1989 Marcelino Lopez "1899 Salvador Ibáñez" SP/IN

In addition to building traditional "Torres" style guitars, Marcelino Lopez also built many other historical instruments based on pre-Torres designs including vihuelas, Baroque guitars, Baroque and Renaissance lutes, and even other non-guitar-esque instruments such as viola da gambas, harps, harpsichords, clavichords and various period-styled violins and violas. This guitar, made in 1989, is a meticulously built copy of an 1899 Salvador Ibáñez guitar - which was in Marcelino's vast collection of historical instruments, so he was able to study the original first-hand when building this replica. Salvador Ibañez (1854-1920) was a luthier working in the coastal Valencia area who in 1883 established his workshop that eventually become a large production facility in the following decades, producing a myriad of stringed instruments including bandurrias, lutes, mandolins and ukuleles in addition to a wide variety of guitar models, some with simple appointments and others with extreme amounts of inlay and decoration.

This instrument is a full-sized guitar by modern standards yet has a noticeably lightweight build which gives it a lively character with punchy, immediate attack and an old-world sounding voice. It is very comfortable and easy to play (the nut width is 48 mm making it very easy on the left hand especially) and has surprisingly large volume. The guitar is in excellent condition with no damage or repairs, only some very mild wear in the finish. It is concert ready for any performance situation. This is a fantastic "period style instrument" by one of Spain's most enduring and experienced legends.

Includes custom hardshell case fitted to the dimensions of the instrument. This instrument was in Marcelino Lopez's private collection and was only sold after his passing in 2018.

Orfeo Magazine: Marcelino Lopez Nieto

Interview: Marcelino López Nieto