Manuel Velazquez　[マヌエル・ベラスケス] Classical

Product Description

Neck: Mahogany
Fingerboard: Ebony
Finish (Top): Lacquer
Finish (Back & Sides): Lacquer
Tuning Machines: SLOANE
String Height (1st): 3.6 mm
String Height (6th): 4.2 mm
Weight: 1.49 kg

[Profile]

Manuel Velazquez (1917–2014) was born in Puerto Rico and became one of the most highly regarded American classical guitar makers of the 20th century. His maternal grandparents were Spanish, and his family was related to the renowned Spanish luthier Santos Hernandez.

Originally trained as a cabinetmaker, Velazquez built his first guitar at the age of 16. Encouraged by a local musician who recognized the quality of his work, he moved to New York in 1941. During World War II, he worked as a woodworker in a shipyard while continuing to make guitars. From the late 1940s, his instruments were increasingly used by leading musicians, and his reputation grew rapidly. Andres Segovia also praised his guitars.

In 1962, Velazquez returned to Puerto Rico and established a workshop there. With government support, this became one of the most productive periods of his career. He returned to the United States in 1982, later settling in Florida. His son Alfredo eventually joined the workshop and continued the tradition after Manuel's death in 2014.

Velazquez's work was deeply rooted in the Spanish tradition of Torres, Hauser and Santos Hernandez. His guitars from the 1950s and 1960s are particularly admired for their sophisticated interpretation of the Hauser tradition. Instruments from the 1970s and 1980s became larger and more powerful, reflecting the demands of the American market and the influence of the Ramirez school. In his later years, he returned to more traditional Hauser-inspired designs before adopting a more Madrid-influenced approach in the late 1990s.

[Instrument Information]

This 1966 Manuel Velazquez represents the refined character of his work during one of the strongest periods of his career.

The instrument demonstrates Velazquez's personal interpretation of the tonal and structural principles associated with Hermann Hauser I. Its bracing is not an exact reproduction of Hauser's famous "Segovia" model, however, and retains characteristics closer to the Torres tradition.

The soundboard features a harmonic bar above the soundhole, accompanied by a thinner reinforcement and a small reinforcing plate between them. Another harmonic bar is positioned below the soundhole. The lower area incorporates seven symmetrical fan braces, supported by two V-shaped closing bars. The resonance is tuned to approximately F♯.

The tone is remarkably balanced and coherent from bass to treble, with exceptionally clear individual notes and a rich, three-dimensional harmonic character. The response is immediate and highly sensitive to the player's touch, producing a refined and sustained sound.

While its tonal character recalls Hauser, Velazquez's work has a distinctive warmth and gentleness. This Indian rosewood example combines power and sustain with a particularly intimate and human quality.

Playability is excellent, with a responsive, linear feel and moderate string tension. The neck has a comfortable, rounded thin-D profile. String height is approximately 3.6 mm / 4.2 mm (1st / 6th string at the 12th fret), with approximately 1.5–2.5 mm of saddle remaining. Despite the relatively high measured action, the neck angle and setup make the instrument comfortable to play.

There is no history of major repairs such as cracks. Fine, shallow scratches and minor dents are present in keeping with its age, while the back, sides and neck remain in good overall condition. The neck and frets are also in good playing condition.

The guitar is fitted with SLOANE tuning machines, which are currently functioning properly.