1989 Ignacio Fleta CD/IN (ex Juergen Ruck)

This 1989 Ignacio Fleta is a classical guitar with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, built in Barcelona by Francisco and Gabriel Fleta, with provenance from guitarist Jürgen Ruck.

Jürgen Ruck's 1989 Fleta

This guitar was previously owned by the German guitarist Jürgen Ruck, who played it on his Deutsche Grammophon recording of contemporary works with the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Claudio Abbado.

Sound and Playability

This is a great Fleta from 1989, made by Ignacio's sons. It brings together tremendous power, balance, warmth and clarity – all qualities associated with a great instrument from this period. The voice is haunting, dark and mysterious, at home in contemporary, Spanish or South American repertoire, and its sustain is superb in virtually every register. Playability is easy, with a very comfortable neck and response to the right hand.

Condition

Condition is excellent, with only some minor playing wear. A strong, bold-voiced Fleta with real appeal for both collector and performer.

Ignacio Fleta: Master Guitar Maker of Barcelona

For performers and collectors alike, the name Ignacio Fleta (1897–1977) ranks among the elite handful of 20th-century luthiers. Trained in Barcelona as a maker of violins and cellos, he built mainly bowed instruments from the late 1920s until 1955, when he decided to devote himself to the guitar. Countless scores of the finest players in the world have played his instruments – among them Andrés Segovia, John Williams, Angel Romero, Turibio Santos, Alirio Díaz and Marcelo Kayath.

Ignacio Fleta e Hijos: Three Generations

By the mid-1960s Fleta's sons, Francisco (1925–2003) and Gabriel (1929–2013), had become his partners in the workshop – which is why the labels from then on read "Ignacio Fleta e hijos" (Ignacio Fleta and sons). After Ignacio's death in 1977 the brothers carried on, and today Gabriel's son, Gabriel Fleta Jr., continues the family workshop in its third generation. Many dozens of Fletas have passed through our doors over the years.