Sonora Guitars. Handmade by Duane Waterman

Sonora Guitars is as much an idea, or concept, as it is a name for a series of handmade guitars produced in the Tucson shop. For over thirty years Duane Waterman has designed and hand made many fine concert guitars and professional level steel string guitars - including some very custom instruments fitted to player's special needs. He continues to make these very special, exclusive instruments under the Duane Waterman Fine Guitars banner and these are highlighted in another area of this site.

In 1999 he moved his home and shop to Tucson, Arizona and became involved with the terrific guitar program here at the University of Arizona. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs for guitar majors are well developed here with many fine young players from around this country and Latin America. At the University of Arizona Duane noticed the same thing that he had experienced in the other guitar programs that he had previously been involved with - that for these aspiring guitarists there was little choice for instruments appropriate for their use except true professional concert instruments (national/international level, in the $4,500 - 6,000+ range) or well-made high-end student, factory instruments (mainly Spanish, in the $1,000 - 1,800 range).

Without exaggerating, he believes that these developing guitarists will learn more effectively, will enjoy their many hours of practice more, and will perform much better, and more confidently, on the more refined handmade professional guitars than with even the best of the high-end student factory guitars.

For the students that can afford a true international level handmade concert guitar this dilemma is not an issue. There are many available to these players from any number of dealers and guitarmakers around the country - including Waterman’s own shop. But for those students, and other serious amateur players, on a tighter budget it is difficult to get a true professional level guitar and, unfortunately, most settle for the better factory guitars. Over the last few years Waterman has developed the Sonora Guitars line to fill this need and provide a professional level guitar at a price between the best factory guitars and the more costly established concert instruments.

Since Waterman is already very familiar and experienced at making concert guitars at a professional, or recital, level (in the $4500-6500 range) achieving this goal is a matter of making quality concert guitars at a lower cost. Usually, builders are trying to raise their selling price over time, not lower it, so trying to lower it and still keep the quality high is a bit more difficult - but not impossible. This challenge was approached from several angles.

When the time, processes and material costs to produce fine concert guitars was analized Waterman that a good portion of this time and cost could be saved with some changes to the process and still produce an excellent concert instrument. Most of the instruments – and especially the custom instruments - made by Waterman required a good deal of back and forth communication and comparison with the perspective buyer to determine many of the details and specifications before and after the point of the order. This is to be expected when making a "custom" instrument but this extra time and attention adds more time (and cost) to the actual process.

With the Sonora Guitars instruments, the extra communication/individual design time normally used in developing a custom guitar is eliminated by standardizing the specifications and limiting the number of models and options offered. Consequently, the Sonora Guitars concert guitars are offered in only four standard models - - - - - 1) cedar top w/650 mm scale, 2) cedar top w/640 mm scale, 3) spruce top w/650 mm scale, and 4) spruce top w/640 mm scale. These four models fill the preferences, or needs, of most players. The body size is the same for all (with internal bracing and neck adjustments made for the two different scale lengths), and the decorative trim, details and wood choices are also uniform in all four models.

The material costs for the Sonora Guitars concert guitars have also been reduced compared to the costs for an individually or custom made instrument. Spruce and cedar tops in large quantities were purchased over the years, and the hardwood back, side and neck material are cut from lumber - and use new emerging acoustic hardwoods from Africa and Central and South America that are much more affordable than the traditionally used Brazilian and East Indian rosewood. This makes the costs of these primary materials much lower than it would be. Our hardshell cases and tuning machines are also special purchases at high value (quality vs. cost).

Additionally, savings have been gained by employing more efficient factory processes where it is appropriate and still maintains, or enhances, the desired high quality: such as, the use of a precision cast aluminum side bending machine, the plates and fingerboards are machine sanded, fixed routers are used for binding slots, necks are rough carved on a duplicating router, and the use of pre-machined bridges and rosettes. Each of these processes or choices save the cost of much detailed hand work usually used to accomplish these tasks and these choices actually increase the quality and consistency of the finished guitar. All of the internal structure, bracing, assembly, finishing, and final set up are still accomplished by hand at the workbench as with the finest custom models. Where the costly handwork can be reduced and still maintain or increase the desired high quality it has been done, and the time savings is passed on in a lower price.

These Sonora Guitars models are produced here in the shop right along side the highest custom models. The same intense focus, attention and highly skilled handwork goes into each process on each guitar, but the Sonora Guitars models have the cost savings listed above. So, even with some standardization and limiting the models offered, each guitar is still unique and individually handmade to the highest standards.

Like the finest concert guitars, these beautiful instruments have a very responsive, strong and clear voice. The velvet feel of the well-shaped neck, the medium to low string action and accurate intonation makes playing these guitars a joy. These models have everything in sound, look, and feel that would be expected of the more costly professional, concert level instruments. In fact, they are fine concert instruments. Check the "Classical Models" page for photos and more details. Please contact by email or phone with any questions that are not addressed in these pages.

Neck Routed for Reinforcement



	*Sonora Guitars* is as much an idea, or concept, as it is a name for a series of handmade guitars produced in the Tucson shop. For over thirty years Duane Waterman has designed and hand made many fine concert guitars and professional level steel string guitars - including some very custom instruments fitted to player's special needs. He continues to make these very special, exclusive instruments under the *Duane Waterman Fine Guitars* banner and these are highlighted in another area of this site. In 1999 he moved his home and shop to Tucson, Arizona and became involved with the terrific guitar program here at the University of Arizona. Both the undergraduate and graduate programs for guitar majors are well developed here with many fine young players from around this country and Latin America. At the University of Arizona Duane noticed the same thing that he had experienced in the other guitar programs that he had previously been involved with - that for these aspiring guitarists there was little choice for instruments appropriate for their use except true professional concert instruments (national/international level, in the $4,500 - 6,000+ range) or well-made high-end student, factory instruments (mainly Spanish, in the $1,000 - 1,800 range). Without exaggerating, he believes that these developing guitarists will learn more effectively, will enjoy their many hours of practice more, and will perform much better, and more confidently, on the more refined handmade professional guitars than with even the best of the high-end student factory guitars.
For the students that can afford a true international level handmade concert guitar this dilemma is not an issue. There are many available to these players from any number of dealers and guitarmakers around the country - including Waterman’s own shop. But for those students, and other serious amateur players, on a tighter budget it is difficult to get a true professional level guitar and, unfortunately, most settle for the better factory guitars. Over the last few years Waterman has developed the *Sonora Guitars* line to fill this need and provide a professional level guitar at a price between the best factory guitars and the more costly established concert instruments.
Since Waterman is already very familiar and experienced at making concert guitars at a professional, or recital, level (in the $4500-6500 range) achieving this goal is a matter of making quality concert guitars at a lower cost. Usually, builders are trying to raise their selling price over time, not lower it, so trying to lower it and still keep the quality high is a bit more difficult - but not impossible. This challenge was approached from several angles. When the time, processes and material costs to produce fine concert guitars was analized Waterman that a good portion of this time and cost could be saved with some changes to the process and still produce an excellent concert instrument. Most of the instruments – and especially the custom instruments - made by Waterman required a good deal of back and forth communication and comparison with the perspective buyer to determine many of the details and specifications before and after the point of the order. This is to be expected when making a "custom" instrument but this extra time and attention adds more time (and cost) to the actual process.
With the *Sonora Guitars* instruments, the extra communication/individual design time normally used in developing a custom guitar is eliminated by standardizing the specifications and limiting the number of models and options offered. Consequently, the *Sonora Guitars* concert guitars are offered in only four standard models - - - - - 1) cedar top w/650 mm scale, 2) cedar top w/640 mm scale, 3) spruce top w/650 mm scale, and 4) spruce top w/640 mm scale. These four models fill the preferences, or needs, of most players. The body size is the same for all (with internal bracing and neck adjustments made for the two different scale lengths), and the decorative trim, details and wood choices are also uniform in all four models.
	The material costs for the *Sonora Guitars* concert guitars have also been reduced compared to the costs for an individually or custom made instrument. Spruce and cedar tops in large quantities were purchased over the years, and the hardwood back, side and neck material are cut from lumber - and use new emerging acoustic hardwoods from Africa and Central and South America that are much more affordable than the traditionally used Brazilian and East Indian rosewood. This makes the costs of these primary materials much lower than it would be. Our hardshell cases and tuning machines are also special purchases at high value (quality vs. cost).
Additionally, savings have been gained by employing more efficient factory processes where it is appropriate and still maintains, or enhances, the desired high quality: such as, the use of a precision cast aluminum side bending machine, the plates and fingerboards are machine sanded, fixed routers are used for binding slots, necks are rough carved on a duplicating router, and the use of pre-machined bridges and rosettes. Each of these processes or choices save the cost of much detailed hand work usually used to accomplish these tasks and these choices actually increase the quality and consistency of the finished guitar. All of the internal structure, bracing, assembly, finishing, and final set up are still accomplished by hand at the workbench as with the finest custom models. Where the costly handwork can be reduced and still maintain or increase the desired high quality it has been done, and the time savings is passed on in a lower price.
	These *Sonora Guitars* models are produced here in the shop right along side the highest custom models. The same intense focus, attention and highly skilled handwork goes into each process on each guitar, but the *Sonora Guitars* models have the cost savings listed above. So, even with some standardization and limiting the models offered, each guitar is still unique and individually handmade to the highest standards. Like the finest concert guitars, these beautiful instruments have a very responsive, strong and clear voice. The velvet feel of the well-shaped neck, the medium to low string action and accurate intonation makes playing these guitars a joy. These models have everything in sound, look, and feel that would be expected of the more costly professional, concert level instruments. In fact, they are fine concert instruments. Check the "Classical Models" page for photos and more details. Please contact by email or phone with any questions that are not addressed in these pages.