If your gaze has been turning in the direction of Cole Clark guitars recently, there are some key aspects you need to know before purchasing. Cole Clark is the only major maker of steel-string acoustics that uses a 'Spanish heel' or integral neck construction on their instruments. Adam Cole and Brad Clark founded the company in Bayswater, Melbourne, in 2001.
Except for the Studio models, everything Cole Clark produces is made in Australia, utilising a combination of traditional hand-building and modern CNC cutting. The majority of building materials are made from Australian-native timber species, making them a unique market possibility.
What Separates Cole Clarks Guitars from the Rest?
If you are looking for excellence and a range of models that cater to different playing styles and preferences, a next-level Cole Clark acoustic guitar ticks all the boxes. It is an innovative brand with quite a singular ethos.
No other steel string guitar manufacturer offers Cole Clark's traditional Spanish heel construction, in which the neck is linked first to the instrument top, rather than the body via a dovetail join, and subsequently to the sides and back. This is called a 'Spanish Heel' since it is the conventional method for producing high-quality classical guitars. This provides for increased resonance and a more efficient transfer of sound energy.
Cole Clark claims to manufacture the greatest pickup system for live use, known as the PG3. The PG3 consists of three components that follow the theory of a PA system, which employs a subwoofer (bass), a speaker (mids), and a tweeter (treble/high end) to maximise each component of a sound. This PG3 system combines an under-saddle piezo (bass), a patented sensor (mids), and a condenser mic (high end) to provide a blendable collection of sounds that result in an excellent amplified sound.
The company makes use of readily available natural tonewoods such as Bunya and Tasmanian Blackwood. These timbers have a terrific sound, and a distinct appearance, and are sourced responsibly. If you have never seen a Hybrid thinline acoustic guitar with a strat pickguard and pickups, you haven't seen what Cole Clark is making in Australia.
Cole Clark Famous Series
To make an informed decision, you must be familiar with Cole Clark’s most famous series.
Series 1, 2 and 3
The 1 Series is the most affordable of the three, featuring grade “A” woods. They have the most minimal adornment purfling, binding, or headstock fascia, and the soundhole rosette is simpler. Cole Clark 1 Series guitars come with a gigbag.
The 2 Series are enhanced AA timbers that come in a greater choice of species than the 1 Series. These have more decorative components, such as binding, purfling on top, a double-ring soundhole rosette, and the characteristic headstock fascia. You'll also receive abalone snowflake inlays, gold hardware, and a protective case.
The 3 Series are premium AAA tonewoods with the highest level of decoration available, including double binding, fretboard binding, sophisticated purfling, and abalone inlay work on the guitar's rosette, waist, and fingerboard. Some timbers available in the three series are unavailable in the other ranges. Cole Clark 3 Series guitars also come with a protective case.
Studio Grand Auditorium Series
The Studio series is the only Cole Clark acoustic guitar that isn’t wholly built in Melbourne. This series was designed to be more inexpensive without sacrificing quality, yet it is still primarily manufactured in Australia. The timbers (sourced from Australian timber suppliers) are cut and formed in Melbourne.
When they are ready, they are shipped to China to be assembled. Following that, they are returned to Australia, where components like the saddle and nut are precision cut and fitted to the body. A Plek setup is completed, and the guitars are ready for shipment.
Popular Designs
The Angel (AN in Cole Clark model name language) is undoubtedly Cole Clark's most identifiable shape. It has a Grand Auditorium body, which is quite robust for good projection and tone balance.
Grand Auditorium guitars are typically slightly smaller than dreadnoughts and provide an ideal foundation for finger pickers.
The Fat Lady (FL) is Cole Clark's version of the dreadnought. You'll recognise this form because it's the most popular in the world, but Cole Clark manages to put their own twist on it with interesting wood combinations and a distinct headstock shape.
The Mini (LL) is, unsurprisingly, a smaller-bodied Cole Clark guitar. It retains good projection and volume, thanks to the inner bracing and carving, as well as the body form, which allows for a decent-sized chamber for resonance. The scale length is also somewhat shorter (23.5"), which is consistent with several industry standards in the post-GS Mini market. The Mini features the same technologies and construction methods as full-size models.
Cole Clark's Thinline (TL) guitars are among the most fascinating types they produce. We're talking about cutaway acoustics with a silhouette similar to the Grand Auditorium but with shallower bodies. Thinline models often feature regular soundholes, although some have slash/f-hole-style holes instead. The Thinline lineup also includes Hybrid versions. These guitars typically have PAF-style humbuckers and, on occasion, a full-on Strat-style pickguard with pickups and a blade selector. Some full-bodied Cole Clarks also feature the awesome humbucker treatment.
