c. 1918-1920 "1860 Antonio de Torres" (Garcia/Simplicio) SP/MH
Year | c. 1918-1920 |
Top | Spruce |
Back & Sides | Mahogany |
Scale Length | 650 mm |
Nut width | 52 mm |
Finish | French Polish |
Country | Spain |
Luthier | Antonio De Torres |
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This magisterial instrument truly deserves to be regarded as one of the great masterpieces of guitar making. Clearly, it was modeled heavily on the famous "cumbre" guitar of Antonio de Torres from 1858 ("FE 08") and is a virtuosic woodworking wonder with its myriad of inlays in various styles - herringbone, meander, checker patterns and other geometrical shapes made of various woods and mother-of-pearl. These inlays appear most prominently in multiple strips of various thicknesses in the sides, back, and headstock. It is an absolute marvel to behold. It also sounds and plays as magically as it looks - it has that old-world quality found in instruments of this vintage that is hard to describe - very lyrical trebles and deep basses. This effect is enhanced due to its being fitted with a "tornavoz" - a conical tube attached to the soundhole, which adds a sonic boom to the bottom end and gives the trebles a brilliant clarity.
The guitar is in excellent condition - Fritz Ober did some restoration work on it several years ago, and was able to examine the interior in detail during his work, which led to some interesting discoveries. After extensive research and consulting with many of our expert friends around the world (including Fritz Ober, Yuris Zeltins, Diego Milanese and several others), we are confident that this guitar was not made in 1860 in Sevilla by Torres, but most likely c. 1918-1920 in Barcelona. Many subtle features throughout - including external design details and stylistic idiosyncrasies in the hand-work, as well as internal evidence in the bracing, lining and other structural elements - point to Enrique Garcia and Francisco Simplicio as the likeliest of its creators. If this is the case, the question arises as to "Why would the most respected and famous guitar maker of his day (Garcia) at the peak of his career, be willing to put in the Herculean effort required to produce such a showpiece, only to not take credit for it." As is well-documented, many builders (including most famously, Manuel Ramirez) after Torres built replicas of the master's work but claimed their own authorship. This was done for a variety of reasons - sometimes in an effort to discover and better understand Torres' secrets, or simply to rise to the challenge of testing one's wood-working skills when confronted with such work as a guitar like FE 08. This tradition is still alive and well to the present day by many including Kenneth Brogger, Gabriele Lodi, Luigi Locatto and a host of many other highly skilled luthiers. One possibility is that Garcia/Simplicio did originally install one of their own labels, but the label was changed at a later date, by someone else. Indeed Jose Romanillos himself says in his authoritative work on Torres that "Copies were made by very able guitar makers such as Enrique Garcia and Francisco Simplicio as their own instruments, whose original identity was obscured when they lost their original labels. These can be fine instruments that keep within the format and general style of Torres, conserving tornavoces, woods, and even the characteristic ornamentation." We believe this is likely the case with this instrument.
The significance and impact that the work of Antonio de Torres has had on the guitar world is just as strong today as it was in his own time. His instruments have mesmerized all generations of players and makers who have come into contact with them. The inspiration that has gripped the many luthiers who have come under their spell has led to an amazing tradition of replicas and tributes to the master. This instrument, in our opinion, is among the greatest examples in this enduring tradition.