1947 Enrique Sanfeliu Jr. SP/CSAR (ex Marcelo Kayath)

This 1947 Enrique Sanfeliu is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar built by his son, Enrique Sanfeliu Jr., and owned by the Brazilian guitarist Marcelo Kayath.

Built by Enrique Sanfeliu Jr.

The label, printed in turquoise, carries the word “Junior” in red under the Sanfeliu name and is signed and dated 1947. Ornate marquetry, a carved headstock and the other hallmarks of the family’s Barcelona style are all present in this instrument.

Ex Marcelo Kayath

This particular guitar was owned by the great Brazilian guitarist Marcelo Kayath, who used it for some recording and television work he did in the early 1980s – he plays Llobet’s “El Noi de la Mare” on it on Brazilian TV in the video above. Documentation from Mr. Kayath is included with the instrument. Some minor repairs were carried out during his ownership, all done by his friend the great guitarist and luthier Sergio Abreu.

Sound

It has a beautiful, old-world sound, reminiscent especially of Simplicio – lyrical trebles and a dark, haunting and mysterious quality. This is a very fine, rare, collectible and playable instrument from one of the great Barcelona workshops of the twentieth century.

Enrique Sanfeliu: From Valencia to Barcelona

Enrique Sanfeliu was born in 1882 in Valencia, Spain, and as a child built small “toy” guitars for his friends – a true sign of a promising future as a guitar maker. After hearing Tárrega play a concert in Valencia, he decided to devote his life to the guitar – not just as a player, but also as a maker. He later moved to Barcelona, where he worked in the workshop of Juan Estruch and befriended Enrique García, who shared his knowledge of lutherie with him. His own workshop was at Calle Ancha, 30.

García, Simplicio and the Barcelona School

Sanfeliu’s instruments show the unmistakable influence of the later guitars of Enrique García, as well as those of García’s great protégé Francisco Simplicio – ornate marquetry, carved headstocks and a beautiful, old-world sound. Perhaps the most famous player of Sanfeliu guitars was Agustín Barrios Mangoré, whose famous Sanfeliu bore his name in the headstock. His son, Enrique Sanfeliu Jr., also built guitars in the workshop, with labels marked “Junior”.