Beschreibung
Very rare – this guitar is a unique piece built by the master Andres Marin (Valencia) – Augustin Barrios an Andres Marin guitar!
Andrés Marin (active from 1880-1950) was one of the most renowned guitar makers in Valencia. He married the widow of Agustin Almonacid, who had a guitar factory on Calle Barcelona 17 and whose successor he became around 1882. The factory produced guitars, bandurrias, lutes, mandolins and a variety of other instruments.
In 1882 and 1883 Andrés Marin won gold medals for his exceptional guitar building skills and was awarded the title of best guitar maker in the world at the time.
This guitar is a model with a smaller body. It can probably be dated to the time around 1890. The top is of fine spruce and the back and sides of pearwood. The scale length is 648 mm and the nut width 49 mm.
It has a surprisingly big sound for its small body. Very clean, clear and pure quality to the sound, a very strong fundamental with very controlled overtones, and a very natural, “woody” quality of sound, very stylish, refined and alluring. The rich, played-in quality of sound is something that can only be found in an instrument of this vintage. In the hands, it feels very expressive and responsive to the most subtle of changes in the players touch. The sound is absolutely magical from the bottom-end to the highest registers.
The guitar is in restored condition and some cracks has been repaired. There was also some restauration work around the sound hole. It is in well playable condition, with a low action.