Item 24
Price: $60,000
Appraised Value 2016: $70,000
Appraised Value 2021: $80,000
This rare guitar is one of only four Fleta Sr. flamenco guitars, and it is improbable that any more were made because Fleta states in a letter that he will not accept future orders for flamenco guitars because his waiting list is 11 years long.
The cypress-bodied instrument has more sustain and sonority than most other flamenco guitars, probably due to its size and classical-style bracing. The soundboard is made of book-matched halves of European spruce with 24 per inch grain spacing. The iconic Fleta rosette has a central mosaic of diamonds and stars bordered with bands of grain-of-wheat design along with several concentric circles. The rosewood bridge has the same mosaic design outlined in bone on top of its tie-block.
The bracing pattern features a slanted harmonic bar and nine fan strut pattern that tightly controls the lower soundboard more than most flamenco patterns. Cross-grained mahogany strips reinforce the center back seam and the body’s interior is varnished.
The sides and two-piece back are of clear straight-grained cypress. The neck and head are cedar with the face of the head veneered with light pearwood. The engraved tuning machines have clear plastic grips. The finish is the original French polish of shellac.
The guitar’s sound is more classical than flamenco oriented with an interesting clear and slightly cool voice. The balanced timbre suits the continuity of much of the classical repertoire. The neck angle is steep for flamenco guitars resulting in a higher action than typical flamenco guitars.
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