Santos Hernandez 1935
Santos Hernández – Madrid, 1935
This exceptional guitar was built in 1935 by the legendary Santos Hernández (1874–1943), regarded as one of the greatest Spanish guitar makers after Antonio de Torres. Many consider the 1930s among Santos’s finest years, a period when his craftsmanship reached its peak. Every detail of this instrument reflects his mastery: the elegance of the construction, the balance of the sound, and the ease of playability are simply perfect.
The guitar remains in its original state. It has a professionally repaired crack on the side and another on the back; aside from these, the spruce top is entirely free of cracks—an important feature for collectors and players alike. It retains its original French polish finish and comes in a specially made fitted case.
Specifications:
Spruce top
Indian rosewood back and sides
Spanish cedar neck
Ebony fingerboard
Beautiful custom Rodger tuners, originally ordered specifically for this instrument
This 1935 example comes from the collection of a distinguished guitar collector who owned many historically significant instruments, including guitars by Torres. Remarkably, he confided that he preferred this Santos over his Torres because of its superior playability and sound—a testament to the extraordinary quality of this instrument.
Santos Hernández
Santos Hernández learned his craft in the workshop of Manuel Ramírez in Madrid, one of the most important guitar makers of the early 20th century. After Ramírez’s death in 1916, Santos continued to build under the Ramírez name for a time before establishing his own workshop. His guitars are admired worldwide for their refined construction, beautiful tonal qualities, and effortless playability.
Perhaps most famously, Santos built a guitar in 1912 for the young Andrés Segovia, who went on to use it in many of his early concerts and recordings. This instrument helped shape the sound of the modern classical guitar and cemented Santos’s reputation as a master luthier.
A Rare Opportunity
This is more than just a guitar; it is a piece of Spanish guitar-making history, crafted by one of the greatest names of the 20th century. Its sound is clear, powerful, and refined—an instrument that continues to inspire nearly a century after it was built.