1941 Santos Hernández SP/CSAR

This 1941 Santos Hernández is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar made in Madrid two years before his death – a late, signed guitar from his most mature period, with a colorful mosaic rosette.

In the videos above, Benjamin Gascon plays Guastavino's Sonata No. 1 (Allegro Spiritoso) and Preston Hong plays the Prelude & Très Vite from Bach's BWV 995 on this guitar, followed by a short presentation of the guitar.

A Late Santos from His Most Mature Period

This particular guitar, built in 1941, is a late guitar from Santos' most mature period and is an extremely elegant example of his best work, with beautiful materials and his usual, precise craftsmanship. The rosette features colorful (especially with the use of reds and greens) diamond and square patterns in the mosaic, matched also in the rosette and top purflings. Its label, signed by Santos, gives the address Aduana 23.

Condition

Condition is excellent for its age – there is one hairline (invisible) crack under the fingerboard (repaired internally with glue only) and another hairline crack on the top in the lower bout (treble side), cleated internally with 5 small cleats. These repairs were done over 20 years ago by Yuris Zeltins, who also refinished the guitar, and in a recent conversation mentioned that he did not take the original finish down to the wood, so the original thicknesses remain, as well as the original, dark patina in the spruce top. Back and sides are crack-free.

Sound and Playability

The sound of this guitar has a rich, natural and very "woody" quality supported by a solid, almost self-assured fundamental at the center of every note. Playability is a breeze with a very comfortable neck shape. Overall a very handsome and charming instrument that captures the essence of this great 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.