2018 Yulong Guo "Granada" SP/CSAR

Yulong Guo has been building guitars since 1983 and has gained a solid reputation in recent years for his high-quality student-level double top guitars, as well as a concert double-top model based on the soundboard designs of Antonius Mueller. However at the 2018 MusikMesse in Frankfurt, Germany, he was able to evaluate an authentic Antonio de Torres guitar, which had a profound effect on him. He set his mind to designing and building a top-quality traditional concert model, and prepared this new model for the 2nd International "Antonio Marin Montero" Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain. The guitar was a hit - a major success and it landed him second prize. This is our first of this model from him and we are pleased to be his exclusive US representative for this model. Just a look at this and one can immediately see the bold, but classy aesthetic - the rosette has a Romanillos-inspired motif featuring black Moorish columns backed by abalone inlays, giving the guitar a dramatic and strong look. The head veneer and binding are snakewood, and the back has a strip of maple which tapers toward the heel, and is flanked on either side by a gorgeous book-matched set of CSA rosewood. Sound is as lovely as the appearance - velvety, smooth and balanced across all registers, this is really a classy instrument in every regard and we look forward to many more of these to come. Congratulations to Yulong Guo for a tremendous instrument all around. Although a second-hand guitar, this instrument is in like-new condition.