Classical Guitars

Bouchet (1898-1986) was an artist/teacher who began playing guitar in 1932 and made his first one in 1946. In the 70's, he worked with Marin Montero and together they made a few guitars. His instruments were greatly admired and played by Alexandre Lagoya, Ida Presti, Emilio Pujol, and Julian Bream. Over a period of about 30 years he only made 150 guitars. Ray Courtnall, in his book, The Master Makers and their Guitars, states that "Bouchet's guitars are noted for both their considerable volume their superb sustain, as well as their aesthetic beauty. These rare instruments are now extremely valuable and are virtually impossible to obtain." This is one of those and it is sensational! Click here to view guitar.

I first became acquainted with Michael and loved his guitars in the 60's when he lived in California. He stopped building guitars for years and I lost track of him. Now he's living in Hawaii. The great guitarist Rey de la Torre played a Cone and now George Sakellariou and Anthony Weller to name a few. Just as Michael said, this guitar has the clarity, tone quality, volume, projection playability, and aesthetics. Click here to view guitar.

From one of the most illustrious, experienced, builders, this is one of the most beautiful top and back guitars I've seen, with Rodgers tuners as well. It's extremely easy to play, very open, and the basses and trebles both sing out. Sergei does it again. Click here to view guitar.

This gorgeous guitar has a German Spruce top and very old, rare, highly figured Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. Scale length is 650mm's. In this guitar, Bob wanted to replicate the essence of the guitars made by Santos Hernandez in the early 1900's. The top on this one is quite thin (2mm's and less) and the bracing is a Torres fan, with a treble bar to stiffen up the notes on the first string. There is an oval shaped "sound port" cut into the upper left side, which allows trapped sound to be freed from the guitar's upper bout. Finish is hand rubbed French polish. Tuners are Gotoh Professional, Hauser style. This guitar was completed in January of 2008. Dr. Stephen Robinson (Stetson University) borrowed this guitar from Bob in February 2008 and played it in 15 concerts throughout last year. Bob is now offering it for sale. The sound of this guitar is loud and clear. The trebles are bright. The action is fairly low and comfortable. Click here to view guitar.

This is a Romanillos style guitar by a very popular American luthier whose goal is "to create an instrument that will inspire the guitarist's musical expression." Aaron apprenticed for several years under Alan Carruth before opening a shop of his own in 1994. This beautifully crafted guitar has a strong clear voice with instant response and colors. Click here to view guitar.

This is my first guitar from Michele. It has beautiful woods, Alessi tuners, and a rare combination of spruce/cedar that sounds both dark, warm, yet bright, and so easy to play. Michele is a guitar conservatory graduate, who has won awards in guitar making competitions. He began building after looking to buy a guitar and being fascinated by the process of building. It is truly an art that can capture a guitarist's heart and hands. His guitars are played internationally and most recently by Christopher Parkening Competition winner Pablo Sainz Villegas. His shop is in a most idyllic setting. Click here to view his web site. Click here to view guitar.

This is a highly aclaimed German luthier who uses only the finest tonewoods. The craftsmanship is exceptional, the playability is amazing, and the sound is crisp and clear. The guitar is conpletely French polished, has Alessi tuners with black mop, and comes with a Hiscox case. Click here to view guitar.

Santos Hernandez (1873- 1942) is among the greatest Spanish builders, known primarily for his flamenco guitars. This is his greatest flamenco guitar, called "Bon Bon", which he built for himself. THIS IS AN HISTORICAL ONE OF A KIND.

In October 1991 The Metropolitan Museum of Art, in conjunction with the Museo Municipal of Madrid, published a book called "La Guitarra Espanola, showing a collection of special and outstanding Spanish classical and flamenco guitars from the 18th to the 20th century. If you were lucky enough to have seen this exhibit and even luckier to have bought the book, turn to page 176-177. If not, click on the link to see pictures. THIS IS THE GUITAR. It's still very much alive and was played in concert on several occasions by the former owner Virginia Luque.. Click here to view guitar.

This unique guitar was built by Boaz Elkayam and George Majkowski, two of his apprentices, to commemorate the death of Richard Schneider. This was one of Schneider's designs at that time, based on the acoustic idea of Dr. Michael Kasha. This is one of 10 signed and named ("Stacey"). See Dr Kasha tribute for pictures and more info.

Tom's guitars are a favorite of Angel Romero. They're bright, bold, and perfect for a concert audience. Click here to view guitar.

This guitar looks like new. It hasn't had very much playing, but is very open, loud, and well balanced. If you like a very big sound, this is it. Click here to view guitar.

Matt has been doing much of my repair and restoration work and recently came by with 2 guitars that he built. Much to my amazement, I looked, I saw, and I said I'll take two. It's funny when you know a small part of someone and then you learn more of who they are. Little did I know that Matt graduated from Roberto-Venn School of Lutherie in 1992, is a member of the Guild of American Luthiers, and makes guitars of the highest grade of woods. They're beautifully French polished and his individual rosettes are handmade to compliment each guitar. Both also have raised fretboards. In addition to his detail for fine craftsmanship, he achieves that range of sounds that we all desire. Click here to view guitar.

Introducing Arnoldo Salguero who was trained by Arturo Sanzano (master luthier for Jose Ramirez for 21 years). This is a very colorful guitar with a sweet but strong projection. Easy to play and easy to listen to. Alot of sound for this low introductory price. Click here to view guitar.

Dirk is a guitarist/builder who also has a degree in sculpture and art history, as can be seen and heard by this instrument. He has worked with many forms, not only interested in the physical appearance, but in the personality and voice of a guitar and how it reacts to people when played. This interaction is interesting to Dirk and to me as well. I hear the same guitar played by several different people and it always sounds different. I've always contended that guitars are like people, with good days and bad, influenced by the seasons, the players, and always changing. Dirk has worked on many guitars of the old masters by playing and studying them to get closer to what he wants from his instruments. Notice the ebony strip along each side of the neck, which he says works for the sustain. The builder is new to me but the sound is from someone who has built many guitars and has gotten it right; color, sustain, balance. Click here to view guitar.

Although there are 2 repaired hairline cracks, the basses are extraordinary, the trebles are singing, and the price is right. Click here to view guitar.

It's a great buy if you can play a longer scale length. It has some nail wear and small hairline cracks on either side of the the fret board. Dake is one of the top, all around builders of all styles of guitars. Pepe Romero calls him one of the most artistic makers. Several well known players use his instruments and so can you. Click here to view guitar.

The Estrella and the Rafaella were made under the supervision of Manuel when he moved back to Puerto Rico. All of these that I've had, have the Velazquez sound of beauty, whether made by him or supervised by him. This one also has Lansdorfer tuners. This was a special order guitar because of the spectacular woods and Landsdorfer tuners. Click here to view guitar.

This vintage guitar is in good condition except for a thin 1/16" splint from below the rosette to the end of the face between the 3rd and 4th strings and a 4" hairline repaired crack. The original tuners (inside the case) had broken and were replaced. It has the very early old yellowish NY label signed by the "maestro". This is one of the earliest Velazquez's I've had. How sweet the sound. Click here to view guitar.

John was apprenticed to Andrea Tacchi and his guitar reflects Tacchi's elegant and somber aesthics. It's beauty is enhanced with Alessi tuners. This is a replica of an Enrique Garcia: lightly built, responsive, well balanced with wide color range. He also makes replicas of the other "old masters: Bouchet, Simplicio, etc. Click here to view guitar.

Flamenco Guitars

This guitar of an unknown builder, has a white label with a red border that's typed: "A mi buen amigo y aficionado Antonio Rodriguez digno de mi mayor aprecio le dedico esta guitarra." and signed by SABICAS and signed Gaspar Gonzalez inside. There are also written initials that look like GL and stamped constuctor just below the heel block. It's Spruce and Indian rosewood, well made, with a very bright, punchy sound. It has a golpeador, so I imagine it was used for flamenco. The deceased owner was a good friend of Sabicas, who frequented his home for weekly juergas. Click here to view guitar.

These extraordinary guitars are very rare and especially in this condition. Notice the beautiful Bouchet type machines. The guitar was bought from the original owner, Leo Heredia, who bought it from Barbero and maintained it wirh Archangel Fernandez. There is a hairline back crack hardly visible and repaired by AF. It plays effortlessly, has sweet trebles and woody basses and has the perfect metallic rasqueado fast response. It's a dream guitar! Click here to view guitar.

Except for a hairline crack below the 6th string, it was hardly played, so the condition is fine. It has tuning machines, original case and bill of sale. 650 scale. Click here to view guitar.