conde(s)?

[keith]

what is the difference between conde hermanos of the felipe address (or at least the label says felipe) and the conde hermano of the gravina 7 address (or at least the label says gravina 7)?

both seem to be selling the same guitars (athough one may use the safety orange color) and both suggest paco plays their top of the line negra. there also appears to be older conde's from the gravina 7 address and as i recall their address was gravina 7.

what is the story here?

:?

[Miguel]

Hi Keith,

One of my co-workers recently received the following letter directly from Felipe and Mariano Conde. I believe this should clarify your doubts regarding this.

Regards,
Miguel
GSI

--------
Domingo Esteso was trained at Manuel Ramírez workshop along with Santos Hernández, Ernesto Borreguero, Marcelo Barbero at C/ Arlabán, Madrid.

Domingo Esteso took over his own business in 1915 and established his own firm at C/ Gravina, 7, Madrid.

In 1929, Faustino Conde, our uncle, began his apprenticeship of the building of guitars under his uncle, Domingo Esteso . A year later, in 1930 our father, Mariano Conde Sr., began his training under Domingo Esteso guidelines as well. Both, Mariano and Faustino Conde kept learning the building and they made guitars until Esteso´s death in 1937.

When Esteso passed away in 1937, Mariano Conde Sr., and Faustino Conde began to write in the labels " Viuda and Sobrinos de Esteso". - i.e.Esteso´s widow and nephews.

Our aunt-grandmother (Esteso´s widow) appeared in first place as a generational courtesy and respect. This lasted till Esteso´s Widow died in 1958. Since then, Mariano Conde Sr., and Faustino Conde changed the denomination in the labels and these read " Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso" -("Esteso´s nephews")- and, under that, in a small printname " Conde Hermanos". This was the very first moment when "Conde Hermanos" appeared in their guitars label scenario.

Later on, Mariano Conde Sr., and Faustino Conde changed the name place order again to " Conde Hermanos" i. e. Conde Brothers-and under that, it read " Sobrinos Domingo Esteso" -i.e. Domingo Esteso´s nephews- this being printed in a smaller size.This happened around 1970´s.

The history of Mariano and Faustino Conde has been linked since 1929 and till they died in 1988 (Faustino) and 1989 (Mariano Conde Sr.,).

We, Felipe Conde Cavia and Mariano Conde Cavia, learnt from our uncle Faustino and our father Mariano Sr. They made a good team that matched perfectly in the building of the Spanish guitar, as our uncle Faustino had a way of making the pieces and our father had his own way , however the two of them matched fully. Their pieces were played both by the whole of Spanish guitarists and many Foreign players. We can say that, regarding Spain some examples are as follows: Regino Sáinz de la Maza, Melchor de Marchena, esteban de Sanlúcar, Mario Escudero, Sabicas, Niño Ricardo, Paco de Lucía Juan Martín ..
Foreign players that played our father´s and uncle´s pieces are: Al di Meola, John Maclaughlin, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen, Toquinho, Tonino,Alirio Díaz, ...

Our History, Felipe´s (born 1957) and Mariano jr. ´s (born 1959) is linked to the guitar world since childhood. we were just little kids when we played with the wood leftovers to build our own little pieces, since we spent our holidays away from Madrid, at our workshop in Pozuelo de Alarcón-Madrid.

We started working with our father Mariano Sr., and our uncle Faustino when we were young boys, around 14 y.o. At that age we helped our father and uncle out. This dasily relationship was intense and took place in the old 7 Gravina Street workshop, where all of us were working together. This place was often visited by worldwide famous and reputed guitarists then.

Our trainig was dense, enriching since were very keen and linked to the guitar master builders who taught us: Our uncle and our father

In December 1979, we opened the Felipe V nº 2 workshop in Madrid. Here , where we currently are, Mariano Sr, MAriano Jr, and me, Felipe, worked together. However we were linked to Calle Gravina,7. we were all in all the same firm. This link was beoken since our uncle Faustino passed away in 1988. Ever since he dissapeared and till our present days, the continuity and responsibility of the brandname is in our hands. We are the third generation who keeps the Esteso´s tradition, going through the previous generations -Widow and Esteso´s nephews-Conde Hermanos aforementioned.

As anecdote, His Spanish Majesty´s House bought a first class guitar at our workshop in 1991 as a present for the Japanese Imperial House, during an official visit by the Royal Japanese heir to the crown.

The current players that have bought and play our guitars were already our father´s and uncle´s customers, but in the generational sense are more linked to us: Enrique de Melchor, Cañizares, Moraíto, Óscar Herrero, Angelo Gilardino, Roberto Morón, Rafael Riqueni, Gerardo Núñez...

On the other hand, the rest of the players of our father´s and uncle´s pieces aside, current foreign players of us are Lenny Kravitz, David Byrne among others.

We hope this information meets your goals. Should you have any doubt or need further info, pls. contact us.

best regards,

Conde Hermanos

[keith]

thanks for the response. however, now a really big question arises: if the legitimate heirs to the esteso line reside at the felipe v.address, and have been since 1988's, who is presently at gravina 7? if guitars built after 1988 have the label conde hermanos from the gravina 7 address, are they frauds? estudios? 2a's instead of 1a's? if the link was broken in 1988, how does the company name live on at that address? the letter seems to be a great opening chapter of a mystery novel--who remains at gravina 7?

[tmkid]

The view of the brothers at the Felipe V address is that those members of the family who remained at Gravina 7 were not trained guitar makers. In other words, the luthiers who work at Gravina 7 nowadays are hired employees not part of the direct family line.

I know it's complicated, but we hope this helps.