Arcangel Fernandez　[アルカンヘル・フェルナンデス] Classical

Product Description

Neck:Mahogany
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:REISCHEL
String Height(1st):2.9mm
String Height(6th):4.1mm

[Luthier]
Arcangel Fernandez (1931–2011), born in Madrid, Spain, was one of the most distinguished Spanish guitar makers of the second half of the 20th century. He was among the very few luthiers to faithfully inherit and preserve the traditions and philosophy of the Madrid school, tracing its lineage through Manuel Ramirez and Santos Hernandez.

At the age of 13, Fernandez began working as a furniture maker while also developing a passion for flamenco guitar. In 1954, he met Marcelo Barbero I, widely regarded as the successor to Santos Hernandez, and became his only apprentice. During the two years he spent in Barbero's workshop, Fernandez absorbed his master's techniques and philosophy with remarkable dedication.

Following Barbero's death in 1956, Fernandez completed the outstanding orders left by his mentor before establishing his own workshop and brand in 1957. His craftsmanship was already remarkably mature from the very beginning, demonstrating exceptional refinement in both construction and tonal design.

In the 1960s, Marcelo Barbero Hijo and other skilled makers joined the workshop. Alongside instruments bearing Fernandez's own label, the workshop also produced fully handcrafted guitars under the "Para Casa Arcangel Fernandez" label, made by individual craftsmen including Barbero Hijo, Manuel Caceres, and Pedro Valbuena. These workshop instruments are also highly regarded for their outstanding quality.

Fernandez's uncompromising approach to wood selection, craftsmanship, and acoustical design resulted in instruments of extraordinary refinement and musical depth. His guitars are admired for their precision, expressive tonal character, and distinctive artistic integrity. He retired from guitar making in 2011, leaving behind a legacy that has become increasingly rare and treasured.
[Instrument]
Arcangel Fernandez 1957 Classical Guitar – Used

This remarkable instrument was made in 1957, the very first year of Fernandez's independent workshop. It represents a precious moment in the history of the Arcangel Fernandez brand.

The guitar bears the serial number No.32, which is also stamped inside the body near the neck block. It is believed that this numbering may have continued from the instruments made during the Marcelo Barbero I workshop period, adding further historical interest to this exceptional guitar.

Having learned directly from Barbero I, Fernandez was still deeply connected to his master's techniques and artistic sensibilities at this early stage of his career. This instrument can be regarded as an ideal fusion of Barbero's tradition and Fernandez's emerging individuality, while also reflecting the Spanish aesthetic established by Santos Hernandez. It is a remarkable creation that may represent a unique moment in Fernandez's artistic development.

Tonally, the guitar offers a rich, deep bass foundation complemented by clear, refined, and penetrating trebles. Its sound combines a supple, responsive attack with remarkable density and expressive depth. Each note remains beautifully distinct while blending organically into a rich, polyphonic musical texture. The result is a sound of exceptional clarity, balance, and sophistication, never excessive or artificially enhanced.

Unlike Fernandez's later instruments, which became increasingly refined and concentrated over the following decades, this early example retains a certain warmth and natural intimacy reminiscent of Barbero I. Its woody, gentle character is particularly appealing, while its projection, sustain, and ability to maintain tonal density are already extraordinary. The instrument possesses a remarkable dynamic presence, with a sense of scale that can almost be described as orchestral.

The soundboard bracing follows the basic design inherited from Barbero I, incorporating five fan braces, two closing bars, harmonic bars, and several reinforcement plates. Fernandez would continue to use and refine this structural concept throughout much of his career. The resonance is tuned below G#.

Considering its approximately 70 years of age, the guitar remains in good overall condition. The back has two repaired cracks, one on the bass side and another on the treble side. Both repairs were carefully executed, with internal reinforcement and refinishing. They are now structurally stable and barely noticeable from the exterior. The back appears to have been refinished at some point in the past, and adhesive residue from the repairs has left some staining on the interior label.

The soundboard appears to retain its original shellac finish, with playing marks and minor dents consistent with its age. There are faint traces of a previously fitted removable golpeador on the treble side of the soundhole. Some finish wear is also present on the treble side of the neck between the 2nd and 4th frets, but it does not affect playability.

The neck remains straight, and the frets show only minimal wear. The neck has a comfortable D-shaped profile of average thickness. String height at the 12th fret is 2.9 mm on the 1st string and 4.1 mm on the 6th string, with approximately 1.0–1.5 mm of saddle height remaining. The tuning machines have been replaced with German-made Reichel machines, which are in good working condition.

An exceptionally rare instrument from the very first year of the Arcangel Fernandez workshop, No.32 captures the remarkable meeting of Marcelo Barbero I's tradition and the emerging genius of Fernandez himself. A historically significant guitar with extraordinary musical depth and character.