Australian Innovation. Sustainable Craftsmanship. Unrivalled Tone.
At Carlingford Music Centre, we’re proud to represent one of Australia’s most innovative and respected guitar makers — Cole Clark. Handcrafted in Melbourne, Cole Clark guitars combine traditional luthiers with cutting-edge technology, offering players a truly natural and balanced amplified sound unlike anything else on the market.
Whether you’re performing on stage, recording in the studio, or playing at home, every Cole Clark guitar carries the same unmistakable DNA: authentic tone, sustainable woods, and precision craftsmanship.
The Cole Clark DNA
All-solid timber construction
Every Cole Clark is built using solid timbers for the top, back and sides — never laminated. This delivers a full, resonant tone that matures beautifully over time.
Spanish Heel Neck Joint
Unlike most modern guitars, Cole Clark uses the traditional Spanish Heel construction. The neck and body are built as one continuous piece, allowing the instrument to resonate more freely, sustain longer, and remain perfectly stable for life — no neck resets required.
Precision Plek Fretwork
Each guitar is scanned and cut using the German-made Plek machine, ensuring perfectly dressed frets and nut cuts with unmatched accuracy and playability.
Sustainably Sourced Timbers
Over 96% of all timbers used are sustainably sourced. From Australian Blackwood and Bunya to Camphor Laurel and River She Oak, Cole Clark champions local woods and environmental responsibility through their Urban Recovery Program.
The PG3 Pickup System — The World’s Most Natural Plugged-In Sound
Cole Clark’s PG3 system is a patented three-way pickup design that captures the true voice of the guitar. It combines:
- A Piezo bridge pickup for low frequencies,
- A Face Sensor for rich, natural mids,
- And a microphone for detailed highs.
The crossover at 350Hz between the piezo and face sensor prevents feedback and creates a perfectly balanced, acoustic-like tone — trusted by touring professionals around the world.
Body Shapes for Every Player
- AN (Grand Auditorium): Versatile and balanced for both strumming and fingerstyle.
- TL (Thinline Grand Auditorium): Slim and stage-friendly, with easy upper fret access.
- FL (Dreadnought): Full-bodied with strong projection and power.
- LL (Mini): Compact and travel-ready, yet surprisingly big in sound.
- True Hybrid: Combines an authentic Cole Clark acoustic sound with real magnetic pickups for genuine electric tones — the only hybrid system that works properly with Phosphor Bronze strings.
Series Overview
- 1 Series Studio: A-grade timbers, part-made in China and finished in Australia — incredible value for a solid-timber instrument.
- 2 & 3 Series Touring: Made in Australia with double-V bracing and large soundholes for outstanding feedback resistance and live control.
- 2 & 3 Series Recording: Australian-made, designed for acoustic richness and studio tone.
- Master grade Series: Rare and limited timbers, showcasing the very best of Cole Clark craftsmanship.
Built for the Future
Cole Clark guitars are not just instruments — they’re an ongoing commitment to sustainable building, superior tone, and innovative design. Proudly Australian, every guitar reflects the country’s musical spirit and natural beauty.
Cole Clark Tonewoods
Sustainably Sourced. Naturally Australian. Beautifully Musical.
Every Cole Clark guitar tells a story — not just of craftsmanship and sound, but of sustainability and respect for the natural world. The timbers used in each instrument are carefully chosen for tone, beauty, and environmental responsibility. Over 96% of Cole Clark’s woods are sustainably sourced, many recovered through Australia’s Urban Recovery Program.
Below are the key tonewoods that bring Cole Clark guitars to life:
🌿 Australian Blackwood
Sourced sustainably from Tasmania, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland, Australian Blackwood is a close relative of Hawaiian Koa. It delivers a warm, balanced tone with shimmering highs and rich mids — ideal for tops, backs, sides and necks. A core part of Cole Clark’s sustainability program, it’s both beautiful and environmentally responsible.
🌳 Queensland Maple
Despite its name, Queensland Maple isn’t a true maple species. It’s a light-coloured tonewood with similar tonal properties to Mahogany — warm, smooth and even. Used for backs, sides and necks, it’s sustainably harvested from managed plantations.
🌲 Bunya
Native to Queensland and sustainably plantation-grown, Bunya offers similar tonal characteristics to spruce but with an earthy, uniquely Australian voice. It’s a preferred top timber for its strength, clarity and responsiveness.
🌲 Big Tree Redwood
Grown ornamentally in Australia, these majestic trees naturally reach the end of their lifespan after 150–200 years due to the local climate. Closely related to Western Red Cedar, Big Tree Redwood provides a rich, resonant tone and is harvested sustainably as part of Cole Clark’s Urban Recovery Program.
🌴 South American Mahogany (Fiji)
A classic tonewood used for decades in fine guitars, this Fijian plantation-grown Mahogany was originally planted in the 1950s. Renowned for its balance and warmth, it’s used for tops, backs, sides and necks — and remains one of the most sustainable sources of true Mahogany available today.
🌹 Rosewood
A historic favourite for fingerboards, bridges, and back and side sets, Rosewood enhances low-end response and harmonic depth. Due to its limited global supply, it’s considered a vulnerable species — used sparingly and responsibly in select models.
🌿 Spruce
The time-honoured choice for steel-string guitar tops, Spruce offers brightness, clarity and dynamic range. With old-growth Sitka trees becoming scarce, Cole Clark now sources premium Spruce from Europe and the Adirondack mountains to maintain tonal excellence.
🌾 River She Oak
A sustainable Australian hardwood used for fingerboards and bridges. Sitting tonally between Rosewood and Ebony, River She Oak combines clarity and warmth — a perfect fit for Cole Clark’s eco-conscious philosophy.
⚫ Ebony
Dense and durable, Ebony delivers smooth playability and a crisp attack, particularly well suited to large-bodied and Rosewood-backed guitars. Now sustainably sourced, it remains a premium choice for fingerboards and bridges.
🌸 Camphor Laurel
Originally from Central Asia and now a naturalised species in Queensland, Camphor Laurel is a visually stunning tonewood known for its rich figuring and aromatic scent. As a declared noxious weed, its use in guitars supports local environmental management while offering unique tonal character.
🍁 European Maple
Sustainably recovered from forests around Melbourne, European Maple is famed for its heritage in classical violin making. It produces a bright, mid-focused tone with beautiful natural splatting. Another triumph of Cole Clark’s Urban Recovery Program, this wood exemplifies how sustainability and artistry can coexist.
Sustainability in Every Note
Cole Clark’s commitment to Australian timbers, sustainable sourcing, and environmental innovation ensures each guitar not only sounds exceptional — it helps preserve the natural beauty that inspires it.
Experience the Cole Clark Difference at Carlingford Music Centre
Visit our showroom or explore online to hear why Cole Clark remains the benchmark for Australian-made acoustic guitars.
🪶 Handcrafted in Melbourne. Supported by Carlingford Music since 1982.
