| Ignacio Fleta was one of the greatest makers of the 20th century, working in Barcelona where he made guitars for many of the finest players of our era including Andres Segovia, and John Williams. This example is a one owner instrument having been purchased in Barcelona from Fleta in 1963 by the current owner, who is a guitar aficionado and part time professional player. Immaculately maintained this guitar is a paragon of preservation, having only three small hairline cracks in the back (which we have already glued expertly) and a new set of frets to correct a slight back bow that had been in the fingerboard since it left Barcelona. Everything else is original and untouched since it left the makeršs hand, including the varnish, which shows some checking on the sound board, typical of Fleta varnishes of the early 1960šs. This is one of the later double bar sound board designs which have very brilliant trebles and quite firm, almost boxy basses. This instrument has a very colorful, clear incisive sound with great articulation, and plays perfectly, suitable for either the fussiest original condition sensitive collector, or musically demanding concert artist. It is my feeling that the evenness of response evident in this instrument would make it an ideal recording studio guitar of the highest caliber. For more on Ignacio Fleta, see my article in the June 1999 issue of Vintage Guitar magazine. SN 286 |
