Antonio Marin Montero 1972 Blanca

This guitar has been resurrected.

It had cracks on both shoulders and top repaired by GVR. Also had top refinished by GVR at same time. This work was done quite recently - maybe 6 months ago I think? Also at same time by GVR a strap pin at neck heel and pickup jack at butt removed and filled, and a golpe was removed and new one added.

In the last month it has had a new ebony fretboard installed - old fretboard was planed all the way out of existence (possibly a safer way to proceed with a vintage guitar like this - rather than using heat to to pull of old fretboard). A sloped fretboard was installed and standard sized frets. This work was done by Greg German in Colorado. In order to get intonation correct he said he shortened scale length by 1mm - in his words below.

By gluing on a board with a shorter scale length, the frets are closer
together and the 12th is farther from the saddle which effectively
'moves' the bridge south without moving it. The board I cut has a scale
length of 656mm which is 1mm shorter than the previous one.

655mm scale length nut to saddle now is what I just measured.

Saddle height is quite high now - as is the action.
Plays perhaps more like a classical guitar now - with high action for a flamenca (3.7mm low E/ 3.0mm high e). If you lowered the saddle (plenty plenty of room - saddle is 5mm proud on low E and 2.5mm on high e) no doubt it would come down and I expect it could be driven more forcefully then too. I like it how it is now - great sound and playability, very immediate response helps one feel connected to the playing experience. (tactile response etc....a lot to do with guitar being very light weight).

Has very nice tone - a lot of sweetness, directness, intimate and also very immediate and punchy response.

Greg German told me structurally it does seem things have moved on the guitar in the 50 years since was built - some convex or concave areas on sides or at upper bout - but we are just talking approx 1mm changes - you need a straight ruler to detect that. I have more pictures. And in order to correct for any structural changes re having correct string height at saddle and along the neck is why a new sloped fretboard was added - about 7mm thick above the soundhole and closer to 5mm at nut.

Guitar does sound and play very nice. Wonderful tone. Wonderful response. Plenty of volume. With high saddle as it is now it is great for classical and moderately forceful strumming. If you want to drive it harder would recommend a lower saddle which would of course also give lower action.

call 360 945 2482 for more info. thanks