Laester DeVoe　[レスター・デヴォー] Flamenco Negra

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Lacquer
Finish(Back & Sides):Lacquer
Tuning Machines:Fustero
String Height(1st):2.0mm
String Height(6th):2.5mm

[Maker Information]

Lester DeVoe was born in Virginia, USA, in 1951, and is now based in California, where he has established himself as one of the most important makers of contemporary flamenco guitars.

Originally aspiring to become a performing guitarist, DeVoe was deeply impressed by the sound of a 1924 guitar by the renowned Spanish maker Santos Hernández (1874–1943), played by his guitar teacher at the time. Inspired by this instrument, he began making guitars initially for his own use.

His philosophy is rooted in the instruments of Santos Hernández, which he has reinterpreted and modernized in his own distinctive way. Characteristically American, his approach places great emphasis on functionality, balance and tonal refinement, while responding perfectly to the evolving demands of crossover flamenco music.

His guitars have become favorites among many outstanding players, including Sabicas, Paco de Lucía and Vicente Amigo, offering an extraordinary expressive range capable of conveying both the intense emotional passion of traditional Gypsy flamenco and the abstract sonic spaces of jazz.

DeVoe established his own brand in 1975. In addition to his celebrated flamenco models, he now also produces classical guitars.

[Instrument Information]

Lester DeVoe – 2016 Flamenco Negra – Used

This instrument features a spruce soundboard and Indian rosewood back and sides, the traditional combination known as a Flamenco Negra. It is one of the most popular and highly regarded configurations in the DeVoe range.

What makes DeVoe particularly remarkable is not simply the natural affinity between his distinctly American, or West Coast, sensibility and the expressive gestures of flamenco music. Rather, there seems to be a higher level of creative synthesis at work, one that arrives at an extraordinarily natural and convincing result.

His guitars possess an almost unparalleled clarity of sound while simultaneously evoking the mystery that is essential to music. In this sense, DeVoe is a truly exceptional flamenco guitar maker, having achieved something remarkable, perhaps even beyond his own conscious intentions.

This 2016 instrument was commissioned by a Japanese woman and built to more compact dimensions, with a 648 mm scale length and a reduced neck profile and overall feel.

Despite its smaller proportions, its expressive capabilities—including the characteristic gestures of flamenco and a remarkable variety of tonal colors—and its functional performance, particularly its rapid response and dynamic range, have been developed to an extraordinary degree.

DeVoe has pushed the instrument's capabilities almost to their limits, finding the precise point at which such extreme refinement remains perfectly balanced without compromising its integrity. This delicate relationship between control and spontaneity is itself remarkably suited to flamenco.

At both the softest and most powerful dynamic levels, the sound retains exceptional elegance and sharpness. Within the intensely physical gestures of flamenco playing, this clarity creates tremendous impact and presence. Yet perfect balance is maintained throughout, resulting in a sound that seems to embody both wild instinct and intellectual refinement. This combination is a distinctive characteristic rarely encountered in other makers, including those from Spain.

Another hallmark, particularly of his Negra models, is an exceptionally dense, almost resin-like tonal image, combined with a tight, powerful bounce and an inherent sense of speed, agility and leaping movement.

The overall sound is bright and beautifully polished, yet its expressive range is remarkable. The transitions between light and darkness, stillness and movement—even outright tumult—and the sudden shifts of emotion within a musical phrase are particularly striking. His ability to create such vivid subito contrasts is one of this instrument's greatest strengths.

Construction and Acoustic Design

The soundboard bracing follows the Spanish construction tradition.

One harmonic bar and a reinforcement plate are positioned above the soundhole on the neck side, with another harmonic bar below the soundhole. A circular reinforcement plate surrounds the soundhole, covering the area beneath the rosette.

The lower soundboard features seven symmetrically arranged fan braces, supported at their lower ends by two closing bars forming an inverted V-shape near the bottom of the body.

The seven fan braces are not evenly spaced. Instead, the three central braces are grouped closely together, with the spacing gradually increasing towards the outer braces.

The resonance is tuned to F#–F.

It is worth noting that DeVoe frequently employs different internal configurations even within the same model. Another Negra guitar built around the same period, for example, features an additional diagonal treble bar crossing the lower harmonic bar, a bridge reinforcement plate, and a resonance positioned closer to G. This demonstrates his willingness to explore different acoustic approaches rather than adhering to a single fixed construction formula.

Condition and Specifications

This instrument is in very good overall used condition, with no history of major repairs or modifications, such as cracks.

The soundboard has only a few minor marks around the edges of the golpeadores and near the fingerboard. The back and sides show slight finish wear in areas that come into contact with the player's chest during performance. There are also a few tiny fingernail marks, approximately 1 mm in size, on the back of the neck.

Overall, the cosmetic condition is exceptionally attractive.

The neck and frets remain in good condition and within appropriate specifications. The neck has a slim, rounded C-shaped profile, offering a compact and comfortable grip.

Scale Length: 648 mm

String Height: 2.0 mm / 2.5 mm (1st / 6th string, 12th fret)

Remaining Saddle Height: Approximately 0.5–1.0 mm

Neck Profile: Slim, rounded C-shape

Tuners: Spanish Fustero, currently functioning properly

Body Weight: 1.49 kg

Case: Original TKL hard case supplied by the workshop

An exceptional opportunity to experience Lester DeVoe's distinctive approach to modern flamenco guitar making, combining extraordinary tonal clarity, dynamic power and expressive sophistication in a beautifully preserved Flamenco Negra.