2019 Felipe Conde Crespo CD/GE

This is a great concert classical from Felipe Conde Crespo (aka Felipe Conde Jr.), who along with his sister Maria are the new generation of Conde builders in a family tradition that has just celebrated it's 100th anniversary in 2015. Like the classical guitars of his father, the basic dimensions and proportions of this guitar are derived from the soleras used by Domingo Esteso, and this guitar in particular is derived from later Esteso models which were favorites used in the "Viuda y Sobrinos de Esteso" and "Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso" eras of the family history. The plantilla is very similar to one also used by Santos Hernandez, if not the same, and it is slightly smaller than the standard Conde shape. While building this guitar, Felipe Jr. spent time studying several guitars from the family collection including instruments by Santos Hernandez, Viuda y Sobrinos de Esteso and Domingo Esteso, and they were all nearly identical in body shape and proportions to this new guitar, presented here. The bracing is a double fan system designed by Felipe Jr. Also the width of the sides are shorter than his previous guitars, making this a slightly smaller box than his previous instruments. Felipe's years of apprenticeship under the watchful eyes of his father guarantee that workmanship is the usual very high standard from this shop, very clean, precise and with a refined aesthetic, not just in the beautiful rosette but also by the classic Esteso head shape. Materials are always first-class, and for this guitar, he used some beautiful and exotic Green Ebony for the back, sides, purflings, bridge and head veneer. Fitted with Alessi tuners. Sound is big, hearty and full, yet very balanced and clear at the same time. As is the case with his father's classical guitars, this instrument has great power in the tradition of the leading Madrid makers of the last 50 years, and it plays easily with a gracefully shaped neck. Overall a beautiful and powerful Madrid guitar with a rich and full sound.

Felipe (hijo) and Maria Conde in Vanity Fair magazine

Luthier bio: The Conde family historyFelipe Conde in Iberia Magazine