1921 Santos Hernández SP/MP

This 1921 Santos Hernández is a spruce and maple classical guitar made in Madrid – the most original and well-preserved Santos we have seen in many years, and one of the 18 guitars of Marc Teicholz's CD "Valseana".

In the video above, Marc Teicholz plays Mendelssohn's "Venetian Boat Song" and "Canzonetta" on this guitar at his "Valseana Live" concert at GSI.

Red and Green Rope Purfling

This particular guitar, built in 1921, is a gorgeous example of Santos' work, with beautiful materials and superb craftsmanship. The guitar features some finer decorative elements, including a lovely alternating red-green motif found in the rope-patterned purfling, which frames the rosette and encloses the binding. This is the most original and well-preserved Santos we have seen in many, many years – condition is exceptional for a guitar of this vintage.

Tone, and Marc Teicholz's "Valseana"

Of course the most intriguing quality of this instrument is its tone – warm yet clear, balanced and focused. This instrument is a wonderful example of Santos at his absolute best, and it was featured on Marc Teicholz's great CD Valseana – it is the guitar of Roland Dyens' "Valse en Skaï" (track 2).

Valseana – Marc Teicholz

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.