Inleiding

Alfesta nylon strings: Excerpt from the "EGMOND" book

Alfesta

"Tijdens de Vintage Gitaarbeurs in Veenendaal van 27 maart 2010 ontmoette ik gitaarrestaurateur/gitaardocent Noud Koevoets bij de stand van mijn Engelse vriend David Treloar. Ons gesprek ging over Egmond en Alpha gitaren en tot mijn verbazing bleek hij in het bezit te zijn van een Alfesta gitaar, een submerk van Egmond, dat mij tot dan toe volkomen onbekend was. Feitelijk is dit juist want volgens het etiket is het een submerk van Alpha Guitars, welke in Boxtel door oud-werknemers van Egmond vervaardigd werden. Qua vorm is het een zogenaamde 00 gitaar met 18 frets en volgens Noud is de Alfesta ST 090 een uitstekend blues gitaartje, maar is de afwerking beduidend minder dan zijn Alpa gitaar. Op Harmony Central wordt een Alfesta W 160 vermeld, maar hier heb ik geen afbeelding van kunnen bemachtigen."

"Op het spoor gezet door Noud ontdekte ik dat Alfesta ook Spaanse gitaren gefabriceerd heeft. Dit is niet zo vreemd, omdat Alpha eveneens een serie klassieke gitaren op de markt gebracht heeft. Via het Internet kwam ik er achter dat er minstens twee klassieke modellen geproduceerd zijn, de Alfesta CL 010 en de Alfesta CL 020. Met name over de CL 020 zijn op Harmony een aantal positieve beschouwingen gepubliceerd, zowel qua bouw als qua geluid."

Uit het Egmond boek uitgegeven door Cees Bakker.

Alfesta nylon strings: Model CL030 / CL090 (?)

Alpha made their classical models: A 100, A 200,

A 250, A 300, A 400. A 500 and A 550 but under 

the Alfesta brand name these guitars were introduced 

probably for the lower end of the domestic market.

CL010, CL020, CL030 the cheapest models 

provided with a "sticker" rozet.

The back of these instruments were probably stained

in orde to give them a hardwood look though maple

is a hardwood as well!

And here's the label that states it to be a part of the

Alpha Musical Instruments Boxtel-Holland organization.

This is another classical model in the Alfesta branded

serie but this time with some odd features: Not a rosette

that has been stickered but inlayed around a furthermore

quite small soundhole. In fact the soundbox resembles 

the steelstring models much more: A bit more square

shouldered - slightly bigger in dimensions and the

dimension of the soundhole and rosette which is similar

to the ones on the steelstring examples.

As allready had been told all Alpha and Alfesta guitars

were built with solid materials. This one is no exception

so again maple sides and back and in deviation of the

steelstring model the solid spruce soundboard is equipped 

with a seven fan "Torres" strutting. This guitar has been

lacquered in high gloss.

The neck is provided with a classic width topnut

and of course the tuners most likely from the German

supplier Kolbe.

The Rosette can be studied here as well as the smaller

soundhole. In fact a guitar with a "steelstring" plantilla

but with the soundboard strutting for a classic model.

While the steelstring models are provided with bridge pins

this one has a classic approach. As for the label: There is

nothing to be seen. So no model name though we tend to

believe to see a "9". Maybe CL 090??

Alfesta Steelstrings 00 modellen: ST090.

Model 00, inspired on the same Martin series.

The simple Martin Head design but a bit more

"clumsy"  done.

These guitars were provided with a remarkable small 

soundhole but apart from that these models are offering

lots of volume and a great tone for blues oriented music.

This top hasn't been stained but shows us the same

small sound hole with inlay and pin bridge.

The maple back, this time even a bit figured!

Alfesta Steelstrings Dreadnoughts: W160 and W160-12

The Alfesta W160 Dreadnought. (Thanks to Piet

van den Bosch who also got involved into the 

research of the Alpha and Alfesta brands. Later on he

discovered the links to Roderich Paesold and Jester)

Provided with a maple soundbox.

The Kolb tuners are also present on this Alfesta model.

The wood around the sticker most likely looks like

possibly maple but we are not sure about that.

And another W160 (With thanks to Piet van den Bosch)

Here the wood around the label can be studied more securely.

So it is maple for sure.

Alfesta W160-12

Quite recently we discovered that there also is 

a twelvestring guitar from this brand and type number:

W 160 - 12. This guitar has been built out of solid 

materials again. We're used to that!

While the soundboard exist of solid spruce, back and sides

have been made out of maple. Glue work isn't that bad, but

again the connection neck to body is miserable.

As the Alpha company worked for Martin they sticked 

to the Martin headform for most of the Alfesta models

but with a visible truss rod cover. The gut string models

have their own headstock.

We also came across a twelve string Alpha but we think

that one to be equipped with more superior tuners...

And for those who lost their label. Feel free to use it.

A lot of people forget to look around the label but there's

the opportunity to study the wood used and eventually

be able to compare it with the same spot on the outer back

to learn if the wood is really solid. Maple in this case.

The bracings have all been shaved nicely and even the 

sides have been reinforced with flat glued ribs.

Alpha nylon strings 1

Alpha nylon strings: A 100 / A 250 / A 550.

Alpha A 100 model: First (and lowest one) in the range.

I had the opportunity to buy a "mistreated" Alpha A250

guitar. Strangely enough this model hasn't been mentioned

in the ads but anyway the same materials as on the A 200:

an inlayed rosette and decent quality materials.

This guitar has been stained by the former owner possibly to hide 

the damage that has been repaired by me in the lower bout after

having removed the stain off the top. As it was a steal to find -

the price was 15 euro's - I decided to treat the soundboard along

the edges by thinning it there. According to Torres and Arias

the soundboard is then able to react as a membrane the way it

is intended. The result was astonishing: Much more pronounced 

and deeper basses. The area of the soundboard under the higher 

strings have been thinned as well. The richer sound of the lower

strings strengthened the response of the higher ones and having

a thinner soundboard they keep "popping' up better in the

whole frequency range.

A detailed picture of the A550

As can be seen: A rosewood back.

And presented here is the label with the model number.

A solid top as can be found on all Alpha and Alfesta models.

Deluxe Kolbe tuners that are hand engraved and

are modeled a bit after the famous Spanish Fustero 

(Barcelona)  tuners.