This flamenco guitar was built by master guitar maker Francisco Barba in 1967 and belongs to the earliest period of his career. Considered one of the finest guitar makers in the world, his guitars have been highly praised and are played by guitar makers, collectors and renowned guitarists such as Niño de Pura, Manuel Molina, Rafael Riqueni, Pepe Habichuela… and many others. It is particularly fascinating to see how, even at this early stage of his career, Francisco Barba’s extraordinary talent was already clearly evident, both in the perfection of his craftsmanship and in the exceptional tonal qualities of his instruments.

We are especially pleased with the acquisition of this flamenco guitar, as it is built with magnificent straight-grained Brazilian rosewood for the back and sides and German spruce for the soundboard. This combination of woods is extremely difficult to find among Francisco Barba’s guitars, particularly in instruments from this early period of his career. The exceptional quality and selection of the woods, together with the instrument’s decades of natural ageing, give this guitar truly distinctive tonal qualities and a remarkable personality.

In terms of sound, this is, without a doubt, one of the finest Francisco Barba guitars we have ever had. As we have always maintained, the sound of Francisco Barba’s guitars has already become part of the history of flamenco guitar, yet every so often a truly exceptional instrument appears, such as the one we present here. This is an extremely fast, aggressive and unmistakably flamenco guitar, with the immediate attack normally associated with the finest flamenco blancas, while at the same time possessing the extraordinary projection, depth and power of a great concert flamenco negra. This is an exceptionally rare combination that makes this instrument truly outstanding. Volume, projection, clarity, balance and character… it has everything; only by playing it can one fully understand the conviction behind these words.

The action of this flamenco guitar is medium, with a very well-balanced string height at both the fingerboard and saddle, factors that facilitate playing and provide excellent comfort for the guitarist. Its fast response and ease of playability allow the player to explore the full dynamic and tonal richness of the instrument with an immediate response under the hands.

The condition of this flamenco guitar is excellent and completely original, with no cracks or repairs of any kind. It is truly difficult to find Francisco Barba guitars from this early period, now approaching six decades of age, that have survived in such an outstanding state of preservation. This, combined with its exceptional craftsmanship, unusual combination of tonewoods and, above all, its extraordinary sound qualities, makes this guitar a very special instrument for both the guitarist and the collector.

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