Thin “V” profile. It is topped by a rosewood fretboard with 20 total frets, 12 of which are clear of the guitar’s body. A unique feature of this guitar is its dreadnought style scale length of 25.4″, which makes playability more familiar even with its distinct body shape. It’s 1.75″ nut width and cutaway design makes it an ideal instrument for fingerstyle players.
Other features of the guitar include Grover Butterbean tuners, Grained Ivoroid body binding, classic style rosette and ebony bridge. The guitar is currently only available in natural finish.
What makes the RP1-16C Torrefied Top guitar even more interesting is its affordable street price, which is expected to be just under $500. You can head over to Recording King for further details.
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