Rye Bear SD-C - Engelmann Spruce & Ziricote #69

For more than two decades, Rye Bear has pursued a singular vision of what a modern acoustic guitar can be. His instruments draw from the great traditions of hand-built steel strings, yet they are shaped by an obsessive curiosity for acoustics, material science, and structural design. Every Rye Bear guitar is the product of countless hours at the bench, where intuition is matched with measurement and artistry is guided by precision. The SD-C stands as one of the clearest expressions of that philosophy.

At its heart is a remarkable King Engelmann spruce top, chosen for its uncommon reserve of warmth, elasticity, and overtone complexity. Engelmann has long been prized for its responsiveness, but in this instrument the wood feels almost alive, breathing with the lightest touch and opening into a broad, expressive voice when driven harder. Paired with ziricote back and sides, the result is a sound both rich and haunting. Ziricote lends the guitar an unmistakable depth, with dark piano-like lows, glassy trebles, and a blooming midrange threaded with harmonic color.

The visual presence of the SD-C is every bit as compelling as its voice. The dramatic figuring of the ziricote carries throughout the instrument, from the bindings and bound soundhole to the headstock veneer and sculpted backstrap. Black, maple, and black pinstripe purfling at the headstock provides a subtle line of contrast, while the Macassar ebony fingerboard and padauk bridge complete the design with understated elegance. Every surface feels deliberate, every detail resolved.

Inside, the SD-C reveals the work of a builder deeply invested in the science of sound. Rye Bear’s paulownia carbon falcate bracing system gives the top extraordinary efficiency and strength while allowing it to move with exceptional freedom. The laminated side construction creates a more rigid rim, focusing energy back into the top rather than allowing it to dissipate through the body. Combined with the intentionally reflective dead back, the guitar produces remarkable projection, focus, and sustain.

A key part of Rye Bear’s voicing process comes from his use of Chladni patterns. By driving the soundboard at specific frequencies and studying the intricate patterns formed by vibrating particles across its surface, he is able to see precisely how the top is responding. This allows him to shape and tune the braces with extraordinary accuracy, coaxing the instrument toward its intended resonance and balance. In the SD-C, that process has yielded an air resonance of 95 Hz and a top resonance of 180 Hz, creating a voice that feels alive, immediate, and perfectly integrated from the first note.

The 13 fret neck joint further enhances the guitar’s personality, shifting the bridge placement into a sweeter, more responsive area of the lower bout. The result is a powerful and intimate instrument that feels unusually connected in the player’s hands. The Honduran mahogany neck is carved to a comfortable C profile, paired with a compound-radius fingerboard that moves from 16 to 20 inches for effortless playability. Stainless steel frets with hemispherical fret ends glide beneath the fingers with a polished, almost fluid feel, while black Gotoh 510 tuning machines provide smooth, unwavering precision.

At just 5 pounds, 10 ounces, the SD-C is astonishingly light for an instrument of such authority and complexity. With its 25.4 inch scale, 1 3/4 inch nut width, and 58 mm bridge spacing, it offers a familiar and confident feel that rewards both delicate fingerstyle work and more assertive playing. Housed in its Visesnut case, this is not simply a finely built guitar. It is a deeply personal instrument, shaped by the mind and hands of a luthier who has spent his life chasing the elusive line between beauty and sound.

Other specifications include:

• King Engelmann Spruce Top
• Ziricote Back & Sides
• Paulownia Carbon Falcate Braces
• Laminated Sides Construction
• Honduran Mahogany Neck
• Padauk Bridge
• Macassar Ebony Fingerboard
• Ziricote Bindings
• Ziricote Bound Soundhole
• Ziricote Headstock Front Veneer
• Ziricote Backstrap
• Black/Maple/Black Headstock Pinstripe Purfling
• C Profile Neck
• 13 Fret Neck Joint
• Stainless Steel Frets with Hemispherical Fret Ends
• Black Gotoh 510 Tuning Machines
• Air Resonance T(1,1)1: 95hz
• Top Resonance T(1,1)2: 180hz
• Reflective Dead Back
• 16" - 20" Compound Fingerboard Radius
• 1 3/4” (45.5mm) Nut Width
• 2.28 (58mm) ” Bridge Spacing
• 25.4” Scale Length
• Visesnut Case
• 5 lb 10 oz
• #69

For more information about this Rye Bear SD-C, please contact us.

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