1965 Hernández y Aguado SP/IN

This 1965 Hernández y Aguado is a spruce and Indian rosewood classical guitar from Madrid, No. 2 – one of the guitars the workshop labeled as built by its foreman.

"Construida por Nuestro Oficial"

This is a particularly interesting example from this shop. In place of the standard signature, the label – partly water-stained – is signed "Construida por nuestro oficial" (roughly "built by our foreman"), followed by the initials "V.C.". So although this is a Hernández y Aguado in sound, aesthetic, feel and place of origin, it appears that the final assembly was done by their foreman of the time. Of course he would have used all Hernández y Aguado parts and tools, building it in their shop under the supervision of the two maestros, to their specs.

Sound and Condition

The initial attack of the note is crisp and "snappy", almost like a snare drum, while the body of the note which follows is fat and warm, filling out the surrounding sonic space – clear and precise in quick, busy music, very expressive and lyrical in slower music.

This guitar is in great condition with no cracks; however, it has been refinished, and a replacement bridge has been installed (with the original mosaic in the tie block), which is reflected in the price. The old tuners must have worn out, as they were replaced with a beautiful set of Rodgers. So this is an excellent value for someone looking for a great playing and sounding "HyA" at a far more affordable price than they typically sell for.

Hernández y Aguado: From Pianos to Guitars in Madrid

Manuel Hernández (1895–1975) and Victoriano Aguado (1897–1982) met and became friends while working together in a piano factory. They eventually formed a partnership and set up their own piano (and furniture) repair shop in Madrid. As legend has it, their great interest in the art of guitar making was secured sometime in the 1940s, when they leased out some space in their shop to Modesto Borreguero (one of the famed Manuel Ramírez workers) and became intrigued with his guitar making skills.

A Unique Shape and Sound

Hernández y Aguado instruments remain unique in the canon of great makers – they have an almost pear-like shape (or as we say, the plantilla is "pregnant at the hips"), the interior is typically varnished just like the exterior, and they are decorated with unusually thin rosettes and ornately carved headstocks. Very responsive and musical, these guitars have been played throughout the decades by such greats as Regino Sainz de la Maza, John Williams, Julian Bream and, in more recent years, Graham Anthony Devine.