An incredibly comfortable and easy-playing 3/4-size classical.

The Motif Classical Guitar from La Patrie has a solid cedar top, laminated mahogany back and sides, mahogany neck with rosewood fretboard, rosewood bridge with compensated saddle, gold "lyra" style tuners with pearloid buttons, and a semi-gloss satin finish.

The Motif takes its compact dimensions from turn-of-the-century parlor guitars. This is an excellent instrument for anyone more comfortable with a smaller instrument. The compact body of the Motif suggests a 3/4 size instrument but this is a full-scale guitar. Most children from about six years old can handle the Motif quite comfortably and because they are practicing on a full-scale switching to a full size classical guitar can be accomplished with very little adjustment. There is more to the compact body style of the Motif than comfort, this is a serious guitar with many of the same features that professional guitarists look for in the best handcrafted instruments. The solid cedar top and genuine lacquer finish ensure that this guitar will not only sound great when you first receive it but will actually become better sounding with playing over time. The body is made from a three-way lamination of hardwood that includes a poplar center sandwiched between two layers of mahogany. The Motif neck is made from Honduras mahogany with an Indian rosewood fingerboard.

800 Year Old Trees
All LaPatrie guitars feature solid cedar tops. The wood used in these tops can be found only in cedar trees that have an average age of about 800 years. The tight, straight grain in this wood makes it strong in the direction of the string tension while at the same time flexible across the grain lines. It is this combination of rigidity and flexibility that give the top its resonance. The vibration of the guitar top is the most crucial element of the sound.

Lacquer Finish
LaPatrie guitars are finished with a special lacquer formula. This finish is light enough to allow the wood to breath and vibrate freely. The tops resonating capacity actually improves as the guitar is played over an extended period of time. This gradual improvement in the response of the top is often referred to as "aging". Poly finishes inhibit top vibration and are therefore never used on LaPatrie guitars. Many other guitars use a thick plastic finish that smothers top vibration and prevents the benefits of aging.

Classics that are comfortable to play
Classical guitars of the past have typically been made with thick neck dimensions, while this promoted a certain amount of neck stability, it often made certain playing aspects difficult to execute. It is for this reason that special attention was directed to the neck design of the LaPatrie guitars. Neck width and string spacing conform to classical standards, but a new truss rod system allows the profile of the neck to be reduced producing a neck of extraordinary comfort, while increasing stability. The LaPatrie necks are carved from Honduras mahogany. All LaPatrie models feature a rosewood fingerboard and bridge.

La Patrie Motif Classical Guitar Features:

• Top: Solid Cedar
• Back & sides: Mahogany
• Neck: Mahogany
• Fretboard: Rosewood
• Nut width: 2-3/32"
• Bridge: Rosewood w/compensated saddle
• Scale Length: 25-1/2"
• Upper Bout: 9-1/4"
• Lower Bout: 13"
• Tuners: Gold "lyra" style w/ pearloid buttons
• Finish: Satin

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La Patrie Motif Classical Guitar

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Average of 3 User Ratings

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Excellent little guitar

Posted by Rob from Carmel Valley, CA on Sep 27, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Solo acoustic guitarist

Reviewer's Play Style: Fingerstyle

Bought this second hand about 3 years ago, and it is an excellent sounding and playing parlor sized guitar. It gets an amazing good amount of bass, and has a very crisp sound. I added an under-saddle pickup because this has turned into my main guitar. It just feels and sounds great.

I play using a strap all the time, but if you don't, you'll need a footrest that is slightly higher than when using a normal sized guitar.

I bought an aftermarket "Gator" case for this and am currently looking for a flight case made for 3/4 sized guitars. This is a hard size to find cases for.

Downside to a cedar top is that it scratches easily from your fingernails. They are simply war sounds.

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Good buy

Posted by Anonymous Musician on Jan 31, 2009

Experience w/product: I own it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Classical, Rock, Experimental

This guitar is a must for anyone taking interest in classical guitar. I tried several different guitars/brands and for the price range you can't beat it. Right out of the box it plays great with a real low action for a classical and nice feel.

Only negatives I can give are, if it's not tuned to standard E, you lose tone. But most pieces are wrote in standard E so that shouldn't be an issue.

You also may want to invest in a better set of tuners. Most of the guitars in this price range I tried had "cheap" tuners so it's almost unavoidable.

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Awesome classical

Posted by Dunesjeesh from Ellendale, ND on Sep 26, 2007

Experience w/product: I have heard about it

Reviewer's Background: Active Musician

Reviewer's Play Style: Classical and Rock

I prefer classical guitar to any other form and this guitar well accomadates my need. The sound on this guitar is very rich carrying well rounded lows and well defined highs. This is also an easy to play guitar. The width of the neck and the thickness makes it easy to play. The action is a little high but since your able to adjust and it is a classical this isn't really a problem.

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La Patrie Motif Classical Guitar

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La Patrie Motif Classical Guitar

Read 3 Reviews