Neck: Cedro
Fingerboard: Ebony
Finish(Top): Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides): Shellac
Tuning Machines: Schaller
String Height(1st): 2.9mm
String Height(6th): 4.0mm

【Profile】
Per Hallgren is a master luthier based in Sweden who began building guitars in 1986. At the time, Sweden lacked any formal educational institutions dedicated to lutherie. As Hallgren himself recalls, information from even moderately competent guitar makers was scarce, and much of his early learning came through self-study, relying heavily on books and manuals on guitar construction.

A pivotal moment in his development came in the 1990s, when he met Dr. Bernard Richardson of Cardiff University, a renowned scholar in guitar acoustics. Through this connection, Hallgren gained direct insight into scientific approaches to sound and was able to incorporate a deeper understanding of acoustics into his craft.

While firmly grounded in the traditional Spanish construction methods that trace back to Antonio de Torres, Hallgren began integrating modern technologies and acoustic science into his work. At the same time, he actively engaged with some of Sweden’s most accomplished guitarists, exchanging feedback and refining his sound toward what he considered the ideal tonal experience.

The result is a body of work that feels at once steeped in European classical tradition yet distinctly Nordic in refinement and innovation. His guitars are celebrated for their meticulous craftsmanship, elegant design, and exceptional French polish (shellac finish). Visually, his instruments reflect both a reverence for Spanish guitar masters and a unique aesthetic sensibility rooted in Nordic design heritage, creating instruments that are as visually stunning as they are musically expressive.

Per Hallgren’s work represents a sophisticated evolution of the classical guitar, where tradition meets science, and craftsmanship meets artistic vision.


【Description】
We are pleased to offer a used Pär Höggren classical guitar, made in 2021, No.281.

This instrument embodies a refined balance of traditional luthiery, scientific acoustical principles, and the maker’s distinctly Nordic sensibility. Höggren has spoken about the influence of Dr. Bernard Richardson’s acoustic research during his early career, and it is particularly insightful that Richardson, despite his scientific rigor, ultimately emphasized the importance of intuitive judgment in defining great tone—a belief that clearly resonates in Höggren’s approach.

Notably, Höggren personally plays each guitar for several months after stringing it and before the final finishing process. This extended period allows him to refine the instrument’s structure in response to its physical and tonal feedback, relying on his own sensitivity and refined ear to guide the final adjustments.

The result is a guitar of remarkable tonal architecture: meticulously balanced, delicate yet powerful, expressive yet stable. It offers a wide dynamic and emotional range that feels both deeply rooted in tradition and strikingly new. Unlike the nuanced topography often found in Spanish guitars—where tone color and projection subtly vary across the register—Höggren’s sound design features a more even projection across all voices. Each voice retains a distinct sculptural clarity, enabling melodic and harmonic lines to coexist with equal presence yet without conflict. The effect is a highly contemporary sense of tonal phase, distinct from the direction of modern guitars, yet profoundly musical.

The internal construction is based on the traditional Spanish fan bracing pattern, but with notable refinements. The fan braces vary slightly in spacing, angle, and length, and the harmonic bar beneath the soundhole is subtly angled. A single closing bar on the treble side is positioned not at the center but slightly off toward the bass side—part of a carefully calculated asymmetrical layout. Additionally, the back features not only the usual three bars but also supplementary radial braces, some of which intersect the bars in a tunnel-like crossing pattern. The resonance is tuned just below G#.

The instrument is finished entirely with French polish (shellac), showcasing an elegant and natural aesthetic. The rosette is inspired by traditional Nordic decorative motifs. The neck has a comfortable, slightly rounded D-shaped profile. High-quality Schaller tuning machines from Germany are fitted.

The guitar is in excellent condition overall, with only a few minor playing marks on the top and slight rubbing from clothing on the back—purely cosmetic and very minimal. Includes a HISCOX hard case.