Guitar Santos Hernández 1924 EX-Quintín Esquembre

This guitar was built by the legendary master luthier Santos Hernández in 1924. He was Manuel Ramírez´s best disciple, working for him for 23 years. In 1918 he opened his own workshop in 23 Aduana Street. Santos Hernández built around 300 guitars since 1916 until his very death. These guitars were used by many of the greatest guitarists of that time: Ramón Montoya, Andrés Segovia, Sabicas, Niño Ricardo, Regino Sainz de la Maza, etc.

This guitar has belonged to the renowned guitarist Quintín Esquembre. (SEE NEWS)

The different kinds of wood picked for this guitar are really exclusive, impossible to find nowadays. The german spruce of the sound top shows a truly smooth grain, straight and uniform through the entire surface. The Brazilian Rosewood of the back and sides is really homogeneous and with a beautiful black chocolate tone that endorses the quality of the piece. The finishing are simply perfect.

Its sound is the epitome of perfection. We are, possibly, facing the best classical guitar we have ever seen and tried in our lives. That’s how definitive it is. Its projection and sound quality are something that escapes the imagination; one must see it to believe it. The tone is delicate and sweet yet with an unreachable power and volume. Its trebles are precise and crystalline, displaying a wide variety of harmonics across the fretboard. A historic guitar that will be the crown jewel of any collection.

The guitar tension is medium, and the height of strings in saddle and fingerboard, perfectly balanced, so it is quite a comfortable guitar for both hands.

The conservation state is very good. Is surprising to find a guitar of this time in such good condition. It has undergone a restoration carried out by the master luthier Francisco Sánchez, detailed and documented in the attached images. The guitar still has the original varnish, as the shellac has been slightly brushed up after the above mentioned repair. We must highlight the construction firmness this instrument shows, which make it appropriate to play it and use it in any situation, getting away from the rumors that say vintage guitars are fragile and delicate.