2016 Francisco Barba SP/MH

This guitar has it all. It responds to a light touch yet stands up to powerful playing. It has great volume without sacrificing great tone, producing beauty of sound or a growly flamenco bark. Picados and rasgueados are machine-gun fast, yet it has lyrical sustain. The mahogany back and sides enhance the mid-range over a cypress guitar, but without the heaviness that can sometimes come with rosewood. One of those rare flamenco guitars that is just perfectly balanced. On top of this, it's stunning to look at: inlaid mother of pearl rosette, intricate black/white purfling and matching tie block, high-end Gotoh tuners, the finest woods with a masterful French polish finish. These many qualities combine to produce a perfect example of why Francisco Barba is regarded by many to be the greatest living builder of flamenco guitars. Although a second-hand guitar, this Barba is in like-new, "mint" condition.

Of the same generation as Manuel Reyes and Gerundino Fernandez, Francisco Barba is considered one of the top constructors of flamenco guitars in Spain. He is also the best-known and reputable builder not just in Seville, but arguably in all of the region of Andalucia where his guitars have been played by many of the top guitarists of the region including Riqueni, Manolo Franco, Nino de Pura and many others.