1997 Tom Blackshear "1976 Rodriguez" SP/CSAR

American luthier Tom Blackshear had a long career both playing and building Spanish-style guitars since the 1950s until his passing in 2023. He triumphed the great Spanish masters of the past and in particular was extremely fond of the Miguel Rodriguez style as a template for many of his own classical guitars. This particular instrument is in fact based on a 1976 Miguel Rodriguez that was built for Todd Taggart (former president of Luthiers Mercantile International) who provided Tom with the set of CSA Rosewood that he personally handpicked for the build. The guitar captures beautifully the essence of a great Rodriguez - it's lightly built with 5 thin fan braces and produces huge sound with lightning fast and punchy response. It's also in great shape - no cracks or repairs, only some modest wear in the finish. This is perfect for someone looking for a guitar that is very "Rodriguez-ey" for a fraction of the price of a genuine Rodriguez.