Flamenco guitar Reed. “Sobrinos de Domingo esteso 1974” nº7 50ºANNIVERSARY

This flamenco guitar has been made by the master luthier Felipe Conde, in his workshop, located in 4 Arrieta Street, 2021, after starting to work on his own, and not with his brother Mariano Conde, his guitars have got only his name, nobody else´s, leaving behind Hermanos Conde´s brand name and making a fresh start.

On Solera Flamenca we would like to show our customers the new model of flamenco guitar made by Felipe Conde. It is a model which accurately replicates one of Paco de Lucía´s guitars, which we acquired through Maestro José Mª Bandera. We had this guitar two years ago, and it surprised us so much that we instantly knew we had to make a reedition. Well, this day has come, after talking to Felipe Conde we started the project, collaborating with them, in order to create a true gem of Spanish guitar: “Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso Reedition, 1974” (Domingo Esteso´s Nephews). (SEE NEWS)

This flamenco guitar is truly special for us. It is not so easy to find guitars from this popular firm from Madrid in any time, with this combination of woods: secuoya and Brazilian rosewood. It is authentic, with its corresponding CITES certificate.

The use of Brazilian rosewood is the only change we implemented in this reedition. The original guitar was made of Indian rosewood, which takes this instrument to the very top rank, destined to be a cult instrument. The Brazilian rosewood used for its construction has all the qualities and characteristics that we like the most for a flamenco guitar and that we have been seeing and learning through years of experience. This rosewood has a lot of contrast in its tonalities and light, as opposed to the typical dark and heavy rosewood that always provides a more classical timbre. Great masters of the past already knew these differences, as for example the genius Miguel Rodriguez, and we can clearly see this in some of his best guitars, such as the so-called Puerta de la Iglesia.

It was made with the same template and mould used for the original instrument in 1974. In fact, Felipe acquired the mould after his aunt Juliana, Faustino Conde´s widow, passed away. A model that was born in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of Felipe Conde in his career as a guitar maker. From this model, only 25 units will be made, exact replicas of this guitar. Thanks to Felipe Conde´s hands, this reproduction was carried out down to the smallest detail. The luthier decided to call it “Concierto Serie Oro” (Concert Golden Series).

In this new model of flamenco guitar, Felipe Conde managed to create an exact replica of Paco de Lucía´s guitar. As regards timbre and sound quality they are almost impossible to distinguish. The soundboard is made of a very special wood that the maestro Felipe Conde has kept hidden away for all these years and that he has now decided to use in this very special model that commemorates his 50th Anniversary as a guitar builder: The Secuoya (SEE NEWS). This combination of Secuoya and Brazilian rosewood is really special in the guitar world. These woods, along with the quality and structure of guitars back then, provide the instrument with surprising sound quality and volume, bringing back the genuine and personal sound of Hermanos Conde from that golden age of flamenco which captivates all of us.

We are once again pleasantly surprised by this 1974 reissue model, regardless of the obvious volume and projection. We found a sublime balance: to the point of listening to a scale and not being able to distinguish the change from trebles to bass strings. Its strumming exudes flamenco and character, and its timbre transports us to that era of flamenco written by masters such as Paco de Lucia, Melchor de Marchena, Cepero… among others.

In the attached images we have included a photograph of a guitar from the year 1974, from the same firm, with a secuoya soundboard which comes from the same tree from which this very same guitar has been made.

Scheller pegboxes, exact replica of the tuners in the original guitar “La Invencible”, by Antonio de Torres, in 1884 (SEE). Apart from this exclusive pegbox, the guitar will be delivered with a BAM Panther case and a certificate written by Felipe Conde.

The tension of this flamenco guitar is medium, and the height of strings in saddle and fingerboard is reduced. The fluidity with which the left hand works across the fingerboard together with the comfort of the touch of the right hand, thanks to a marked ‘rebound effect’, make it one of the most comfortable guitars we have tried over the years.

The condition of this flamenco guitar is brand new.