2023 Felipe Conde Crespo "Negra" SP/AR

This is a great concert "negra" flamenco from Felipe Conde Jr., who is the newest generation of Conde builders in a family tradition who celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2015. Like the flamenco "negra" guitars of his father, this based on the same dimensions and proportions as the Conde made famous by Paco de Lucia. It has a driving, aggressive quality that makes it the ideal solo instrument for concert settings or the recording studio. 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 media luna head shape. Materials are exquisite with an aged spruce soundboard full of bearclaw and a gorgeous set of African rosewood for the back and sides featuring dramatic grain patterns. Sound is big, raspy and piercing, yet very balanced and clear at the same time. As is the case with his father's 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. Although a second hand-guitar, the condition is mint/like-new. Overall a great modern Madrid guitar with a rich and full sound.

Felipe (hijo) and Maria Conde in Vanity Fair magazine

Felipe Conde in Iberia Magazine

Conde Hermanos guitars have been the industry standard for Spanish flamencos for many decades now. Conde has been the guitar of choice for the vast number of great players for many generations from Nino Ricardo and Melchor de Marchena to Paco de Lucia (who has recorded and concertized for nearly his entire career on Conde), Moraito, Gerardo Nunez, Canizares, Rafael Riqueni and the present generation's Diego del Morao and many others. Click here to see a small sampling of such performances. They are famously known for a dry, "woody" and very firm tone, capable of retaining clarity and punch even when driven to the extreme limits of speed - whether in picado, tremolo or rasguedo techniques - these guitars can hold up and deliver a reliable and consistent quality of tone. Felipe Conde has been building these guitars for almost 40 years - first with his father and uncle and later with his brother. Now Felipe has established his own workshop, where he is ushering in the next generation of Condes - both his son Felipe Jr. and daughter Maria are now professional luthiers working out of Madrid and GSI is proud to be the exclusive US dealer for their guitars.