1971 Manuel Reyes Blanca Flamenco Guitar

Legendary Spanish luthier Manuel Reyes, Sr. has made some of the most sought after flamenco guitars over his 60 years in the business. Making guitars since 1949, he produced about 20 concert-quality guitars a year, with perhaps only half as many being Flamenco guitars.  In later years the wait list reached upwards of 15 years and all but closed to new orders.  He is now reportedly no longer making guitars due to health issues, although his son Manuel Reyes Jr. is continuing the tradition.  Because of their recognized quality and great scarcity, used Manuel Reyes Sr. guitars in excellent condition can easily run $10,000-20,000, and some have commanded significantly more.

So it was with great interest that I recently had the good fortune to play one of these gems in the home of its original owner, a former student of flamenco guitar who had the guitar custom-made by Manuel Reyes Sr. in 1971.  A "Blanca" model, it boasts a solid European Spruce top and solid Spanish Cypress back and sides.  It has been admirably maintained despite traveling the world over, thanks in part to its custom-made vintage Mark Leaf case, which boasts a built-in hygrometer and a positive seal between the top and bottom of the case to maintain a stable humidity level.  Although my classical guitar repertoire is very limited, I pulled out some rusty Malagueña fragments learned over 30 years ago for the occasion and revelled in the authentic flamenco sound this guitar produced.  It sure sounded worlds better than any classical guitar I have ever played.  Everything from volume, depth, and clarity across all registers was exquisite even to my relatively untrained ear.  Words fail, but it's one of those things: "you know it when you hear it."

Thanks to YouTube, you can check out this short clip of Vincente Amigo playing a 1988 Reyes Blanca to get some sense of how lovely one of these guitars sounds, especially in the hands of a pro.