Neck: Cedro
Fingerboard: Ebony
Finish(Top): Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides): Shellac
Tuning Machines: Rogers
String Height(1st): 3.0 mm
String Height(6th): 4.0 mm

[Luthier Information]
Kevin Aram was born in 1949 in the UK. He began his career as a craftsman specializing in guitar repair and restoration. This early work gave him the rare opportunity to examine the internal construction of legendary instruments by masters such as M. Ramírez, D. Esteso, Hauser I, Arcángel Fernández, and José Luis Romanillos—an experience that would come to deeply inform his own aesthetic and approach to guitar making.

Since relocating his workshop to North Devon in 1991, Aram has focused exclusively on building instruments in the Torres and Hauser traditions. Initially, his guitars were finished in traditional French polish, but he later adopted oil finishes—even on his top classical models, which is quite rare. These oil finishes, all applied meticulously by hand, reveal the natural texture of the wood while allowing for a remarkably resonant and nuanced tone: warm, organic, and powerful, yet never overly polished or forced.

In recent years, he has also adopted bracing patterns inspired by Jeffrey Elliott—designs that harken back to the influence of Romanillos, whom Aram cites as a major influence early in his career. Aram’s guitars are known not for flashy tonal color, but for their deep musical expressiveness. He believes his instruments are defined by their ability to translate the player’s intent with purity and precision—stripped of unnecessary ornamentation, and wholly focused on expressive clarity.

Kevin Aram is also well-known as one of the luthiers favored by Julian Bream, who owned and performed on two Aram guitars—“La Cancion” (1986) and “Myrtle” (1988)—during the late 1980s, both in concerts and recordings. Bream, a master known for his keen ability to recognize emerging talent in the world of lutherie, helped bring wider recognition to Aram’s work.

[Instrument Information]
We are pleased to offer a 1995 Kevin Aram 'SENARA'—a used instrument built in the Torres tradition. The soundboard features a bracing layout with two harmonic bars above the soundhole (toward the neck), one below (toward the bridge), and a symmetrical fan of seven braces, all terminating at the lower bout, supported by two V-shaped closing bars. The area surrounding the soundhole is further reinforced with concentric plate inlays. The body resonance is tuned slightly above G.

Unlike Aram’s more recent guitars, which are typically finished in oil, this instrument features a traditional shellac (French polish) finish. This choice contributes to a slightly more 'woody' character in the tone—subtle but distinct compared to his oil-finished models. The result is a sound that is raw, powerful, and fresh, offering a beautifully singing quality. Rather than emphasizing separation and spatial clarity between the strings (as seen in post–Manuel Ramírez designs), this guitar emphasizes holistic tonal unity—true to the essence of Torres. Aram captures this ideal brilliantly, achieving a well-balanced, cohesive sound that is deeply satisfying.

The guitar is highly responsive, with a clear and vibrant voice. The resonance of the body is fully activated by even light touch, resulting in a tone that is bright, lustrous, and well-projected, yet never muddled. While his newer models may showcase a more refined tonal architecture, this instrument feels firmly rooted in the Spanish tradition, exuding old-world charm and authenticity.

There are no cracks, structural modifications, or repair history. The top shows fine playing wear, including scratches, small dents, and string-change marks, though these are generally superficial and do not significantly affect its appearance. The back and sides are in good condition, with only minor signs of wear and slight aging in the shellac. The neck is also clean, with minimal wear. It has a very slight forward relief, well within standard setup tolerances. Frets remain in good condition and playability is unaffected. The neck has a moderately slim D-shaped profile. String height is set at 3.0mm on the 1st string and 4.0mm on the 6th string (measured at the 12th fret), with 0.5–1.0mm of saddle remaining. String tension feels medium to light, making the instrument comfortable to play even with this setup.

Equipped with premium Rodgers tuning machines from Canada, which function flawlessly. The guitar weighs approximately 1.42 kg.