2019 Luis Fernández de Córdoba "Homenaje a Torres" SP/IL

A 2019 "Homenaje a Torres" classical guitar by Luis Fernández de Córdoba, with a spruce top and Indian laurel back and sides – his own design drawing on the first-epoch guitars of Antonio de Torres.

In the videos above, Aaron Larget-Caplan plays Bach's Prelude in D minor, BWV 999, and Garrett Podgorski the Prelude from the first Cello Suite on this guitar.

First-Epoch Torres Details

Rather than copying one Torres, Luis infused his design with first-epoch ideas: thinner sides, an open lower harmonic bar, a brass tornavoz, a classic first-epoch head shape and a rosette and purfling taken from an original 1862 Torres. It departs from Torres in its 52 mm nut, a plantilla slightly larger than the largest Torres, and solid laminated linings – and the tornavoz is removable, for repairs and for the player's choice.

The Spirit of Torres

The tornavoz lowers the body resonance so that the basses have the deep bottom end of vintage tornavoz guitars, and the trebles sparkle. It practically plays itself, with immediate response and power. Our first Luis with Indian laurel, it is pre-owned and in excellent condition with minor finish wear.

Luis Fernández de Córdoba: From Panama to Alexandria

Luis Fernández de Córdoba is a Panamanian-born luthier who works in Alexandria, Virginia, near Washington, D.C. He began building in 2000, opened his workshop in 2001 and, after years of building and repairing all kinds of acoustic guitars, has devoted himself exclusively to classical and flamenco guitars since 2009. He apprenticed in the USA and in Granada, Spain, and has worked alongside makers in Spain, Mexico and Argentina.

Inspired by the Spanish Masters

He has studied the great makers of the past – Antonio de Torres, Santos Hernández, Hermann Hauser I, Manuel Velázquez, José Romanillos and Robert Bouchet – and visited the workshops of Richard and Marshall Brune and of Jeffrey Elliott, another of his inspirations. He is a member of the Guild of American Luthiers.