Ricardo Sanchis Carpio Flamenco Guitar Spruce/Cypress)

1973 Ricardo Sanchis Carpio Vintage Spanish Flamenco Guitar – Valencia – Spruce & Cypress

A lovely piece of Spanish guitar-making history. This is a 1973 Ricardo Sanchis Carpio flamenco guitar, from one of Valencia's most respected guitar-making dynasties, with a family tradition stretching back to 1915.

Ricardo Sanchis Carpio was a highly regarded Spanish luthier whose work helped establish the Sanchis name internationally among classical and flamenco guitarists. The original family workshop was founded by his grandfather, Ricardo Sanchis Nácher, in Valencia in 1915. Following the family tradition, Ricardo developed his own approach to guitar construction and established his independent workshop in 1965, concentrating on producing instruments of greater refinement and quality.

His background was particularly interesting. The family had historic connections with the celebrated Spanish makers Manuel Ramírez and Domingo Esteso, and Ricardo himself continued to develop the instruments through close contact with professional guitarists, listening to their requirements and refining his designs accordingly.

The Sanchis name has subsequently become associated with some notable figures in the flamenco world, including Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, Ramón de Algeciras and Pedro Sierra. These connections give this guitar an interesting place within the wider history of Spanish flamenco guitar making.

Construction is traditional and beautifully executed, with a spruce soundboard, cypress back and sides and an ebony fingerboard. The guitar has the purposeful, lightweight construction one associates with a traditional Spanish flamenco instrument. Looking inside, the workmanship is particularly impressive, with careful attention to the internal structure and bracing. It is clearly the product of an experienced workshop with a thorough understanding of Spanish guitar construction.

The sound is very much what you would hope for from a mature vintage flamenco guitar. There is a lovely bite and immediacy to the attack, with a crisp, articulate response that lends itself beautifully to rasgueado, picado and golpe playing. The trebles have a bright, cutting quality, while the bass and middle registers provide a good deal of punch and rhythmic definition. It has that characterful, slightly earthy Spanish voice, with a lively response and plenty of flamenco personality.

Condition is honest and very much reflects its age and playing history. There are numerous chips, dings and marks throughout, along with general cosmetic wear accumulated over five decades of use. There may well have been repairs undertaken during its lifetime, as one would reasonably expect of a working vintage instrument, but nothing immediately stands out as an obvious major repair to the top, back or sides. The guitar appears structurally solid, and the internal workmanship is reassuring.

The original machine heads are of good quality and remain fully functional.

We have given the guitar a workshop setup and fret dress, so it now plays nicely and is ready for its next owner.

It comes supplied with a period-style, non-original hard case.

This is not a pristine collector's piece, nor is it being presented as such. It is an authentic vintage Spanish flamenco guitar with plenty of history, honest playing wear and a distinctive voice. For a player looking for the character and response of a traditional Valencia-built instrument, rather than the uniformity of a modern production guitar, this is a particularly interesting proposition.

A genuine piece of Spanish guitar-making heritage, ready to be played and enjoyed for many more years.