Early Romantic Guitar, after Martinez
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZTbGYBwEWSC0EjSCh2OfcGC_23ZdL1cLqCL4BmqERiVF7RCxkJxtKjSb0HIUfk4g7CyyUewDjMq8izM-PALAXb7R2_gXqKbd_enp4oqe2ZthbPjHrz7Rwbl17M7epPXvD9Pzo1iVAImqr/s320/IMGP0558.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAvLR7F41BgSfvDovZ_aeBTKkUgkvr8HgfA4iLCunx347wUtRbBavXUqxaJTtCtIwbRivm2u2PT8HeSSYGJgMGoLrLmcbEykeGz9N3p77SKpLoDZTDDz5Fie-ExMXcCI2-vcYwtgkSiHiA/s320/IMGP0554.jpg)
The back and sides are eastern black walnut and the end graft is also manzanita.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyxZVau0FlhaDVFx3eUYPraj_yY2w7MoeOrjOQwoRWrK53s8Psr7H-5rZsUrfREaDQt8Ie4aiQvnTsbyxlMUzoKNPxU_SYWxW0MhGz82jC40BGnJ9YTMOri4G0rhaU3K3L6SGlFORHLXe/s320/IMGP0548.jpg)
A view of the guitar's back.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYTNfxAsTm0NqCtuiSATS_Brhb-SGUUynXNw4s3C0IWdPO6QK0Pyp4QeDoxqH88g4wBdD9tpTJ5x2-vIlOfVS_Bd0QH_IDRqGy6zsQ-BKTCWvNI7ZspyZE1R3F63cTRroGCXsszZpESLyR/s320/IMGP0547.jpg)
The top is old growth Douglas fir, handsawn from a board that once was a bleacher seat. This guitar has a wonderful tone and I am always amazed at how loud it is every time I play it. It's a little bit bigger than a tenor uke, but sounds better. I did make a concession by making a "modern" bridge for this guitar, the original has a lute style chordal block that was standard back at the turn of the 19th century. I had a hard time adjusting the guitar's action with that bridge, so I put on the bridge you see. The top bracing is a 3 brace fan, again typical of a Spanish guitar of the period. I find it interesting that the modern Spanish luthier Bernabe used a 3 brace fan on his classical guitars, I don't know if he still does. This guitar is a joy to play and the music of Guiliani and Sor sound better on it, the sound reminds me of a fortepaino, maybe this was the sound the players and luthiers were looking for back in 1816.
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