Hanika HE Torres Cedar Top Classical Guitar

Hanika HE Torres Cedar — A Professional Line Concert Guitar from Germany The Hanika HE Torres Cedar is built with back and sides of expressively grained Grade 1 ziricote and a soundboard of the finest Grade 1 cedar. It belongs to Hanika's Professional Line — the top tier of the range, handmade in Baiersdorf, Germany from the workshop's most carefully selected materials. The HE Torres Cedar delivers excellent dynamics, a warm and substance-rich sound, crispness, and quick responsiveness. The materials, workmanship, and sound of this classical guitar mean it is able to meet the highest demands of concert performance. Cedar Top with Torres-Style Domed Bracing The asymmetrically weighted, domed cedar soundboard is built on a 7-fold Torres-style bracing pattern that optimizes the top's efficiency. Cedar speaks immediately under the fingers, with a warm, round fundamental and rich overtones, while the domed construction adds structural strength that allows the soundboard to be worked thinner for greater responsiveness. The result is a rounder, more singing tone with strong sustain and clear voice separation — the traditional Torres sound character, delivered with modern power and projection. Grade 1 Ziricote Back and Sides Ziricote is one of the densest tonewoods used in classical guitar construction, contributing sustain and bass depth comparable to the finest rosewoods, with a clear, bell-like treble that adds definition to the cedar's warmth. Its dramatic black-on-brown figure is unlike any other tonewood, and the grain reads differently on every instrument. The ziricote theme carries through the bridge, the Z5 rosette, and the pierced rosewood-maple-ziricote headplates. Reinforced Neck and Optimized Heel The cedro neck is reinforced five times at its core with rosewood and mahogany, including through the heel, for long-term stability and resistance to seasonal movement. Hanika has applied their new, optimized heel to this guitar, which ensures easier playability and a better left-hand position above the 12th fret. The C-profile neck, 650mm scale, and 52mm nut width give the guitar the familiar feel of a full concert instrument, and the Grade 1 African blackwood fretboard provides a dense, smooth playing surface with position dots at the 5th and 7th frets. HE Finish — High-Gloss Body, French-Polished Top The body is finished in a UV-cured high-gloss varnish for durability and a deep, mirror-like appearance, while the soundboard has been elaborately hand-polished with French polish shellac — a traditional finish far thinner than lacquer that lets the cedar vibrate with minimal dampening. This combination gives the HE Torres Cedar the protection of a gloss instrument where it matters for wear, and the acoustic openness of a thin finish where it matters for sound. Alessi Tuning Machines and BAM Hightech Case The pierced headstock and designer tuning machines by Nicolò Alessi underline the high demands the HE Torres Cedar makes on quality. Alessi machines are handmade in Italy and are among the most precise and smoothest-operating tuners available on any classical guitar — a meaningful upgrade over the Rubner machines found on Hanika's Recital and Concert Line models. The guitar ships in a BAM Hightech case, a lightweight, high-protection case that is itself a premium accessory. Cedar vs. Spruce — Choosing Between the HE Torres Models XGuitars also carries the Hanika HE Torres with a spruce top. The two share identical construction, bracing, finish, hardware, and ziricote body — only the soundboard differs. Cedar is warmer and more immediate, with a darker fundamental and an easier response at softer dynamics. Spruce starts out brighter and more focused, with greater headroom, and develops warmth as it opens up over years of playing. Neither is better; the choice comes down to your repertoire and the sound you hear in your head. If you're weighing the two, we're happy to talk it through. Specifications Soundboard wood Cedar, Grade 1 Back wood Ziricote, Grade 1 Neck wood Cedro / 5 x rosewood / mahogany Fretboard wood African blackwood, Grade 1 Fret dots At 5th & 7th frets Neck profile C-1.5mm Soundboard bracing 7-fold, symmetrical, domed Soundboard binding African blackwood Soundboard rosette Z5-Ziricote Back binding African blackwood Head plates, front Rosewood / maple / ziricote Head plates, back Rosewood / maple / ziricote Bridge Ziricote Scale 650mm Fretboard width 52mm / 42mm Tuning machines Alessi Standard Body finish HE high-gloss finish Soundboard finish Shellac high-gloss finish (French polish) Case / bag BAM Hightech case Professional Setup and Inspection by XGuitars Every guitar sold through XGuitars receives a hands-on professional setup and thorough 19-point inspection. Owner Geoff Ferdón personally inspects and sets up each instrument, adjusting action height at the nut and saddle, checking intonation, neck relief, fret ends, tuning machines, and overall finish quality. All instruments are stored in a climate-controlled environment at proper humidity and temperature to protect against hidden damage. XGuitars is an authorized Hanika Pro-Shop Dealer and offers a zero-cost warranty — we cover all shipping costs for warranty claims within the continental U.S. If you have questions about the Hanika HE Torres Cedar or need help choosing the right classical guitar, call us at 828-417-9515 or email sales@xguitars.com. Helpful guides from XGuitars Spruce vs. Cedar: which top is right for you? Alhambra vs. Ramírez vs. Cordoba vs. Hanika: how the brands compare Best Classical Guitars of 2026 Our guarantee, 7-day trial, and zero-cost warranty