Juan Estruch Modelo 1 CTO Classical Guitar (1981)
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Juan Estruch Modelo 1 CTO Model Classical Guitar (1981), made in Barcelona, natural finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; Spanish cedar neck with ebony fingerboard, original black hard shell case.
Juan Estruch is a well known and much respected name in Spanish lutherie. The brand was established in 1880, founded by Juan Estruch Rosell. His son Juan Estruch Sastre carried on the guitar making business and after his passing in 1970 the third generation son Juan Estruch Pipo took over the firm. This guitar was built in 1981 and carries a dated yellow label under the soudhole. This is signed by Juan Estruch Pipo, signifying the guitar was personally built by him, not the shop employees.
Guitars like this one from the "yellow label" period are generally the most highly regarded Estruch instruments. In the US that is at least partially due to a connection with Chet Atkins. When Atkins was asked shortly before his death which of his many guitars he most preferred, he cited a 1964 Juan Estruch which he played daily. This was the guitar heard on many of the private "basement recordings" that were found after his death.
This "yellow label" Estruch is a somewhat later but equally fine model. It features fine-grained rosewood back and sides and a spruce top with elaborate and beautiful rosette inlays. The sound is deep and powerful yet very detailed and balanced. Juan Estruch Pipo died in 1989; while the workshop continued to make guitars under the Estruch they are in a different class from those personally built and signed by Juan Estruch. This is a lovely example and a truly superb instrument for its price class.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.).
This is a very clean guitar overall; it shows some minor wear but does not look too much used. The most notable spot is re-stringing wear behind the bridge (mostly on the treble string side) which has been lightly touched up. Other that that this 40+ year old guitar shows only light handling marks. The back of the neck has hardly any wear. Structurally the guitar is excellent with no damage or repair, a superb playing instrument with a deep, rich sound. Overall Excellent Condition.
Juan Estruch is a well known and much respected name in Spanish lutherie. The brand was established in 1880, founded by Juan Estruch Rosell. His son Juan Estruch Sastre carried on the guitar making business and after his passing in 1970 the third generation son Juan Estruch Pipo took over the firm. This guitar was built in 1981 and carries a dated yellow label under the soudhole. This is signed by Juan Estruch Pipo, signifying the guitar was personally built by him, not the shop employees.
Guitars like this one from the "yellow label" period are generally the most highly regarded Estruch instruments. In the US that is at least partially due to a connection with Chet Atkins. When Atkins was asked shortly before his death which of his many guitars he most preferred, he cited a 1964 Juan Estruch which he played daily. This was the guitar heard on many of the private "basement recordings" that were found after his death.
This "yellow label" Estruch is a somewhat later but equally fine model. It features fine-grained rosewood back and sides and a spruce top with elaborate and beautiful rosette inlays. The sound is deep and powerful yet very detailed and balanced. Juan Estruch Pipo died in 1989; while the workshop continued to make guitars under the Estruch they are in a different class from those personally built and signed by Juan Estruch. This is a lovely example and a truly superb instrument for its price class.
Overall length is 39 5/8 in. (100.6 cm.), 14 7/8 in. (37.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 4 1/8 in. (10.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.).
This is a very clean guitar overall; it shows some minor wear but does not look too much used. The most notable spot is re-stringing wear behind the bridge (mostly on the treble string side) which has been lightly touched up. Other that that this 40+ year old guitar shows only light handling marks. The back of the neck has hardly any wear. Structurally the guitar is excellent with no damage or repair, a superb playing instrument with a deep, rich sound. Overall Excellent Condition.