A Special-Order Left-Handed Australian Concert Guitar
Direct from Australia, this exceptional left-handed Dan Kellaway concert classical guitar was specially ordered and built for the left-handed player — with all the projection, responsiveness and distinctive tonal character that make Kellaway’s instruments so fascinating.
Completed on April 8th, 2025, it combines a Carpathian spruce soundboard with all-wood lattice bracing, Brazilian rosewood back and sides, and Kellaway’s characteristic molded arched-back construction.
The voice is immediately impressive: rich, resonant and beautifully singing, with excellent projection, sustain and sensitivity. Its all-wood lattice contributes to the balance and responsiveness associated with modern lattice construction while preserving the natural, woody tonal colors that are such an important part of Kellaway’s approach.
The combination of a comfortable neck, carefully controlled body structure and responsive soundboard makes this a serious concert instrument — one designed to give the left-handed guitarist both power and musical freedom.
Special-order left-handed concert guitars of this caliber are not something we encounter every day.
A must try!!!
Description
Specifications
New Concert Classical “Left Handed” Guitar
- Completed: April 8th, 2025
- Orientation: Left Handed
- Scale Length: 650 mm
- Nut Width: 52 mm
- Soundboard: Carpathian Spruce
- Bracing: All-Wood Lattice Bracing
- Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
- Back Construction: Molded into an Arch with a Cedar Core
- Sides: Laminated in 5 Layers
- Neck: Cuban Cedar
- Fingerboard: Black Indian Ebony
- Headplate: Brazilian Rosewood
- Bridge: Brazilian Rosewood
- Bridge Design: Gilbert Style with 12-Hole Tie Block
- Armrest: Australian Rosewood
- Tuners: Der Jung 306GX Tuning Machines with 18:1 Gear Ratio & Back Rollers
- Back Linings: Kerfed Mahogany
- Top Linings: 3 Layers of Steam-Bent Maple
- Finish: All Lacquer
- Case: Torque ABS Hard Shell Case Included
- Total Length: 100 cm / 39.3 inches
- Body Length: 48 cm / 18.8976 inches
- Upper Bout: 29 cm / 11.41 inches
- Lower Bout: 37.5 cm / 14.76 inches
- Body Depth: 10.4 cm / 4.09 inches
- Weight: 2.10 kg / 4.629 lbs
A True Left-Handed Concert Instrument
For the serious left-handed classical guitarist, finding a high-level luthier-built concert instrument can be considerably more difficult than simply finding a standard guitar adapted for left-handed playing.
This Kellaway was specially ordered as a left-handed guitar, making its orientation part of the instrument from the outset rather than merely an afterthought.
That distinction is particularly meaningful on a sophisticated modern concert guitar where the soundboard architecture, bridge, armrest and overall ergonomics form an integrated design.
The result is a purpose-built instrument that allows the left-handed guitarist to experience Kellaway’s complete concert-guitar concept as intended: responsive, comfortable, powerful and highly expressive.
Carpathian Spruce & All-Wood Lattice
At the heart of this instrument is a beautiful Carpathian spruce soundboard supported by Kellaway’s all-wood lattice bracing.
Kellaway’s guitars are sometimes discussed in relation to concepts associated with Australian makers such as Greg Smallman and Simon Marty, particularly because of their lattice-braced soundboards, rigid body structures and arched backs.
His approach, however, has an important distinction.
Rather than using the carbon-fibre-reinforced balsa commonly associated with certain modern lattice systems, Kellaway uses wooden bracing, allowing him to pursue the efficiency, sensitivity and balance of lattice construction while retaining a more natural and traditionally colored voice.
With this Carpathian spruce instrument, that translates into clarity, projection and dynamic capability accompanied by a beautifully woody, singing character.
There is power when required, but also sensitivity when the music calls for subtlety.
The Molded Brazilian Rosewood Back
The spectacular Brazilian rosewood back and sides are much more than a visual feature.
The back is constructed around a cedar core and molded into an arch, while the sides employ a substantial five-layer laminated construction.
Together, these elements create the comparatively rigid body structure that forms an important part of Kellaway’s acoustic design.
The relationship is intentional: a highly responsive lattice-braced soundboard works within a stable body designed to support efficient projection.
Visually, the Brazilian rosewood gives the guitar extraordinary depth and character; structurally, the laminated and arched construction contributes to the distinctly modern architecture hidden beneath its elegant classical appearance.
Soul, Power & Sensitivity
What makes Kellaway’s concept particularly interesting is that the goal is not simply volume.
A concert instrument must project, but it must also allow the guitarist to shape a phrase, control color and dynamics, and move naturally between intimate playing and greater intensity.
This guitar combines excellent sustain and projection with balance and sensitivity across the strings.
Its voice retains the organic qualities of an all-wood structure — warm, colorful and singing — while the lattice construction gives the player a quick response and substantial dynamic reserve.
That combination gives the instrument what we particularly value in a serious concert guitar:
power when you ask for it, sensitivity when you need it, and musical character throughout.
Carefully Engineered from the Inside Out
Kellaway’s attention to detail continues throughout the instrument.
The Brazilian rosewood bridge is constructed in the Gilbert style with a 12-hole tie block, while an Australian rosewood armrest provides additional playing comfort and reduces direct forearm contact with the edge of the soundboard.
The internal structure uses kerfed mahogany linings along the back and three layers of steam-bent maple along the soundboard, supporting the controlled rigidity of the body.
Der Jung 306GX tuning machines provide an 18:1 gear ratio with back rollers, and the instrument is protected by a Torque ABS hard shell case.
The finished guitar weighs 2.10 kg — a substantial modern concert instrument whose construction has been carefully considered as a complete acoustic system.
Dan Kellaway — A Distinctive Australian Approach
Dan Kellaway’s guitars offer an individual interpretation of the modern Australian concert-guitar tradition.
His work brings together ideas such as lattice bracing, a rigid laminated body and molded arched back, yet his decision to retain wood within the active bracing structure gives his instruments a distinctive direction.
Rather than pursuing projection at the expense of tonal character, Kellaway seeks a meeting point between the evenness and sensitivity of lattice construction and the natural tonal colors associated with wood.
This special-order 2025 left-handed guitar is a particularly interesting example of that philosophy.
It combines Kellaway’s modern concert architecture with Carpathian spruce and Brazilian rosewood in an instrument specifically conceived for the left-handed guitarist — powerful, responsive, balanced and beautifully expressive.
We are proud to represent Dan Kellaway Guitars and to introduce these distinctive Australian concert instruments to players around the world.
For current availability and special orders, please contact Grand Guitar Salon.
Worldwide shipping is available.
Please Note: These are the actual photographs of this guitar.
