Vicente Tatay Classical Guitar (1940s)
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Vicente Tatay Classical Guitar (1940s), made in Valencia, Spain, natural finish, rosewood back and sides, spruce top; laminated mahoghany neck with rosewood fingerboard, period black hard shell case.
The guitars produced under the Tatay brand are notoriously hard to date and classify, but this one has a history of having originally been purchased from Sophocles Papas at his teaching studio in Washington DC around 1949, and includes Papas' method book and 1940s teaching brochure. A sticker inside the case lid from the Spanish Guitar Center in NY indicated the Guitar was likely serviced there or the case replaced by them in the 1960s. The original tuners were changed to 1950-60s Waverly strips at some point, so perhaps that was what was done there.
This is a nice mid-level Valencia-made Tatay, with a body of light-grained rosewood and a nicely grained spruce top. The neck is multi-laminated with a triple center strip and rosewood fingerboard. The soundhole rosette is fairly elaborate and there are small shaped pearl inlays on the bridge ends and headstock. The older 1940s black Tatay label is under the soundhole. This guitar has a lovely warm traditional "Spanish" sound and plays well, a nice piece of classical guitar history.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 2 in. (51 mm.).
This guitar has a number of old repairs but remains structurally solid and a good player. The finish shows dings, dents and scratches with some typical nail wear to the top. There are 4 sealed grain cracks on the rosewood back, one on either side of the heel and a neatly matched mirrored set off the back edge, The bridge has been reglued with some disturbance along the front edge. There are a number of old spruce grain splits to the soundboard, running back from beneath the A string, forward of the bridge to the soundhole, another off the top edge of the bridge and one just at the treble edge of the top. All are solidly sealed with only localized touch up and polishing out, no wholesale overspray.
Everything on the guitar appears original except for the later (but still vintage) tuner strips; internally the instrument is unaltered. This is an authentic Spanish guitar showing its age but decently preserved and well seasoned as a player's piece. It is a fine-playing vintage instrument with a cool backstory. Overall Very Good + Condition.
The guitars produced under the Tatay brand are notoriously hard to date and classify, but this one has a history of having originally been purchased from Sophocles Papas at his teaching studio in Washington DC around 1949, and includes Papas' method book and 1940s teaching brochure. A sticker inside the case lid from the Spanish Guitar Center in NY indicated the Guitar was likely serviced there or the case replaced by them in the 1960s. The original tuners were changed to 1950-60s Waverly strips at some point, so perhaps that was what was done there.
This is a nice mid-level Valencia-made Tatay, with a body of light-grained rosewood and a nicely grained spruce top. The neck is multi-laminated with a triple center strip and rosewood fingerboard. The soundhole rosette is fairly elaborate and there are small shaped pearl inlays on the bridge ends and headstock. The older 1940s black Tatay label is under the soundhole. This guitar has a lovely warm traditional "Spanish" sound and plays well, a nice piece of classical guitar history.
Overall length is 38 3/4 in. (98.4 cm.), 15 1/8 in. (38.4 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 7/8 in. (9.8 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 1/2 in. (648 mm.). Width of nut is 2 in. (51 mm.).
This guitar has a number of old repairs but remains structurally solid and a good player. The finish shows dings, dents and scratches with some typical nail wear to the top. There are 4 sealed grain cracks on the rosewood back, one on either side of the heel and a neatly matched mirrored set off the back edge, The bridge has been reglued with some disturbance along the front edge. There are a number of old spruce grain splits to the soundboard, running back from beneath the A string, forward of the bridge to the soundhole, another off the top edge of the bridge and one just at the treble edge of the top. All are solidly sealed with only localized touch up and polishing out, no wholesale overspray.
Everything on the guitar appears original except for the later (but still vintage) tuner strips; internally the instrument is unaltered. This is an authentic Spanish guitar showing its age but decently preserved and well seasoned as a player's piece. It is a fine-playing vintage instrument with a cool backstory. Overall Very Good + Condition.