Here’s a beautifully crafted, hand-built slope-shoulder from Dale Fairbanks of Fairbanks Guitars. Style F-35 SJ.

Tonewoods & Specs

•  Top: Red spruce

•  Back & sides: Madagascar rosewood

•  Neck: Honduras mahogany

•  Fingerboard & bridge: Madagascar rosewood

•  Bracing: Red spruce, tapered

•  Finish: Nitrocellulose

•  Pickguard: Celluloid tortoise

•  Binding: Ivoroid

•  Inlay: Mother-of-pearl

•  Tuners: Waverly

•  Scale length: 24.75”

•  Nut width: 1.75”

•  Neck shape: Soft V

This is a refined, articulate instrument with the warmth and clarity that Madagascar rosewood delivers and the lively, responsive character of a red spruce top. The shorter 24.75” scale and soft-V neck make it exceptionally comfortable and inviting under the hands, easy bends, and a very natural feel. It plays beautifully and responds with nuance and detail; there’s a finesse and balance here that rewards light-to-medium touch and opens up with a singing, musical voice rather than sheer volume, although having great bottom end thump.

I’ve spent most of my playing life on longer-scale dreadnoughts, so this slope-shoulder lives in a slightly different category, one of elegance, clarity, and touch sensitivity. It’s a fantastic guitar that simply offers a more refined experience, and I’m letting it go so it can find a player who will truly appreciate that more intimate character.

I’ve pictured a few small shallow dings. Let me know if you have any questions!