Sanavia 1961

This is a fairly simple guitar, very plain in its aesthetics, but a joy to play. Leone Sanavia is perhaps a bit more well known as a violin maker. The image of this luthier making stringed instruments in Venice, Italy is almost enough by itself to make you love this guitar, but the sound is what truly brings joy. The label calls this guitar a Modelo Barbero suggesting that there may be elements of a more flamenco-like construction as Barbero was known for. In fact the guitar is fairly lightly braced giving it a dry, responsive, boomy and earthy tone. It is not complex in its overtones, but it resonates in an alluring way with a focused yet open voice.