2003 Kenny Hill "Fleta Model" -French Polish

Offered for sale is a beautifully matured 2003 Kenny Hill Fleta Model, handcrafted during one of the most respected periods of Kenny Hill's career. Built with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, this guitar pays tribute to the legendary Spanish master Ignacio Fleta, whose instruments were favored by artists such as Andrés Segovia, John Williams, Alirio Díaz and Julian Bream.

Kenny Hill's Fleta Model is not intended to be a direct copy of any single Fleta guitar. Rather, it captures the design principles that made Fleta's instruments among the most sought-after concert guitars ever built. Fleta guitars are renowned for their powerful projection, rich woody tonal complexity, amazing sustain, and articulation. Unlike the lighter and more immediate Torres-inspired Spanish guitars, Fleta instruments often feature a more robust build and produce a darker, broader, and more overtones capable of filling large concert halls.

This 2003 example beautifully embodies those characteristics. French Polish, the cedar top has matured over more than two decades, producing a warm, expressive voice with excellent sustain and impressive dynamic range. Trebles are rich and colorful while the basses remain deep, powerful, and well-defined. The guitar offers remarkable balance and intonation across the fingerboard and responds equally well to both intimate passages and aggressive concert-level playing.

One of the most distinctive aspects of this guitar is its dovetail neck-to-body construction, a feature Kenny Hill incorporated into his Fleta-inspired designs. Unlike the traditional Spanish heel construction found on most classical guitars, the dovetail joint is more closely associated with the construction methods of the violin family and certain fine steel-string instruments.

Playability is excellent with a comfortable C-shaped neck profile, 650 mm scale length, and traditional 52 mm nut width. Current setup measures 3.5 mm on the bass side and 3.0 mm on the treble side at the 12th fret, providing ample headroom while maintaining excellent comfort.

The Indian rosewood back and sides display attractive straight grain and contribute warmth, depth, and sustain to the overall tonal palette. This instrument remains in excellent condition with only normal cosmetic wear from careful playing. There are no cracks, structural issues, or repairs.

For players seeking the powerful, articulate sound associated with the great Fleta tradition at a fraction of the cost of an original Fleta ($15,000 - $20,000+)

Specifications~

Maker: Kenneth Hill
Model: Fleta Model
Year: 2003
Top: Cedar
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut Width: 52 mm
Neck Profile: Comfortable C Shape
Action – 6th String (12th Fret): 3.5 mm
Action – 1st String (12th Fret): 3.0 mm
Condition: Excellent

Tuners: Sloan or Rubner

Case: Fancy Hard Shell Case Included