Item 16
Price: $80,000
Appraised Value 2016: $70,000
Appraised Value 2021: $80,000
The soundboard is made from halves of unmatched but straight-grained spruce. The bass half has a 25mm wide piece “winged” onto it to provide sufficient width for the lower bout. Grain spacing varies from 32 per inch near the center seam to 18 per inch at the edges. The rosette has a main pattern band of mosaic diamonds which is bordered with circles resulting in a proper and workmanlike flamenco rosette. The bridge is rosewood with its tie-block edged with bone for string protection. Ivory-tinted white celluloid golpeadors are fitted to the soundboard.
Back and sides are cypress with dark rosewood edging and single purfling on the soundboard. The center seam of the back has a fillet of dark rosewood which extends into the cypress cap on the heel. Neck and head are Spanish cedar and the face of the head is veneered with rosewood. Rosewood tuning pegs have mother-of-pearl dots inset into both ends. The fingerboard is ebony with medium-height frets.
Harmonic bars and crossbars rest on side braces and have slightly tapered ends and the center seam of the back is reinforced with a strip of cross-grained cedar. Top lining is of separate blocks and the back lining is kerfed. Hernández’s official Madrid luthier stamp is on the inside foot of the neck. The finish is the original French polish of shellac.
This guitar is in very good condition, showing playing wear on the soundboard where strumming occurs but no structural damage other than some small, well repaired cracks on the sides. The sound approaches perfection for accompaniment to flamenco cante and baile. Trebles are incisive with several degrees of harshness awaiting the player’s command. Bass is full and strong. A wide range of tonal colors are present over the entire dynamic range, and the instrument responds easily to the player’s wishes for volume, color and musical mood. This musical excellence is not surprising since Santos Hernández was one of the guitar makers who recognized a set of successful design elements that perfected the sonic qualities of the modern flamenco guitar.
Listen to this Guitar
Quality headphones or external speakers are highly recommended for auditioning on this high quality audio track.
Guitar Dimension Key
