Item 06
Price: $170,000
Appraised Value 2016: $150,000
Appraised Value 2021: $180,000
SOLD
Bouchet (1898-1986) had two periods of building, each having a different internal bracing philosophy. The first period of 1946 to 1956 was characterized by thin soundboards (1.5 to 2mm typical), seven-strut fan bracing, and openings in the lower harmonic bar through which the outer fan struts passed. The second period of 1956 to 1986 featured five-strut fan bracing, a third harmonic bar ending short of the sides positioned under the bridge, no struts to the sides of the soundhole and a smaller plantilla.
Bouchet’s output was small, only 154 instruments, but the handsome Bouchet look, a lovely distinct sound and the use of his guitars by great players have established Bouchet as an essential luthier in the history of the classical guitar.
The soundboard of this 1967 guitar is made of matched halves of straight-grained spruce with grain spacing of 25 per inch at the center joint to 16 per inch at the edges. The rosette has a central band of small mosaic diamonds. The rosewood bridge has its tie-block capped with a strip of matching mosaic diamonds framed in ivory.
Back and sides are made of perfectly quartersawn Brazilian rosewood. The two-piece matched back has a seven-strip fillet along the center seam. Neck and head are mahogany with the face of the head veneered with rosewood. The tuning machines are chemically etched and silver-plated by Bouchet, and the tuning grips are exquisitely carved. These machines have the uncommon configuration of having the spur gear above, and pulling into, the worm gear. The fingerboard is ebony with medium frets. This guitar is in excellent condition with its original French polish of shellac. Its sound is full-bodied and clear.
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