2016 Maria Conde "Negra" SP/IN

This is a great concert negra from Maria Conde, who along with her brother Felipe (hijo) are the new generation of Conde builders in a family tradition that has just celebrated it's 100th anniversary in 2015. This model is a "negra" which of course was popularized by Paco de Lucia after he began playing and recording on a Conde negra in 1969, but these also been picked up and played by countless other flamencos since. The rosewood back and sides give the box added projection, which makes these very useful in larger halls, with ensemble or even in solo settings. It has a driving, aggressive quality that makes it the ideal solo instrument for concert settings or the recording studio. Maria's years of apprenticeship under the watchful eyes of her father guarantee that workmanship is the usual very high standard from this shop, very clean, precise and with a refined aesthetic, not just in the beautiful rosette but also by the instantly recognizable "media luna" headstock shape, which has become the symbol of the Conde name for over half a century.Maria Conde in Jack Daniels TV commercialMaria and Felipe (hijo) Conde in Vanity Fair magazineLuthier bio: The Conde family historyFelipe Conde in Iberia Magazine