Edwards Fine Instruments is owned and operated by David Edwards.  He is a founding member of the Charlottesville Classical Guitar Society and serves as its current President.  He has played guitar since the age of 11 and has played and studied classical guitar since 1972.  He plays solo classical guitar and participates in many musical events in and around Charlottesville, Virginia.  

"I fell in love with the classical guitar in 1972 and the sound I heard on Julian Bream's "Classical Guitar" record (I think the guitar he used was built by José Romanillos).  At the time I was talking classical lessons on my Martin D28 (steel string) and my teacher, Matthew Mischakoff, encouraged me to get a classical guitar.  In the summer of 1972, I had time available after my work and a workshop available at the University of Michigan, so I built my first classical guitar.  During my senior year at the University of Michigan, I built two more, one for Janice who is now my wife and one which I sold.

In 2003, I started building again having acquired many tools, forms and materials out of Fred Dickens' workshop from his widow,  Pauline. 

As a classical guitarist, I have enjoyed playing two wonderful "Younger" guitars since 1995 and in 2003 I acqured a very fine, spruce topped instrument made by Christopher Dean (Oxford, England).  The "Dean" is the closest to that particular sound that I love then any other instrument I have played.  The sound is open, warm with a great dynamic range.  It doesn't pre-color the sound as is typical of a cedar top, but lets the artist supply the tone color.  This instrument is easy to play, very responsive and is beautiful when played quietly and when played hard.  This is the sound and playability I aim for as a builder.

I have a stong interest in the music of the Romantic era and especially the composers Sor and Guiliani.  I own a guitar built in London by Corsby circa 1820 which I have restored to playing condition.  My 19th Century guitars are made in the style of 19th Century instruments made by Louis Panormo, London and René Lacôte, Paris.  The short scale of these guitars (630mm) is very easy to play and they have a more delicate tone typical of these smaller instruments.  Although they are smaller than  modern classical guitars, they still have excellent volume and projection.

Another interesting development out of the workshop is the model I call the Luthien.  This model has the Hauser shape and size, René Lacôte design of lining the back with spruce to sweeten the tone, the modern design of lining the sides to stiffen them to allow the top to vibrate without torsion effects on the sides and  Robert Bouchet's soundboard bracing pattern to improve sustain and sound production.  The result is an exciting guitar with modern classical guitar tone characteristics - loud, clear and resonant yet sweet and responsive like a 19th Century guitar, with beautiful overtones.