2021 Hans van Velzen "1917 Garcia" SP/IN

This model by Hans van Velzen was the third prize winner in the 2nd International "Antonio Marin Montero" Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain. This guitar is based exactly on the specs of his winning guitar. It is modeled as precisely as possible on a 1917 Enrique Garcia (#187) which has been very influential on Hans' work. In this Garcia, Hans has found the aesthetics very pleasing to his taste, especially in such details as the rosette design, the small piece of ebony above the nut and the Mother of pearl frame on the bridge. He also likes the roundness of the neck shape and many other features.

Hans notes that when you look at the work of Enrique Garcia, it is obvious Garcia had detailed knowledge of the instruments of Antonio de Torres, which he used as the starting point for his own work. But it also allowed Garcia to introduce some of his own alterations, for example adding an additional fan brace on the treble side (making for an asymmetrical, 8-fan system). Garcia also seized on Torres' occasional use of a rounded heelcap, enlarging and shaping it for ergonomic purposes. Sound-wise, Hans finds that this design gives him access to the kinds of sound colors he likes to hear in a guitar: deep, dark basses and velvety trebles, all nicely balanced. Hans has also made great effort to use materials as similar to those used on the original over a hundred years ago, including the same type of glue. He has even matched the weight of his braced top to that of the Garcia (about 130 grams). In the same spirit he has also tried to replicate as closely as possibly the original construction method, including the technique of roping the guitar when gluing the back and bindings. A final nice detail is on his label, Hans (like Garcia) notes his notable prizes which include: 2011 First prize at the Dutch Guitar Builders meeting, 2014 "Golden Fingerplane" of the CMB in Belgium and the 2018 3rd prize in the "Antonio Marin international Guitar Building Competition" in Granada, Spain. Hans admits that one never truly knows what guarantees you have by following these kinds of details, but he is pleased to report that so far he has always been very happy with the results, including with this instrument we now offer here for sale. We are too!

This is a second-hand guitar and has some minor wear in the finish, otherwise it is in excellent condition with no damage or repairs.

Photos of this guitar taken during construction.