1998 Vicente Sanchis "Dos Bocas" SP/IN

Vicente Sanchis Guitars are made near Valencia, Spain in an artisan factory-workshop where Spanish guitars are built that include classicals, flamencos, requintos and salon-size instruments. This particular model, named "Dos Bocas" does indeed live up to its name, having two sound holes (mouths) on either side of the 20-fret fingerboard. Francisco Simplicio experimented with this design in several of his instruments in the 1920s, and it has been re-visited by several other makers ever since. The idea behind this design is that it creates a larger vibrating area of soundboard between the soundholes and bridge, which produces not only just more volume but a bold and distinctive sound as well. It is very well balanced with solid basses and firm trebles, and despite its unorthodox look the sound is of a hauntingly tradtional, Spanish character. Easy to play and daring in appearance, this is a robust concert instrument that could carry well in any sized hall.