1934 Santos Hernández SP/CSAR

This 1934 Santos Hernández is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar made in Madrid, with his lyre label from Calle de la Aduana 27.

In the videos above, Rupert Boyd plays a Prelude by Fornerod, and Scott Morris gives a lesson on guide fingers and left-hand preparation – both on this guitar.

A 1934 Santos from Aduana 27

This particular guitar, built in 1934, is a gorgeous example of Santos' work, with beautiful materials and his usual, precise craftsmanship. Tone is warm yet clear, balanced and focused with a deep, old-world sound. It has that charming, introverted voice so typical of Santos – a wonderful example of the maker at his best.

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.