Velazquez 1958

This lovely 1958 Velazquez was my first really good guitar and would probably be the hardest one to give up if I had to pare down my collection. Most Velazquez guitars have an oil varnish finish that Manuel favored, this one appears to be all French polish. The sound is a bit drier than some of the oil varnish instruments but it is also beautiful, actually amazing. The fundamentals are clear and focused and the overtones are woody but still complex. The Brazilian rosewood is that really dark, very straight stock that Velazquez was famous for. The bearclaw spruce top is also gorgeous and has aged beautifully. Maestro Velazquez died in April 2014. He was a hard-working, skilled luthier and a wonderful man. He will be greatly missed.

Bill