Item 12
Price: $85,000
Appraised Value 2016: $80,000
Appraised Value 2021: $90,000
SOLD
Considered to be on the continuum of the greatest guitar makers, José L. Romanillos (1932-) is a luthier and guitar scholar who moved from Madrid to London in 1956 and made his first guitar in 1961. The renowned guitarist Julian Bream was so impressed with his work that in 1970 he established Romanillos in a workshop near Bream’s home in England. Bream concertized extensively with Romanillos guitars thus spreading their fame.
The proportions, decorative touches and high-quality workmanship help make this guitar outstanding. The two-piece soundboard is made of matched halves of excellent quality close-grained spruce. The rosette has a theme inspired by arches of the mosque of Cordoba. The bridge is rosewood with its tie-block edged with protective strips of bone.
Neck and head are cedar and the face of the head is veneered with rosewood with an inlaid center band of exquisite “meander” pattern. The top of the head is not shaped in the typical Romanillos three-arch pattern but rather in a softly pointed “Pope’s hat” pattern. According to correspondence with Romanillos, this is the only one of his guitars with this head shape; he simply liked this unique shape that emerged while carving. Original Landstorfer tuning machines have been replaced with precise and highly decorative Rodgers tuning machines in nickel finish with wooden grips. The fingerboard is ebony with high frets. Back and sides are flame patterned Indian rosewood. The soundboard, sides and back all have double purfling in natural-colored wood. The back has a band of “meander” pattern inlay at the center seam that extends into the cap of the heel.
This guitar is in excellent condition, original except for a French polish refinishing. The guitarist Ricardo Cobo comments that this guitar does not play intuitively because of its long attack time. Tones take milliseconds longer than expected to build volume but, the tones are full and “royal.” The sound is clean, smooth and medium loud. Response is well balanced and good tone production is easy.
Listen to this Guitar
Quality headphones or external speakers are highly recommended for auditioning on this high quality audio track.
Guitar Dimension Key
