1950 Ignacio Fleta SP/MH

The guitars built by Ignacio Fleta before 1955 are rare to appear on the market primarily due to the fact that very few were made during the initial phase of his professional career, 1927 to 1955. At this time, he was primarily a builder of instruments in the violin family, only building guitars on occasion.

This very unique and intriguing instrument was built in 1950, and uses very rare quilted mahogany for the back and sides, and features ornate marquetry in the detailing, a feature not normally associated with the more familiar Fleta guitars built post-1955 (which are typically simple and understated by contrast to this guitar). It has the standard Fleta mosaic in the rosette (which is still used today by his grandson Gabriel Fleta and countless others) however it is flanked on either side by full herringbone inlay which also outlines the top in the outer purfling. Additionally, the back and sides have extensive half-herringbone purfling along every edge of the mahogany. These pre-1955 Fleta's are in a sense a link in the Barcelona school between the ornate and intricate guitars of late Enrique Garcia and Simplicio/Sanfeliu, with the later, more conservatively built instruments of Coll and post-1955 Fleta.

Sound-wise the guitar is absolutely stunning. It has an old-world sound with a dark and mysterious character. It is a full-sized instrument and has enormous power, even by modern standards, and could easily fill any sized hall. Overall this is truly a one-of-a-kind instrument, among the more unique and rare we've ever seen.