Manuel G.Contreras I　[マヌエル・コントレラス I 世] Classical

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Polyurethan
Finish(Back & Sides):Polyurethan
Tuning Machines:FUSTERO
String Height(1st):3.2mm
String Height(6th):4.2mm

[Maker Information]

Manuel González Contreras (1928–1994) was born in Madrid. Originally a highly skilled cabinetmaker and talented designer, he joined the workshop of José Ramírez III in 1959, during the maker’s internationally renowned golden era, where he learned the fundamentals of guitar making. In 1962, he became independent and established his own workshop at No. 80 Calle Mayor in Madrid.

Full of ideas and innovation, Contreras built upon the large body designs and the use of Western Red Cedar for soundboards that he had learned at the Ramírez workshop, while introducing a succession of original and innovative concepts into guitar construction. His many groundbreaking designs—including curved bracing, internal neck reinforcement, the “Doble Tapa” (Double Top), the “Carlevaro” model, and resonator systems—had a significant influence on the world of guitar making as a whole.

[Instrument Information]

This guitar was made in 1981 and has a 660 mm scale length.

It offers excellent maneuverability and playability, with a seductive tone and a naturally sweet sound. While the sustain is not particularly long, the instrument has a distinctive, thick and lingering resonance that gives the sound a rich sense of body. The volume is moderate, while the response is good and the overall balance is well judged. Made more than 20 years after establishing his own workshop, this instrument demonstrates Contreras’s high level of craftsmanship and the successful fusion of his refined construction skills with his innovative structural concepts.

The guitar features a polyurethane finish and is fitted with Fustero tuners. The neck has a standard thickness and remains in good condition, while the frets are also in good condition. The string height is set at 3.2 mm on the first string and 4.2 mm on the sixth, providing relatively soft string tension, a generous range of touch, and comfortable playability.

Approximately 43 years have passed since the instrument was made, yet it remains in exceptionally good condition, with virtually no noticeable scratches. There is no history of repairs for cracks or other structural damage, and the neck remains in good condition. The excellent condition of the instrument is a testament to the care with which it has been handled and preserved. A hard case is included.

[Luthier Information]

Manuel Contreras was born in Madrid, Spain, in 1928 and passed away in 1994. His workshop was located at 80 Calle Mayor in Madrid.

Originally a talented cabinetmaker and gifted designer, Contreras discovered his true vocation as a guitar maker when he joined the workshop of José Ramírez III in 1959, during the brand's golden age, where he learned the fundamentals of guitar making. He quickly distinguished himself as one of the workshop's most skilled craftsmen.

A man of great imagination and originality, Contreras decided to pursue his own path and established his own workshop at 80 Calle Mayor in Madrid in 1962. Celedonio Romero, father of the renowned guitarist Pepe Romero, was one of his first clients after he became independent, and Contreras subsequently developed a close and lifelong friendship with the Romero family.

Building on the large body designs and the use of Western Red Cedar for soundboards that he had learned at the Ramírez workshop, Contreras introduced a series of innovative concepts into guitar construction.

Curved Bracing: One of his earliest innovations after establishing his own workshop. By making the braces stronger while reducing their number, Contreras sought to increase the vibration of the soundboard. This system was used in models such as the 1ª Especial.

Internal Neck Reinforcement: Contreras eliminated the external reinforcing brace traditionally visible on the neck and instead embedded two ebony reinforcement rods inside the neck, flush with the fingerboard. This provided greater stability while allowing him to create a thinner and more refined neck profile.

“Doble Tapa” (Double Top): His most significant acoustic innovation. He began experimenting with the concept in the early 1970s and introduced it in 1974. A second, thin wooden layer—made from cedar or spruce, similar to the soundboard material—was laminated to the inside of the soundboard. This dramatically increased the instrument's structural rigidity and vibrational efficiency, producing exceptional projection and a distinctive tonal character capable of carrying even in large concert halls with orchestral accompaniment.

“Carlevaro” Model: Developed in the early 1980s at the request of Uruguayan guitarist Abel Carlevaro. This highly avant-garde and complex design eliminated the conventional waist on the treble side of the body, replacing it with a straighter profile, while also eliminating the traditional soundhole in favor of a “floating top” acoustically separated from the body.

Resonator and “25° Aniversario”: In the mid-1980s, Contreras worked together with his son Pablo to develop a “resonator” designed to prevent the instrument's vibrations from being absorbed by the player's body. He later incorporated the system into the guitar itself and combined it with the Doble Tapa system in a special model commemorating the workshop's 25th anniversary.

As Pepe Romero once remarked, “Just as a Stradivarius has its own unmistakable sound, Contreras guitars have a unique sound that cannot be imitated.” His instruments, distinguished by exceptional craftsmanship and powerful tonal character, earned the admiration of leading guitarists around the world.

After dedicating himself to perfecting his resonator-equipped guitars, Manuel Contreras passed away in 1994. His workshop was subsequently taken over by his son, Pablo Manuel Contreras (1957–2011). Pablo continued his father's research and, in 1998, introduced the 10° Aniversario model featuring a new bracing system, earning international recognition.

Following Pablo's untimely death in 2011, the business was taken over by José Antonio Lagnar, who had joined the workshop in 1984 and served as its manager for many years. He continues to preserve the remarkable legacy left by Manuel and Pablo Contreras—their lifelong pursuit of perfect beauty and exceptional sound.