Beautiful vintage 1963 ‘El Clasico Especial’ classical guitar by renowned New York luthier Manuel Velazquez, who has signed the inner soundhole label in blue ballpoint, “M. Velazquez,” and added the number, “F-30,” and year, “1963.” This hand-crafted guitar was built with Brazilian rosewood for the back and sides, mahogany for the neck, a German spruce top, an ebony fingerboard, and both the binding and headstock cap are made using high-quality rosewood. In fine condition, with scattered scuffs and marks to the body. Includes an attractive vintage hardshell carrying case, which contains the original "M. Velazquez Guitars, Inc." brochure, as well as extra nylon strings, capo, tuning fork, picks, and a case of powdered pumice.
The consignor notes that he purchased this guitar from Velazquez in 1964.
Born in Puerto Rico in 1917, Manuel Velasquez attended woodworking school as a youth and worked at a local cabinet shop when he was 14 years old. He created his first guitar in 1929 when he was only 12 years old in Puerto Rico, having learned the art of guitar making from his older brother and absorbed valuable lessons about species of wood from his father. Another influence was a guitar teacher named Jorge Rubiano who encouraged the young Velasquez to see a Segovia perform in Puerto Rico. Hearing Segovia play on his 1937 Hauser greatly impacted Velasquez. He was also inspired by the guitar of Antonio de Torres and Santos Hernandez. After moving to New York in 1941, Velasquez worked as a cabinet maker and a joiner in a shipyard before opening his first workshop in 1948. In time, he gained many admirers, including the premier classical guitarist of all time, Andres Segovia.
