Flamenco guitar Antonio de Torres 1869 (F. Simplicio)

This classical guitar has a rather interesting story. When we went to the workshop to value the instrument, we found a surprise: analyzing the insides of the guitar, we realized it was a perfectly made replica of a guitar of Mr Antonio de Torres´ first period. After studying and analyzing its making, everything seemed to point at the fact that we were before an instrument coming from Enrique Garcia´s workshop, due to the patina of the head. However, the inner side of the wood showed a different work style, rather typical of Francisco Simplicio. We contacted two experts and friends of ours who, after analyzing the instrument, confirm our theory: it was no dubt a replica of a guitar by Antonio de Torres, made by Francisco Simplicio at Enrique Garcia´s workshop. Getting deeper into that story, we learned some people had traded these replicas in the Argentinian market for some time during this period. In fact, we found two collectors with exactly the same guitar model. As you can see, despite being a replica, we are before one of the very best guitars made by one of the very best luthiers in history.

This classical guitar belonged to the guitar maestro and composer Graciano Tarragó (1892-1973), and was purchased directly from the guitarist´s family. (SEE NEWS)

The sound coming out of this guitar is really magical. One can hear its surrounding sound and a very particular scope, thanks to the inner sounding board. Its timbre indeed reminds us of Mr Antonio de Torres´s guitars of his first period, especially its bass, but with some more contemporary nuances, typical of Enrique Garcia´s school. A true gem of the Spanish classical guitars which, apart from belonging to one of the most important guitarists in Spain, has an enthralling story which could be finally told.

Its condition is really good, particularly if we bear in mind the fact that we are before an instrument which is more than 100 years old, used non-stop by a professional guitarist as Graciano Tarragó. It only has four cracks on the top, all of them perfectly repaired and shown on the images attached. However, we have only had the chance to take pictures of the outside of the guitar, as the sounding board made it impossible to take pictures on the inside, as well.