1959 Hernandez Y Aguado #157

Sumptuous concert model from the Madrid luthier duo Manuel Hernandez and Victoriano Aguado, built in 1959 and bearing the number #157.

Hernandez and Aguado met while both working in a piano factory, and joined forces a few years later to found their own workshop combining piano and furniture repair. Established at 9, Calle Ribera de Curtidores in Madrid, it is here that they will begin their guitar production - the exact circumstances which led to this activity are somewhat foggy and full of hearsay, we nevertheless know that from 1948 they rented a corner of their workshop to luthier Modesto Borreguero, well versed in the profession since he had worked with Manuel Ramirez until the latter's death. According to the story told by José Luis Romanillos, luthier and historian of the Spanish guitar, it was by observing Borreguero at work that Hernandez and Aguado felt inspired to make their own instruments at the turn of the 1950s, and we must believe that their talent as wood craftsmen was perfectly translated into this transition since very quickly their guitars benefited from a particularly good reputation. To date, we know of some 356 guitars built by the duo, making their production among the rarest and most sought-after Spanish instruments of the 20th century.

The guitar presented here comes to us superbly preserved, and with the exception of the varnish which has been redone, it is free from breaks, defects or transformations. Spruce top, back and sides in splendid Brazilian rosewood, cedar neck, ebony fingerboard. We find a delicate inlaid pattern around the edge of the rosette, the head is sculpted in relief, these two elements being emblematic of the work of “HyA”. The instrument is absolutely light, its fine top resonating like the skin stretched over a drum, we find from the first notes all the delight of a great guitar, as balanced as it is deep. This lot is completed by the set of original Fustero tuners, luxury hardware that perfectly suits the general level of sophistication of the guitar. We have completely refretted the instrument, made a new set of bone nuts to adjust its action and intonation as accurately and comfortably as possible. The original set of nuts remains in the case, which is the one the guitar was originally delivered with!