Juan Montes Rodriguez Model "NINO" (?) from 2024

  

Until recently I haven't heard of this luthier from Spain. It is not

an old brand with its' roots more than 100 years ago but we all have

learned from others along the way so let's take a closer look and

have a close listen to this guitar coming from a luthier near

Valencia. Scale 650 mm.

It starts with a lot of ornamentations, in fact for me not necessary

and as for the model of the head this wouldn't be my first choice

either. But built qualities are really OK and a Spanish guitar with

supreme tuners are most of the time not that readily available.

 

A better spacing for the topnut was one of my wishes here but 

that can be done quiet easily. Very smooth working tuners though.

The neck has been provided with an ebony layer.

You can always swap the knobs if you alike pearloid better

Strange enough the exact model has been mentioned, just "Nino"

what would grow the expectations it to be an entry level guitar.

It is ment as a Flamenco model and the label has been signed 

and dated by the maker. We'll try to get in touch with them.

I found out that similar Flamenco guitar out of 2024 from this

luthier had the model name: "Nando" and that one was built

with cypress for back and sides. The company has stated that

they exclusively built this guitar for someone in the Nether-

lands, called Bertil who ordered another rozet as well and 

wanted to name the guitar "Nino". Comparable to the model

146 or 46 M but with some unique features.

What I particularly like is the rather low bridge as then also the 

weight won't have a negative influence on the final sound. You can

also detect the use of a twelve hole bridge. All finally executed.

Therefore it surprised me when moving in another bridgebone 

that there was a sort of lacquer compound under the bridgebone 

that really should not be there. Possible the top has been sprayed

with the slot of the bridge uncovered? A soft compound under

the bridgebone embarrasses the higher frequencies to come out.

But a lot of attention has been given to the edge inlays and

the overall inlays on sides and back.

Hardly any play wear on these frets. And luckily no damages

on the head points as this modelling is prone to accidents.

This is of course a rather strange move om these guitars:

They are stating that they re using Indian rosewood but 

they could also have used Madagascar rosewood, a rather

valuable species. No price differences? Cypress of course

is a native wood in Spain but rosewood has to come from 

far. Madagascar rosewood possibly even has already 

been placed on the CITES lists.