1996 Jose Romanillos "La Pauolera" SP/IN

José Romanillos has established himself as one of the greatest luthiers of the twentieth century. His instruments have been played by Carlos Bonell, Gilbert Biberian, and Antigoni Goni, among many others. But the best known champion of these guitars is Julian Bream, who performed on them almost exclusively for much of his career. The label bears his signature as well as his son Liam's who had been partnered in the business since 1991. The instrument has all the qualities of an exceptional guitar; a sweet and lyrical tone with excellent separation. The volume is excellent and yet it's almost "noiseless" -- string noise and nail noise are absorbed and not amplified, allowing the notes themselves to sound unhindered. This guitar features Romanillos' well-known "open harmonic bar" which is to say that the lower of the two bars has been "opened" to allow the two outermost fans to pass freely through to either side of the rosette, opening up more of the soundboard for transmission of sound. The detailing on this guitar is stunning, particularly in the tie block, headstock, and rosette, which all feature elaborate inlays. The instrument is a bit on the smaller side, very reminiscent of the classic "Torres" style, of which Romanillos is perhaps the greatest exponent. Condition is near-mint. All in, this is a remarkable and breathtaking instrument.

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