Stephen Yates spent a couple of hours in our "studio" (a mid-sized room with a quite firm acoustic) playing a Gropp "Artist" model - serial number 855 with a cocobolo back, mahogany sides and a cedar soundboard. We recorded some of his comments as he played.

• The upper register is excellent
• The strings do not feel like high tension
• It is forgiving on the left hand - but not too forgiving
• A refined sound
• The marquetry is wonderful.
• The guitar looks plain from the front - plain bindings and a small rosette.
• It keeps all its good looks for the back and sides
• Exquisite grain on the back
• Really lovely to play
• Trebles have a lovely response
• The bass has an almost cello like quality
• The bass can dominate if not careful
• Very easy action. Is the action slightly too light in the E1 string?
• Slighly higher action would mean you could play louder without fear of fret noise
• The saddle is special - but could you easily change it or would you have to get the makers to change it?
• Would want the saddle very slightly raised to improve the playabilty of the E1 string.
• The tone can be very delicate
• The plain looks belie the robustness of the tone
• It has an immediacy of response
• Would now like to try a [Gropp] model with Indian Rosewood back and sides and a spruce top.

Stephen Yates, Guitarist Composer, 22nd February 2007.

Stephen has won several awards including Guitarist Magazine's 'Guitarist of the Year' and the Vicente Sanchis Guitar Challenge. As a classical player he performs a wide ranging repertoire from Baroque through Romantic to Contemporary works. Stephen's web site can be found at www.Stephenyatesguitaristcomposer.co.uk

(c) 2007 Stephen Yates and Classical Guitars PLUS.