What I have come to realize is that cedar is a fantastic top wood for a steel string. My student has a Lowden Jumbo, I’ve had an Ayers Custom Auditorium and all of these guitars had a signature sound with the Morris. To me cedar may be the ideal steel string wood.

This particular Morris came in with a slight flaw which I will show at the outset but if this weren’t present you could say this guitar is 100% clean.

This being a committee made guitar it may lose a little attention to such detail but the wood was scratched around the soundhole and finished over.

Of course we see this as a sign of quality control not being adequate but this not what I think is the norm for Morris and the exquisite use of wood and careful finishing is the rule.

The originality of this guitar is present if your eyes are closed. The neck shape is different, it is made smaller and thinner like an electric, the sound is almost arresting and it is about the loudest and sweetest guitar I’ve heard.

The double x braced tops and the radii of the back makes this a lightweight instrument. It feels excellent to hold and play.

The use of cedar top and mahogany back/sides makes for the perfect sound. Mahogany has never been a favorite of mine on a spruce steel string.

The preferred back/sides wood for me has always been Indian rosewood although I don’t like it on a classical guitar so much. The cedar with mahogany makes for a completely seducing sound from this guitar.

Double x bracing must tighten the top more and focus the sound a bit more but when done on cedar there is a chocolate sound that is smooth and creamy. Delicious.

This guitar looks delicious as well. The vision is original and massively distinctive. The shell is pao, I believe and their website offers a little information.

The neck is especially thin at 44MM (1.73 inches) . Liking classical guitar necks I’d eventually ask for a custom shop neck but the S-96 is quite a distinctive guitar and very worth the money.

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