Conde Hermanos　[コンデ・エルマノス] AF-25R

Product Description

Neck: Cedro
Fingerboard: Ebony
Finish (Top): Lacquer
Finish (Back & Sides): Lacquer
Tuning Machines: Fustero
String Height (12th fret):1st string: 2.6 mm　6th string: 2.9 mm

Luthier / Brand Information

Among the many Spanish flamenco guitar brands, Conde Hermanos is regarded as one of the most enduring and iconic standards. The origins of the brand trace back to the legendary Madrid workshop of Manuel Ramírez (1864–1916). Domingo Esteso (1882–1937), who worked there alongside Santos Hernández (1874–1943), later established his own workshop on Gravina Street in Madrid in 1919.

Esteso’s nephews—Faustino Conde (1913–1988), Mariano Conde (1916–1989), and Julio Conde (1918–1995)—joined the workshop under his direct tutelage. After Esteso’s death, the brand continued under the label “Viuda y Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso” (Widow and Nephews of Domingo Esteso). When Esteso’s wife Nicolasa Salamanca, who had been responsible for finishing Esteso guitars, passed away in 1959, the label was changed to “Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso / Conde Hermanos,” and from this point the name Conde Hermanos became established as the brand identity.

During the 1960s, the workshop completely redesigned its models—from external design to internal construction—moving away from Esteso’s original patterns. The now-famous Media Luna (half-moon) headstock was adopted during this period as a signifier of the brand’s high-end models. Coupled with rapidly increasing worldwide demand, Conde Hermanos expanded its reputation and market presence dramatically.

In 1980, Mariano Conde established a workshop on Felipe Street in Madrid, producing guitars together with his sons Felipe I and Mariano II, while maintaining ties with the Gravina workshop. After Faustino’s death in 1988, the Felipe workshop began operating independently. In 1989, Mariano I also passed away, and the workshop was inherited by his two sons. From this point onward, the Felipe workshop became particularly adept at responding to contemporary needs, maintaining a stable commercial base among the three Conde workshops.

In 2010, Felipe I and Mariano II each established independent workshops under their own names—Felipe Conde and Mariano Conde—continuing the Conde Hermanos tradition while strongly expressing their individual identities.

Following Faustino’s death, the Gravina workshop was maintained by his widow into the 2000s but has since closed. Julio Conde, who operated the Atocha workshop founded in the 1950s, passed away in 1995; the business was then taken over by his daughter and granddaughter and continues today under the Conde Hermanos name.

Conde Hermanos guitars are famously associated with Paco de Lucía and many other legendary flamenco guitarists, and they remain an indispensable reference point for flamenco guitar enthusiasts worldwide.

Instrument Information

Conde Hermanos – Felipe Workshop
Model AF-25R, 2000
Used instrument.

This is a flamenco negra model featuring Central and South American rosewood back and sides. The soundboard is finished in a red-orange tinted lacquer, creating a vivid visual contrast with the dark back and sides. Structurally, the guitar shares the same internal design as the flagship A26 model, fully embodying the characteristic Conde sound and response.

In this example, note separation across strings and registers is particularly clear. The tonal sheen typical of negra models is evident, and the overall balance and refinement stand out, imparting a sense of clarity and even a subtle freshness. At the same time, the instrument fully retains the percussive strength and expressive gestures essential for flamenco performance.

There is one repaired crack near the treble side of the fingerboard on the soundboard, and another extending from the treble side of the lower edge of the bridge toward the lower bout (no internal patch reinforcement is present). A scratch approximately 3 cm in length is visible near the bass-side waist, along with scattered small dents under 1 mm. Considering the instrument’s age, the back and sides remain in very clean condition, and the back of the neck shows only minor wear.

The neck exhibits a slight forward relief, well within standard setup parameters. The frets show moderate wear overall—particularly from the 1st to the 7th frets—but not at a level that affects playability or tone. The neck profile is a slim D shape. String height at the 12th fret is set at 2.6 mm (1st string) and 2.9 mm (6th string), with 0.5–1.0 mm of saddle remaining. The original Fustero tuning machines are installed and function properly. The main resonance is set just below G♯.