1903 Vicente Arias SP/CSAR

This superb 1903 guitar by Vicente Arias (1833–1914), with a spruce top and CSA rosewood back, was made in his Madrid workshop on Calle de las Huertas and is featured in the Camino Verde book on the maker.

A 1903 Vicente Arias from Madrid

A glance at this guitar's label shows why Arias was likely a household name in his own time: it proudly displays the medals he won in Brussels, Madrid and Barcelona. Several of his most famous contemporaries performed on his instruments, including none other than Francisco Tárrega. This guitar appears on pages 192–193 of Vicente Arias 1833–1914: The Forgotten Luthier by Camino Verde.

Sound: Rich Overtones, Clear Voices

Even though the plantillas and bracing systems Arias experimented with differed substantially from guitar to guitar, his reputation for a consistently beautiful quality of tone is likely the reason for his enduring legacy. This guitar is a great example – it is simply exquisite. While every note is rich in overtones, it keeps an almost unbelievable degree of separation and clarity between voices. Thanks to its ultra-lightweight build, the sound is immediate, with ample tonal modulation and dynamic range.

An Elaborate Arias Rosette

Aesthetically, this is a gorgeous instrument with beautiful materials, including a dramatic set of CSA rosewood for the back (interestingly, the sides are of Indian rosewood). It also showcases one of his more elaborate and colorful rosette designs, with circular floral patterns in the central band, surrounded inside and out by strips of peanut-shaped and circular inlays – a great example of his more virtuosic woodworking.

Condition

The guitar is in excellent, restored condition. Like almost all Arias guitars we know of, it has had repairs to stabilize old cracks, and the original tuning machines have been replaced with a set of Rodgers. A second fingerboard has been added to the original, likely to lower the action. The integrity of the instrument's sound and playability is perfectly intact, and it is ready for any concert or recording project – an expressive and impressive instrument from one of the most enigmatic builders in the "canon" of the great historical makers.

Vicente Arias (1833–1914): The Forgotten Luthier

Vicente Arias is one of the most intriguing yet shadowy giants in the history of guitar making. Very little is known about his life, and his guitars are rarely seen today, yet among players and collectors they carry a mystique and a standing matched by few makers of his era. For the most current research on him, we highly recommend Camino Verde's book Vicente Arias 1833–1914: The Forgotten Luthier.

From Ciudad Real to Madrid

His labels trace his career. In the 1880s he signed himself "Constructor de guitarras en Ciudad Real"; by the early 1900s he was in Madrid, first at Calle de las Huertas 29 and later at Santa Isabel 20. His Madrid labels proudly display the medals he won at competitions in Brussels, Madrid and Barcelona – a sign that he was likely a well-known name in his own time – and several of his most famous contemporaries, including Francisco Tárrega, played his guitars.

Rosettes, Experiments and a Legendary Sound

Arias never settled on a single design: his plantillas, bracing and degree of ornamentation varied greatly from guitar to guitar. His rosettes and inlay work are among the most discussed and admired in today's guitar-making community for their elegant, original designs and masterful execution. Arias guitars are still played by leading performers such as Stefano Grondona, David Jacques, Raphaella Smits and Javier Riba.