Vintage 1976 Di Giorgio Tárrega – Rare "Black Label" Model – João Gilberto Era

Up for sale is an exceptional, 1976 Di Giorgio Tárrega classical guitar. This instrument is a highly coveted "Black Label" model, a prestigious designation reserved strictly for Di Giorgio's premium, top-tier production line during the mid-1970s. Built in São Paulo, Brazil, during the absolute golden era of the factory, 1976 is the legendary year that João Gilberto—the father of Bossa Nova—adopted the oval-soundhole Tárrega as his primary lifetime performance instrument. This Black Label masterpiece captures that exact, iconic acoustic voice.

This particular instrument has been upgraded, and refined into a player’s dream. Please see the extensive details and specifications below.

Key Architectural & Tonewood Highlights

• The Top: A gorgeous, premium solid Spruce soundboard.
• Back & Sides: Features beautiful Brazilian Rosewood. True to Di Giorgio's proprietary construction methods for their top-grade lines, the back and sides are built using their specialized cross-laminated Rosewood recipe. Unlike modern cheap laminates, Di Giorgio deliberately engineered this ultra-stiff, highly resonant layered configuration to prevent the notorious cracking common to the Brazilian climate while significantly increasing the projection and "snap" needed for Bossa Nova.
• The Headstock: Authentic 1976 configuration featuring the plain, stamped "Di Giorgio" on the back and the highly desirable, deeply hand-carved floral motif on the front veneer.
• The original wooden Tornavoz

Premium Restoration & Upgrades

• Full French Polish Finish: The guitar front has been refinished in a traditional Shellac French Polish. Unlike thick, choking modern factory lacquers, this thin organic finish allows the 50-year-old aged woods to breathe and vibrate freely, significantly opening up the volume, sustain, and overtone profile.
• Upgraded De Jung "Dragon" Tuners: The old, worn-out stock tuners have been replaced with top-tier De Jung "Dragon" tuning machines. These offer a striking, premium aesthetic paired with exceptionally smooth, ultra-precise 18:1 gear ratio tuning stability.
• Structural Condition: Unbelievably well-preserved. There are absolutely no cracks on the front or the back of this guitar. It is structurally perfect.

Playability & Professional Setup

Unlike many vintage Di Giorgios which suffer from warped necks and uncomfortably high action, this Tárrega plays like a modern boutique instrument:

• Scale Length: 640mm (Comfortable, slightly shorter scale that reduces string tension, making complex Bossa Nova chord extensions and fingerstyle patterns incredibly effortless on the left hand).
• Action Height: Professionally setup to a low, fast, and uniform 3mm at the 12th fret on both the Low E and High E strings. It offers superb playability across the entire fretboard with no buzzing.

Sound Profile

Deep, focused, and punchy. The unique oval soundhole projects a highly directed sound with tightly controlled bass frequencies, ensuring your thumb lines never muddy your syncopated chord voicings, emphasized by the unique Tornavoz. It is the definitive Bossa Nova sound. 

What's Included

1976 Di Giorgio Tárrega

Good Condition Hard Shell Case 

Please see my other listings for more fine Classical and Flamenco guitars. This guitar will be carefully packed, fully insured, and shipped safely to your door!