Manuel Reyes of Cordoba is considered to be the greatest and most sought-after contemporary flamenco builder in the world. For more than half a century he has been known for his superb workmanship and authentic Andalusian flamenco sound - he has always constructed his guitars in the heart of the old quarter of Cordoba, in the deep south of Spain. His guitars have been played by dozens of flamenco professionals internationally, perhaps most notably being Vicente Amigo and Paco Serrano. His waitlist for new instruments has for years been closed due to its enormous size.
This guitar is easy to play and has all the richness necessary for solo performing. The tone of this instrument is sweet, beautiful and lyrical while retaining the bite and energy of flamenco: when playing melodically, it sings like a human voice, but also awakens with a tremendous bark when pushed harder. The strong, voice-like trebles are balanced by it’s big low-end that is full but not boomy. As sweet as the tone is, it still has the aggressive response when pushed in the right direction - rasguedos in particular are quite explosive and powerful. Playability is super easy, with easy, soft action. It's a very lightweight instrument, very much in the style of the great mid-century flamencos. It has machined "Planetary" pegs which have the look and feel of traditional wooden friction pegs but work like machines for very easy use. It's in concert-ready condition, ready for the studio or stage.
Condition-wise, this is in excellent condition with no cracks or repairs, only some slight touch up done recently to the finish - rare for a guitar from a desirable vintage like this. This is for the most discriminating player or collector seeking a Reyes in such great shape - impossible these days unless you can find a new one. This guitar is a true masterpiece, a truly remarkable and rare instrument.
