1969 Manuel de la Chica CD/CSAR

Year	1969
Top	Cedar
Back & Sides	CSA Rosewood
Scale Length	665 mm
Nut width	52 mm
Finish	French Polish
Country	Spain
Luthier	Manuel de la Chica

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The back and sides of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The soundboard and rosette of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The headstock veneer and tuning machines of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The bridge, tie-block and saddle of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The heel, back binding and purfling of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The front of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The side of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The back of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The rosette of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The headstock of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

The label of a 1969 Manuel de la Chica classical guitar made of cedar and CSA rosewood

Description

This 1969 Manuel de la Chica is a cedar and CSA rosewood classical guitar – one of his rarer cedar tops – with no cracks or repairs.

A Cedar-Top De la Chica

Most of his guitars have spruce tops, which makes this cedar-top classical a less common find. The label is signed and dated 1969.

Sound and Condition

It has a lyrical, singing quality to it, yet at the same time can bite if pushed; very light in weight, it has piercing volume. Although a longer-scale instrument, playability is a breeze. Condition is excellent with no cracks or repairs, only some recent finish work from the Germán Vázquez Rubio workshop. This is an exceptional instrument in every regard from this great builder.

Background

Manuel de la Chica: Granada’s Great Master

Manuel de la Chica (1911–1998) is arguably the greatest guitar builder from Granada to date. His early professional background was in cabinet making, as is the case for countless other fine guitar makers. His focus shifted to guitar making in the late 1930s when he had seen and become attracted to the Spanish guitar, primarily those of Santos Hernández. His labels – with their view of the Alhambra – come from his workshop on the Placeta de la Sillería in Granada.

Santos, Barbero and De la Chica

Often his instruments are compared to the later guitars of Marcelo Barbero (who assisted in the construction of several Santos guitars left partially built at the time of Santos’s death), which we feel is a very strong and fair comparison. Like Santos and Barbero, De la Chica was at home building both classical and flamenco guitars, and his finer instruments have the flexibility of being played in either style.

Retirement and Rediscovery

In 1973 he was forced into early retirement from guitar making due to health complications he was experiencing from inhaling dust and chemicals in his taller. From his early departure until his death in 1998, his instruments fell into relative obscurity; however, renewed interest in recent decades and a re-evaluation of his work have convinced many that his contribution, skill and insight into the art of guitar making establish him as one of the great makers of all time. Among those who learned from him was Antonio Marín Montero, his student and friend.