Santos Hernandez - 1928 - Flamenca Blanca

About the luthier

Santos Hernandez (Madrid, 1873-1943) started an apprenticeship very early in Valentin Viudes’s workshop and then moved to José Ortega’s Granadinian workshop. After moving to a few other workshops and serving as a soldier for Spain, he eventually took over Enrique Garcia’s position in Manuel Ramirez’s workshop in 1905. His involvement in the building of Andrés Segovia’s famous 1912 Manuel Ramirez sealed his reputation as an extraordinary luthier. He opened his first own workshop in 1921 after having worked for Manuel Ramirez’s widow along with Domingo Esteso.

About the guitar

This remarkable instrument is nothing short of spectacular—an outstanding creation by one of the greatest guitar makers in history, Santos Hernández. It is a guitar that truly exemplifies why Santos is regarded as a legendary luthier. Lightweight at just a little over 1.1 kg, this guitar responds with breathtaking sensitivity and agility. The basses are deep, airy, and resonate with rich depth, while the trebles are full of personality, singing with warmth and expressive character. Though built as a Flamenca Blanca, this instrument transcends classification and can be played just as beautifully as a classical guitar. As known among connoisseurs, guitars in Santos’ time weren’t rigidly categorized—a guitar was simply a guitar, built for music in its purest form.

Condition

The guitar is in amazing condition, especially considering its age. The soundboard has only a few thin cracks near the fingerboard, which are purely cosmetic and do not affect the structure or sound. The back has one well-repaired crack, and the sides feature several well-repaired cracks as well. Overall, the instrument remains in excellent structural and tonal health—a rare and highly collectible masterpiece that performs at the highest level.