Manuel Reyes I　[マヌエル・レジェス I 世] Flamenco Blanca

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:FUSTERO
String Height(1st):2.6mm
String Height(6th):2.5mm

[Profile]
Manuel Reyes Maldonado (1934–2014)
Born in Pallena, Granada Province, Spain, in 1934, Manuel Reyes moved to Córdoba at the age of ten and remained there throughout his life. Originally a flamenco guitarist, he began building guitars after attempting to repair an old instrument and becoming dissatisfied with the result. Largely self-taught, he refined his skills with guidance from Joaquín Sánchez Galisteo and started building professionally in 1949.

A pivotal moment came in 1956 when guitarist Pepe Martínez introduced him to the legendary Madrid maker Marcelo Barbero I. Although their acquaintance lasted only about a year before Barbero's death, his influence on Reyes proved decisive. Over the following decades, Reyes steadily established a reputation as one of Spain's finest flamenco guitar makers. His fame reached an international level in the 1980s when renowned guitarist Vicente Amigo adopted his instruments.

Combining traditional flamenco responsiveness with exceptional refinement, tonal beauty, and playability, Reyes became one of the most influential flamenco luthiers of the late 20th century. Following his passing in 2014, the workshop was continued by his son, Manuel Reyes Jr.

[Description]
This is a superb 2007 Manuel Reyes Flamenco Blanca, built during what would become the maker's final years and representing the extraordinary refinement that came to define the Manuel Reyes sound.

While fully embodying the essential qualities of a great flamenco guitar—speed, projection, responsiveness, and expressive power—Reyes instruments possess an almost noble degree of clarity and refinement. Even under aggressive attack, the sound remains focused, articulate, and remarkably beautiful, maintaining an elegance rarely encountered in flamenco guitars.

This 2007 example demonstrates those qualities at the highest level. The tone is exceptionally clean and transparent, producing a rich, singing voice that surges forward with remarkable energy while remaining free of unwanted coloration. The attack is exceptionally quick, combining elasticity, power, and an unusually direct, linear response to the player's touch. Few guitars offer such an immediate connection between performer and instrument.

The guitar features Reyes' characteristic seven-fan bracing system, complemented by bridge reinforcement and six small transverse support patches positioned near the lower ends of the fan braces—a distinctive design element found in his mature instruments. The resonance is set slightly above G.

[Condition]
Considering its nearly twenty years of age and traditional French polish finish, the guitar remains in very good condition. There is a professionally repaired 10 cm crack on the back, located slightly toward the treble side from the center seam. The repair includes internal patch reinforcement and finish touch-up, making it visually unobtrusive and structurally secure. However, adhesive used during the repair has slightly stained the right side of the soundhole label.

Minor playing wear can be found around the fingerboard extension, soundhole, golpeador edges, and along the back edges, all consistent with normal use. Light fingernail marks are present on the treble side of the neck but do not affect playability or feel.

The neck, frets, and overall setup are in excellent playing condition. The neck profile is a comfortable medium D-shape. String height at the 12th fret measures 2.8 mm on both the 1st and 6th strings, with approximately 1.0–2.0 mm of saddle remaining. The guitar is fitted with high-quality Fustero tuning machines.