Francisco Gonzalez Dynasty Group

3 Guitars from 1869-1927
Offered at $132,000
$154,000 if purchased individually

Francisco González, an accomplished contemporary of Torres, built fine guitars from 1845 to 1880, that won prizes in important craft exhibitions.  Jose Ramírez III states that “the González guitar his family owns shows the undisputable expertise of a great guitar maker”.   Few Francisco González guitars (about 8), are known to exist. González’s work is pertinent to Spanish guitar history because he was a highly respected and skilled maker who slowly, and only partially, adopted the Torres concepts and thereby perpetuated the older construction concepts.  González, in about 1870, employed José Ramírez and the González heritage is apparent in Jose’s work. González was slow to change because he proclaimed himself an innovator on his unusual circular labels.  This 1869 Francisco González guitar had endured some poor repairs in its 150 plus years before being acquired for the collection, but the Collector felt a duty to try to return such a rare, beautiful and historic instrument to the best condition possible, so this guitar has now been restored by luthier Jeffrey R. Elliott to a functioning beautiful instrument and it continues to make music and enrich guitar history.

The Hijo González firm succeeded Francisco González continuing well into the twentieth century.  Hijo Gonzalez labels, at first, proclaimed the maker as Hijo Francisco González before the Casa González trademark was adopted, and a Casa González labeled guitar is also included in this Specialty Group.  The Hijo Gonzalez and the Casa Gonzalez labeled instruments are economical “tablao” style guitars but show workmanship of higher quality and are in better condition than expected for this type and age of guitar.

The rare, sonically wonderful, visually beautiful, expertly restored Francisco Gonzalez example is an essential addition to a growing, advanced collection or one with those aspirations.  The Francisco Gonzales guitar alone is a “rarely-in-a-lifetime” offer.  This opportunity to acquire the group of three is unlikely to ever happen again.

FRANCISCO GONZALEZDYNASTY SPECIALTY GROUP