Juan Estruch　[ホアン・エストリッチ] Guitarras Estruch

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Lacquer
Finish(Back & Sides):Lacquer
Tuning Machines:FUSTERO
String Height(1st):3.8mm
String Height(6th):5.0mm

[Profile]
Juan Estruch was a guitar maker based in Barcelona, Spain, and his workshop, Guitarras Estruch, occupies an interesting place in the history of 20th-century Catalan and Barcelona-school guitar making. According to makers’ indexes, Estruch is documented as having been active at least during the 1970s.
The Estruch workshop employed Enrique Sanfeliu, one of the leading guitar makers of Catalonia, along with his son. While working at the workshop, Sanfeliu and his son were strongly influenced by Enrique García, a master maker who was highly regarded in Barcelona at the time and was even described as the “Stradivarius of the art of guitar making.”
As a result, guitars made by the Sanfeliu family at the Estruch workshop clearly reflect Enrique García’s influence, particularly in their distinctive bracing systems and refined aesthetic. Through their work, the acoustic principles and design sensibilities characteristic of the Barcelona school were passed on to the next generation of makers.
The background of the Estruch workshop lies within the broader Barcelona guitar-making tradition that can be traced from Antonio de Torres through Manuel Ramírez, Enrique García, and Francisco Simplicio. The Barcelona school is particularly distinguished by its refined aesthetics, influenced by Modernisme and Art Nouveau, as well as by its continued exploration of sound through distinctive bracing designs.
Although relatively little documentary information about Estruch himself has been confirmed, his workshop can be regarded as an important center through which the techniques and aesthetic principles of the historical Barcelona tradition were transmitted to guitar makers of the postwar period.

[Instrument Information]

This guitar was made in 1966 and has a 640 mm scale length.

The instrument is characterized by a dense, powerful tone with an impressive sense of depth and authority. Its highly concentrated sound offers substantial impact, while the harmonic balance is excellent, producing a rich and colorful tonal palette. It offers substantial volume, good responsiveness, and good sustain, with an overall well-balanced tonal character.

This guitar was made during Estrich’s prime period, when his refined craftsmanship and highly developed approach to acoustic design came together to produce an exceptional instrument. It is a superb example of his mature work and reflects the high level of tonal refinement for which his guitars are known.

The guitar features a lacquer finish and is fitted with Fustero tuning machines. The neck has a standard thickness and is straight, while the frets remain in good condition. The action is set at 3.8 mm on the 1st string and 5.0 mm on the 6th string. The string tension feels relatively soft, with a broad response to variations in touch, making the instrument comfortable and easy to play.

Approximately 58 years have passed since the guitar was made. Overall, it is in average used condition, with several relatively large impact marks visible on the soundboard. There are also several large but shallow scratches on the back. The finish has been well preserved, and the neck remains in good condition.

The guitar has a history of repair, including previous crack repairs. These repairs were properly carried out and do not have any adverse effect on the instrument’s current playability. Rather, they reflect the character of a vintage guitar that has been played and appreciated over many years, adding to its sense of history and character. A lightweight case is included.