2024 Ariel Ameijenda "1885 Torres - SE 81" SP/CSAR

Note: This guitar will be featured in an upcoming issue of Orfeo magazine. See photos of the shoot here.

This is a great Torres copy with a fascinating back-story. Seven years ago, a previously "unknown" Torres surfaced when it was found in a home in Uruguay. The guitar is SE 81, from Torres' second epoch. It appeared that the guitar had not been played for decades, and was still in excellent condition for its age - it still had its original nut, machine heads, and most of its varnish - as it was later described by Italian luthier, Gabriele Lodi, who did some restoration work on it. Gabriele told us that it is one of the most well-preserved Torres guitars he has seen. Detailed plans of SE 81 had been drawn up and left with Ariel Ameijenda who immediately became inspired to build a copy for us. The only significant material difference from the original is that Torres used black locust for the back and sides, whereas Ariel chose a stunning set of CSA rosewood for this guitar, and has also done another in 2023 for us in maple. But otherwise, Ariel did his best to follow all measurements as precisely as possible, he tells us that his replica even weighs the same as the original!

The resulting sound is as fantastic as its appearance, with plenty of warmth and deeper resonance normally found in a played-in guitar but also sturdy, and brilliant trebles with the clarity of a piano. It has excellent power and great projection, making this instrument ideal for the concert stage, and the playability is very easy on both hands. This is a great concert instrument by any standard, from the most respected luthier currently working out of Uruguay. Ariel is the first luthier (that we know of) to build a copy of SE 81, and we are incredibly delighted to have it here!

Details about the original Torres and photos of this guitar being built