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

[Profile]
Karel Dedain – Born in 1976, Karel Dedain is a Belgian luthier based in Ghent, gaining international recognition alongside Walter Verheyen as one of Belgium’s most promising young makers.

At the age of 20, while studying graphic arts, he discovered flamenco guitar and began performing. Skilled in woodworking, he decided to build a guitar for himself—a decision that sparked his journey as a luthier. He trained under Walter Verheyen at Belgium’s CMB (Centrum voor Muziekinstrumentenbouw). Dedain recalls, “Belgium has no guitar-making tradition, which gave me complete freedom to realize my vision. I could study across countries and traditions, selecting what suited my style, and source materials and tools from around the world.”

Dedain explored modern guitars with lattice bracing and double tops, eventually focusing on Spanish masters such as Torres, Arias, Garcia, Simplicio, and the Manuel Ramirez workshop. Today, he produces meticulous replica models, “Inspired” models (reconstructed with his own creative input), and original designs. His craftsmanship combines extraordinary precision with faithful reproduction of original essence, exceptional playability, and perfect acoustics, earning a reputation comparable to his mentor Verheyen.

Dedain has been featured in the French art publisher Camino Verde’s online magazine Orfeo Magazine, and contributed full-scale technical drawings to their luthier series (including Santos Hernandez, Rene Lacote, Vicente Arias, and Robert Bouchet), further establishing his international reputation, including in Japan. His drawings are highly detailed and serve as an invaluable reference for instrument makers and scholars.

[Description]
Karel Dedain – 2025 Enrique Garcia Model (New)

This new guitar is an Inspired model, reinterpreting and reconstructing a classic Enrique Garcia instrument through Dedain’s perspective. In addition to his original models, Dedain creates homage models to renowned masters and Inspired models rooted in his extensive research and deep understanding.

Enrique Garcia (1868–1922) studied under Manuel Ramirez (or, according to some sources, Jose Ramirez I) in Barcelona, blending French craftsmanship with Torres’ tradition to create a uniquely personal style that defined the Barcelona school and influenced the acoustics of Ignacio Fleta I and South American guitars. Replicating or drawing inspiration from Garcia’s rare and individualistic instruments is an extraordinary challenge. Dedain, like few others in the world, has succeeded in creating an Inspired model that captures Garcia’s essence.

The guitar’s sound reflects Garcia’s depth and subtlety, while Dedain’s clarity and straightforwardness bring it into an intimate and powerful balance. Notes appear with precision and presence, chords maintain cohesion while allowing each voice to shine, and the resonance is deep yet controlled. The mid- and low-range frequencies are rich and harmonically distinct, reproducing Garcia’s unique tonal identity with remarkable fidelity. Its expressive sensitivity is both musical and romantic, demonstrating Dedain’s artistic mastery.

The spruce top features Garcia-style bracing: a harmonic bar and thin reinforcement above the soundhole, a harmonic bar below, eight asymmetric fan braces beneath the lower section (four treble, three bass divided by a central brace), and two V-shaped closing bars at the bottom. Resonance is tuned between F# and G.

The top is a visually striking, subtly figured spruce, paired with delicate, natural Madagascar rosewood back and sides. The bold, black-based rosette is intricately detailed. The headstock follows Torres–Garcia styling, exuding classical elegance. Scale length is 640mm; the neck is a rounded D-shape for a comfortable, compact grip. String action is 3.0/4.0mm (1st/6th string at the 12th fret, with 1.0–1.5mm saddle compensation), with slightly higher string tension. Tuners are the premium Italian Alessi Garcia Special model. The guitar is finished in beautiful shellac.