2017 Michael Thames No. 957 "La Leona" SP/CO

This 2017 Michael Thames No. 957 “La Leona” is a spruce and cocobolo classical guitar after one of the most famous guitars of Antonio de Torres – “La Leona”, FE 04, of 1856.

A Variation on “La Leona”

Thames built variations on “La Leona” that differ from the original mainly in their materials (the original has cypress back and sides) and tuning (the original has pegs). This one has a 30-year-old spruce top, dramatic cocobolo back and sides with contrasting sapwood flourishes, and Gotoh tuners. He also designed a bridge based on the original, with an adjustable saddle hidden under the tie block. The label is numbered 957 and dated 2017.

The Brass Tornavoz

Like the original, it has a brass tornavoz, which deepens the body resonance across all registers – felt most in the basses – and adds sparkle to the trebles. Goran Krivokapić plays Tárrega’s “Gran Vals” on it in the video above.

Michael Thames: Half a Century of Guitars in New Mexico

American luthier Michael Thames built guitars in New Mexico for more than half a century – first under the label “The Land of Enchantment”, then in Taos and, from the mid-2000s, in Santa Fe – and by 2018 he had made over 1000 instruments. His numbered labels carry his family crest and signature. He has recently retired and now lives in Thailand.

Historical Replicas and Experimental Designs

Thames built a great variety of instruments: traditional concert guitars and flamenco guitars, historical models after René Lacote and Antonio de Torres, and experimental designs of his own, such as guitars with a brass or carbon-fiber tornavoz. For him the most important quality in a great guitar was the attack and ease of response, and his guitars are known for a big, robust and lush sound.