Details - Year: 1960
- Country: Spain
- Back & Sides: Cypress
- Top: Spruce
- Scale Length: 650mm
- Finish: French Polish
- Nut Width: 51mm
- Case: Yes
Description:Manuel Hernandez (1895-1975) and Victoriano Aguado (1897-1972) met and became friends while working together in a piano factory. They eventually formed a partnership and set up their own piano (and furniture) repair shop in Madrid. As legend has it, their great interest in the art of guitar making was secured sometime in the 1940’s when they leased out some space in their shop to Modesto Borreguero (one of the famed Manuel Ramirez workers) and became intrigued with his guitar making skills. Their instruments remain unique in the canon of great makers – they have an almost pear-like shape (or as we say, the plantilla is "pregnant at the hips"), the interior is typically varnished just like the exterior, and they are decorated with unusually thin rosettes and carved headstocks.
This is a very rare example of a flamenco "blanca" instrument from this shop. Their famous sound sought after by many classical players is also perfectly suited to the flamenco aesthetic - the initial attack of the note is crisp and "snappy", almost like a snare-drum, while the body of the note which follows is airy and lightweight. These qualities allow for the player to achieve a high level of clarity and precision especially when playing quick, busy music while at the same, it is very expressive and lyrical when performing slower music. Condition is great for a guitar of this vintage - it has no cracks and is structurally excellent condition. It recently had the original tap plates replaced, as they were partially attached and not serviceable (which also required re-varnishing the top) and a new fret job was done to replace the dulled and flattened frets, bringing this guitar into perfectly playable condition for any professional setting. This work was done by German Vazquez, and appears to have never had any prior work done to it. Overall a very charming and rare instrument from this esteemed and famous workshop.
