An American guitarist writing on the DelaCamp site descibed his Howell's (Australian) Torres as trully outstanding. I try my hand with a Kim Hancock, and we both seem to like each other but I feel I need to get another guitar if only to keep one at standard tuning - hence my visit. Great site, wonderful guitars.

Rob - Gisborne, Victoria

Great Site... And incredible Guitars I found this site by accident, looking for Guitar tuning heads, and fell in love with your guitars, and sound they produce. I own a 2004 Jose ramirez 1a and I love Classical guitars. I have seen a lot of great guitars, and yours rank as one of the top instruments in the world. Thank you for taking the time to read my letter, and please keep making these great guitars....

I feel extremely priveleged to be the owner of a Howell guitar which is an authentic re-creation of an 1864 guitar by the great Spanish master, Torres. This was only made possible with the true mastery of completely hand-made method and quest for excellence and integrity of Richard Howell. This "Torres model" guitar has a top made from the finest German spruce and the back and sides are premium old-growth Brazilian rosewood with authentic traditional varnish. The resulting sound from the guitar is sweet with singing clarity and, despite its small size, it projects well in an average sized concert hall without amplification. Although this is a brand new guitar (2005) its sound has already opened up as remarked by a great Canadian guitar player and another Hong Kong guitar master recently. I've got relatively small hands and yet the guitar is incredibily easily to play. It is also an amazingly beautiful piece of art and craft!

As a guitarist who owns four Howell guitars, I can absolutely vouch for their integrity, playability and exquisite variety of tone colour. I have played and owned dozens of guitars by famous makers, from Rubios to Fletas to Ramirez to Miguel Rodrigues, etc... but when teaching, recording and composing, I return again and again to my Howell guitars as, in my opinion, they surpass all of the others. I bought my first Howell cedar-top in 1979 and my most recent one only last year: the beautiful ornate Torres model. I have appreciated the workmanship and sound of Howell guitars since that very first purchase 27 years ago but I must say that the Torres model is the best instrument I have played anywhere, anytime. Richard, you are a true master! Thank you for being an inspiration: you deserve greater recognition for your contribution to the classical guitar. You truly understand the way it should be made and the way it should sound.

I love my 1993 guitar. It's so powerfull and sweet sounding, and very confortable to play.

And the magic of the sound,
like an ancient spell
Turning its way
Distant memories
Once lost
Now found.

congrats ....informative,interesting and complete.

Dear Richard,

I found your web site to be well designed and very informative. The audio clips and "The Art of Listening" section were especially good.

Regards, Joseph Butler

I've now been playing one of Richard's cedar/Indian guitars (#386 2005) for a number of months and enjoy it tremendously. While I will not attempt to describe the sonorous effect produced by this wonderful guitar, as this has been done well by others commenting on his work, I will say that its aesthetics are beyond compare. The proportions, materials, finish and craftsmanship combine to make Richard's #386 a true work of art. And the instrument is a delight to play. I wish my own skill could be improved suffeciently to take full advantage of this terrific classical guitar.

guiters r great!  well done benny on the site!!!!!!!!!!! from hannah banana

G'day Richard

Glad to see you finally got your website up. Nice job Ben! The 10-string still works- Amazing!

i have not had the pleasure of playing one of your guitars, but would love to try one...

Hi Richard I have no.94 from 1983, has had lots of wear and tear but still going strong. Have had many hundreds of hours playing this Baby.

Thanks and best regards, David.

My biggest regret was having to sell my Richard Howell guitar no 157. It saw me through many a performance of Albeniz and Granados. Well, I'm back buying another!

Two years ago, a guitarist friend of mind invited me to join him as he visited a local high-end guitar store (GSI in Santa Monica). Though I had very little guitar playing experience, and no plans to buy a guitar, I joined him, and spent three hours sampling guitars by Hauser, Contreras, Howell, Alhambra, Conde Hermanos, Jose Ramirez, etc. At the time, these names meant nothing to me, but I kept returning to Richard's Cedar-top guitar. The richness and balance of sound (and color) were unmatched, and I left that evening with #313('97) in my passenger seat. For almost 2 years, I've been with a great teacher (one of the LAGQ!), and the guitar sounds and looks better every day. Thanks, Richard.....glad to have found your website! Now I look forward to rainy days (like today) here at the beach in So. California.

Great website- Incredible craftsmanship.

Great site!

I loved the sound samples . I realize one should not purchase a guitar without holding it in your hands, but after playing several different guitars and listening to many mp-3s of guitars I am pretty much sold on your guitars!

I just purchased my first Richard Howell guitar and received it on 3-17-03. I have been looking for 20 years to find an instrument that produced that quality of sound throughout.Basses, Trebles and harmonics are unbelieveable. I am sorry that it took me this long to discover an instrument like this even exists. Thank you Richard Howell for letting me enjoy the rest of my life with an instrument like this. I am 69 years old now, but even so the notes still are ringing in my head.

Hi Richard,

Number 256, 1992 keeps getting better. Thanks for your wonderful craftsmanship.David

I recently got a guitar from Richard. The tone is as awesome as the craftsmanship. The instrument is highly responsive and projects with clarity and balance. I find it is also highly flexible, suiting both early and modern repertoire equally well. The sound is original and distinctive and it will take me some time to really finish learning what this guitar has to say. M Bussey