My quest for the Best Classical Guitar recently took me through a fascinating journey, starting in the bustling shops of Hong Kong and ending with a promising vintage find online. Initially, I explored a Chinese-made Altamira Torres copy. Its appeal lay in its comfortable size, light weight, and pleasing sound.
While impressed by the Altamira’s qualities, the price tag of around US$3700 for a Chinese-made instrument gave me pause. It spurred me to delve into the online world, specifically Reverb.com, in search of a Torres-style guitar with a lighter build, hoping to find better value. My search led me to a shop specializing in “vintage” guitars from Germany. Listening to numerous sound clips of guitars within my budget through my hi-fi system became my new pastime.
After careful consideration and an offer, I acquired a handmade 1964 Morales Y Garrido. Isidro Garrido, the luthier behind this guitar, was trained by renowned makers Eduardo Ferrer and Rafael Morales and had a workshop in Granada, Spain, a city steeped in guitar-making tradition. The captivating sound of the Morales Y Garrido in the video convinced me to take a chance on this vintage instrument.
This wasn’t my first foray into purchasing guitars online. Previously, I had acquired a 1970 Mitsuru Tamura flamenco guitar from a seller on eBay, Victor’s Guitar Gallery. That experience was positive, with the Tamura delivering a fantastic sound. Eventually, I gifted the flamenco guitar to a talented friend as my flamenco studies waned, focusing more on classical guitar.
Now, the anticipation builds as I await the arrival of my 1964 Morales Y Garrido. I’m excited to see if its sound in person lives up to the enchantment I experienced online, and I look forward to exploring the unique voice of this vintage classical guitar.
