1903 Santos Hernández "El Bombón" SP/CY

"El Bombón" is a 1903 Santos Hernández spruce and cypress guitar made in Madrid – the earliest known guitar to bear his label, built for himself and kept by him until his death.

The Earliest Known Santos Hernández Label

This particular guitar is quite unique. It was built in 1903 and is the earliest known guitar to bear his label – "Santos Hernández, Constructor de Guitarras, Madrid", with the year written in by hand – as he was employed by the Manuel Ramírez workshop at this time, producing instruments with the Manuel Ramírez label. The reason he would have made this guitar in 1903? For himself!

Kept by Santos until 1943

The condition of this guitar is outstanding, which of course makes sense since Santos kept it until his death in 1943. It remained in the family for over half a century and is now in the collection of Jonathan Kellerman. It is an extremely charming example of Santos' best work, with beautiful materials and his usual, precise craftsmanship. It features a beautiful three-piece back of cypress, and a simple but elegant rosette of concentric rings.

A "Pensive" Sound

It is said that he was a very inward, yet proud person and the sound of his more typical guitars reflect this – this one in particular has a rich, deep and almost "pensive" quality of sound supported by a solid, almost self-assured fundamental at the center of every note. It also has a beautiful loose, old-world feel to it. Overall a gorgeous and unique example of this great maker's output.

Santos Hernández and Segovia's 1912 Manuel Ramírez

Santos Hernández (1874–1943) is one of the elite makers of the historical pantheon – along with Torres and Hauser I in terms of collectibility and historical importance. Santos became a very established maker early in his career when he became known as the builder of the Manuel Ramírez guitar of 1912 that was owned and played by Andrés Segovia – this very guitar currently resides in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, right next to Segovia's 1937 Hauser I.

From the Ramírez Workshop to Calle de la Aduana, Madrid

Born in Madrid, Santos started out as a boy making the gold and silver trimmings for bullfighters' suits, and turned to the guitar in 1886. After his apprenticeship and five years of military service, Manuel Ramírez – the teacher he always considered his true one – took him into his workshop, where he became foreman. Two years after Ramírez's death in 1916, Santos set up his own shop, soon on Calle de la Aduana, where the great guitarists of the day came to visit and where he worked until his death in 1943.

A Guitar for the Great Players of His Day

Many others have played his instruments, including Regino Sainz de la Maza (for whom the "Concierto de Aranjuez" by Joaquín Rodrigo was written), Eduardo Abreu, Daniel Fortea, and the Romero family among others, as well as flamenco masters such as Ramón Montoya and Sabicas. Players for the past 100 years have valued these instruments for their charming, introverted quality of tone.