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dinsdag 19 maart 2024

Amalio Burguet Model AB 2006 / Amalio Burguet Model 1A 1988 / Amalio Burguet Model "Maestro" guitar 2007



  

Presented here is the top model of Amalia Burguet,
the so called AB (Amalio Burguet) model. I'm not sure 
wether if every AB model has been equipped with
a so called "Doble Tapa" which means a layer of a 
softer wood sticked to the back, the way Manuel 
Contreras reintroduced. This one is provided with
this double top (or back) Difficult to detect differences
between these models and a 'normal" guitar but
the response of the higher notes is beautiful rounded 
and very even in sound. Lot's of volume and good
playability at the same time. Scale is 650 mm.
List price at this moment: Around 5900 Euro's.

  

The head presented here has the carving "AB" in
the furthermore graceful head design.


A fine grained spruce top with a bracing of its' own.
You can't describe it as a lattice bracing but it is also
far from a traditional fan bracing. More about this
bracing and a slight problem around it further here


The rosette as well as the edges are beautiful executed
regarding inlay work.


I've included this picture as you can see a varnish
crack that runs from the bridge to the sound hole
on the left. As a restorer you would like to know
wether it is a crack all through the wood or just
in the top layer of the varnish. Therefore a light
bulb works well, especially with a spruce top as 
this wood shines through. No crack on the inside
visible but the cause became clear to me.

One of the braces for the soundboard in that area
came loose in the past, thus causing a weak spot in
the soundboard there as a result from the tension
of the strings. Regluing the brace was not a big
problem and strengthening the spot in this way
has been executed. It doesn't' has any influence
on the final sound.


For me a bit of an odd looking type of rosewood though
investigations learned that Burguet uses Madagascar 
rosewood for his premium model guitars.


Great tuners as well and I think we have to be grateful
the older Spanish luthier companies stopped using the 
Fustero tuners as the company no longer exist. They 
made beautiful tuners but mechanically spoken not the 
top. These tuners are the top line of Gotoh 35AR510P.
but also can be found on the internet under "Gotoh
Hauser" tuning keys. (See below)


For more information please click on the picture. These
tuners are far superior to any others I've come across, 
including the Fustero's and other brands.


And with their knobs clinched on the axes.


As can be studied here: No fret wear. In fact a guitar like new!






Amalio Burguet Model 1A 1988



 

Presented another and probably the most popular
model in their range, the 1A model. Here beyond 
I will discuss the Maestro model which is discon-
tinued but would cost about a 1000 euros more.
These 1A models are really good value for money.
Scale length: 655 mm. Width topnut: 53 mm.
Price in very good condition here: SOLD



They are equipped with either a spruce or a cedar top.
This one has a cedar soundboard. This guitar furthermore 
is provided with an ebony fingerboard. The string tie
block is surrounded by a hard material which will prevent 
any damages caused by the tension of the strings.


This guitar made his years so chances are little 
that unwanted cracks will occur due to an improper 
construction detail somewhere. Made in 1988.


Both the neck and the back are free from nicks, dings
and scratches. A good and straight neck with enough
neck relief to let the strings vibrate freely.



You can enlarge the picture but as always there
might be some strange spots due to reflections 
while photographing so no damage here on the
right side of the guitar near the waist.



Sometimes inevitable damages might occur when placing 
a guitar against a wall. Nothing to be seen here. The wider
ebony inlays in the back of the neck appear to be less wide
on more recent models. And let's not forget that the sources 
to obtain the right woods are diminishing nowadays.


No cost saving moves on the choice of the tuners though
as always with older Spanish or classical guitars, the plastic
rollers often are cracked after a period of time, often
due to the expansion of the metal parts inside when
temperature changes are involved. These cracked ones
have been replaced with newer ones.


A remark could be made here as more than often these
small damages can be seen behind the string tie block of
a bridge when the higher strings pop off. Some string
companies provide their higher strings with a small ball
to prevent the string from slipping. In other cases it is
advisable to make a knot at the end of the higher strings 
to prevent these damages. Simply filling  them with 
varnish and / or super glue will cause a dark trace 
especially on cedar topped guitars. It is better to colour 
them first with paint to match the rest of the soundboard 
and then use super glue that will mix very well with 
the lacquer surrounding the area.


The fret wear can be studied here and for that reason 
the second string has been pulled out of the topnut.




Amalio Burguet Model "Maestro" guitar 2007







Presented here is a beautiful Amalio Burguet guitar.
Some work on this one but nothing serious. I will explain
the damages later here. Model "Maestro" which isn't
in the collection offered today. It was two models above 
the model 1A and with a retail price what would be
3500 euro's nowadays, the price was much more 
agreable recently. SOLD.


In fact very little damages apart from the sometimes inevitable
dings behind the bridge caused by strings that sometimes
jump loose and that counts for the highest strings. This problem
can be avoided by making a knot at the end of the string.


This guitar has been built in the month September in the 
year 2007. Signed by the luthier himself. It is just under
their premium concert guitar (but sometimes might even 
sound better.) Comparing prices with their 2021 pricelist
the amount for the more expensive guitars went up to
about 33 %!


A nicely shaped head with good tuners and 
a newly made topnut as I'm always opting
for a bit more room from the first string to
the edge of the neck. Width topnut: 53 mm.


The rosette and the narrow grained cedar top can be 
studied here and a closer look at the rosette as well.



This is what happens when the strings jump loose.
Always the two or three highest strings because 
they are more slippery. The result is almost always
a kind of scratch behind the bridge. Not deep but
deep enough to expose the bare wood. Moisture
now has a chance to get into the soundboard but
filling the small gap with lacquer always results 
in a very dark (ugly spot) I always try to match the
color of the soundboard with oil paint and  I fill the
small gap with super glue that really hardens out well
and mixes with the lacquer surrounding these spots. 
Therefore the spot will be more resistant in the
near future for this unlucky accidents. Depending 
on how the light reflects it is more or less visible.



Another worry for guitarists are the condition of the frets
on the guitar. I will always make a picture of the frets,
especially at the beginning of the fingerboard and under
the second string as that place most of the time has been 
played a lot. With wear as a result. No wear here.


The back is in a pristine condition as is the back of the neck.
Beautifully inlayed and where these guitars shine is their sound
of course. Really Spanish and most of the time at a reasonable
price. Also the 1A models can be very surprising! However
the new models have another scale length and cannot be 
compared with these older ones. To my opinion, the older
guitars got more attention in building specs and regarding 
the choice of woods.


A closer look is even possible here.


And no damages on the head caused by placing the guitar
against a wall. No cracks or other vital imperfections. 
Visible here is the reinforcement of the neck that in fact
is identical to the more recent 1A models.

maandag 11 maart 2024

Daniel Roye Concert guitar 1980


Presented here is a Daniel Roye guitar, built in 1980.
Recently refretted and a neck / body angle correction.
This guitar is in a very good shape with no cracks or
whatsoever. Scale is 650 mm while the topnut is 
54 mm. Daniel Roye continued with building violins
and is quite successful with it. He learned the craft
from Nicolaas van der Waals among others. Own
frequency from the body is a G so 98 Herz. Sold.


What immediately is remarkable is the way Roye shaped 
the head. In fact the way a violin builder is supposed to
do. I can't find immediate advantages of it. The topnut
has been redressed after the fret job.


On par with the quality of a concert guitar the tuners should be
of pristine quality. And I can confirm that: They are! Clinched
with the axe holders to the base plate and very smoothly working. 
The lyre motif is there as has been made popular by the Spanish 
Barcelona based Fustero company but I think them to come
from Germany. And indeed they are: Daniel Roye confirmed
this: They are from "Sommer", a small workshop in Buben-
reuth. With this link you are able to find out more about
them:


The body that has been built up with fine grained spruce
and beautiful figured Brasilian rosewood for back and
sides. Also the purfling has been done in rosewood.
The dull looking spots are simply reflections though 
there are some playing marks under the strings. 
Nothing serious but the guitars' top has been 
refinished with French polish but with the playing
marks still visible under it. Nothing serious but
it has to be mentioned to my opinion.


A surprisingly low bridge that hasn't been altered
by someone. The idea must have been that a lighter
bridge let's the top vibrate more freely. Moreover
the bridgebone is closer to the actual soundboard.
A newly made bridgebone adjusted for convenient
playability and stringsavers to get an even better
angle over the bridgebone though it was in fact 
not necessary.


The guitar from the back. Beautiful woods used here!


The back in all its' beauty. It almost looks as if the
back exists out of only one piece of wood. The 
seam is hardly detectable. The reflections are,
sorry for that....


A strange picture for classical guitar players I
suspect. The back of the head has been closed
with a layer of wood.



This picture is showing the recently placed new frets.
A 1980 guitar with a whole life in front of itself! And
with its' comfortable shaped neck it is an easy to play
guitar. As for sound: Not a very loud instrument but
it has a really nice low end and a good balance 
between the lower and upper registers.


In fact the Amsterdam Guitar Trio played most of their music 
on Daniel Roye's guitars so the sound can be judged there. 
Search for the Vivaldi: The four Seasons The Amsterdam 
guitar Trio. Soundwise I think the sound on this video is bit 
thin when I compare it with my guitar. But the idea in how 
a guitar should sound is changing over time. Also in the 
recording world as the digital era was just starting in 1980.
A more recent recording on YouTube has been made by
Alex Timmerman with a Manuel Maria Ponce piece.


In every detail it is becoming clear that the luthier
did his best to produce a beautiful instrument. I will
try to contact him and maybe I will get some more
information around several details.

zondag 10 maart 2024

Casimiro Lozano 1A Concert Guitar 1996 Brasilian Rosewood.

 


Presented here is a1A model by the Cuenca based luthier
Casimiro Lozano (1954). His work is highly regarded 
and his double top guitars from more recent times have
a waiting list of one year. This one is from 1996 equipped
with a spruce top and Rio rosewood sides and back.
Most likely made with the models of Ignacio Fleta in 
mind as we may conclude from the bracing this guitar 
is provided with. Scale length is 650 mm. Width at the 
nut: 53 mm. Brasilian rosewood bridge mounted. SOLD.


Luckily this guitar has been well used in the past and
the soundboard bears some marks due to that. The small
scars behind the bridge will be treated in the near future.


This picture gives the most honest view on the damages 
behind the bridge. As I recently got the comments from
a potential buyer about another guitar, I decided to leave
it as it is. Otherwise a buyer might think I'm hiding serious
damages. These imperfections often can be seen on 
classical guitars. I'm always advising to make a knot in
the highest strings on this spot. The rather slippery
higher 3 strings might pop loose.


Another picture in which you can see the strings are
making a good angle over the bridgebone but moreover
that the soundboard is still straight!


Most of the time this angle is more critical on the 
highest strings over the bridgebone. The strings could
even be lowered but that is not advisable as the
action on the 12th fret is 3 mm for the highest string
and 3,5 mm for the lowest string.


This is of course where this guitar shines as the Brazilian
rosewood in all its' beauty can be admired here. Wonderful!




The spruce soundboard can be seen and studied here
by clicking on it as well as the rosette of course.


In this guitar this label has been found and the use of
Brasilian rosewood on this one is an absolute plus.
Stunning if you are a real wood lover.


The veneer layer on the head has also been executed out
of Brasilian rosewood and the Schaller tuners are still
working nicely. A remark can be made about the topnut
as the luthier was aware of the spacing for the highest
string towards the edge of the neck: Just a bit more
room what facilitates the playing of pull offs.


I'm always adding these kind of pictures as you can 
see there is hardly any fretwear. And the fingerboard 
is real black as it should be when ebony is involved.


A close shot of the Schaller tuners. A small reparation 
was needed as the knob for the B string had too much 
play. These tuners can still be ordered under the type
announcement: Lyra GD Acrylic. Not cheap, but these
are working perfectly now.


Most likely the back has been retreated recently as it
is in a like new condition and that for an almost 30
years old one? Hmmm....


The glance makes it difficult to make a proper picture.
You need to play with extra lights on it to have a result
with hardly any reflection. Alberto Martinez of the Orfeo
magazine is a master in this field. But to be honest, he
was the photographer for BMW cars and that explains 
a lot. Nicely executed extra bindings here.


The back of the head that is free from any damage
sometimes due to placing an instrument against a wall!