1974 Garcia Grand Concert Brazilian Rosewood

In the late 1960s and early 1970s there was an influx of generally very good classical guitars from Japan with “Spanish” names, presumably on the assumption that a classical guitar with a Japanese name would not be evaluated on its merits. (This was obviously before makers like Kazuo Yairi, Matsuoka, and many others had established international reputations.) This guitar is the ultimate example of such an instrument. The Garcia Brazilian Rosewood Grand Concert guitar is the top of the Garcia line, made of all solid woods, and on its merits this is a fine classical guitar, suitable for expert studio and even concert performance.

Garcia guitars—like Hernandis, Barbero, and perhaps other guitars of the period--were made for and distributed by Sherry-Brener (“Antigua Casa”) of Chicago and Madrid. The first guitars were apparently built by Federico Garcia in Spain, based heavily on the designs of the famed Ramirez guitars, of which Sherry-Brenner was for a while the sole U.S. distributor. The guitars were graded and priced to be a mid-range alternative to the very expensive Spanish-made classical guitars of the time, just as virtually every major American manufacturer (Gibson, Martin, Guild, etc.) has created less expensive versions of their top models, most of them made in Asia.

As agreed by virtually everyone who plays these instruments, the quality of these early Japanese classical guitars is exceptionally high, and the tone and sound of the higher-grade instruments have always been considered comparable in almost every respect to the higher-priced Spanish guitars of the time. Unfortunately, when the actual assembly and finishing of their guitars was moved to Japan from Madrid, Sherry-Brenner neglected to inform the guitar-playing public of this change of venue until forced to do so by a lawsuit. The discrediting of the Sherry-Brenner firm has unfairly resulted in the questioning of the value of the guitars themselves, usually by folks who have never played them. The testimonials on-line by actual owners are almost universally enthusiastic.

If you go to the website at Sherry-Brener in their classical guitar selection, you will see that the Garcia Grand Concert ($6,000) and Grade 1A ($4,500) are no longer listed, while the Garcia Grade 1 is currently listed for $3,000. These are purportedly the all solid wood guitars; the lower grades generally have solid tops, but laminated backs and sides, and are not as close in quality to even the Grade 1 as the price listings indicate. The Garcia Grand Concert Brazilian was listed by Sherry-Brener for as much as $7,500, but sold out rather quickly. Frankly, I doubt that any of these guitars ever sold at these list prices, but they give a useful perspective.

This vintage 1974 Garcia Grand Concert was handcrafted in Japan with premium materials, featuring a solid Spanish Pine (Cedar) top, with gorgeously figured Brazilian Rosewood back and sides. The 12-fret neck is Cedar, with a Granadillo (Ebony) 19-fret fingerboard, and Rosewood headstock, heel-cap, and bridge. There is wood purfling around both top and bottom of the body, with distinctive matching inlays on the bridge, rosette, and headstock. The gold tuners are the originals, still smooth and accurate. The scale is 660 mm with a 52 mm nut; the action is set at 4 mm at the twelfth fret.

The guitar is in near mint condition, with virtually no dings or bruises and no sign of structural problems or repairs. As with most classical guitars, the action is a little higher than on my steel-string, but there is plenty of nut and saddle to allow adjustment to suit your taste and style. It has beautiful design and workmanship, with a traditional seven fan bracing system almost identical to the Ramirez 1A. However, the focus of everyone’s attention will have to be on the superbly matched figuring of the Brazilian Rosewood back and sides, woods that are increasingly rare and will soon be priceless.

The resonance of these seasoned woods is of course excellent—clearly superior to my 1962 Gibson C-1 Classical. The sound is rich and robust, with deep bass notes and crystal-clear trebles. The volume, projection, and intonation are also excellent, and it is a delight to play. In addition, a Martin “Second Generation” Thinline 332 under-saddle pickup has been expertly added so the sound can be projected throughout the largest venues. I am sure that you will be pleased with the appearance and performance of this fine instrument, a guitar very similar to a Ramirez 1A at a fraction of the cost.

The black thermoplastic hard shell case is structurally perfect: naturally the hardware all works (including the key), the plush interior is spotless and fits this guitar quite well, and the padded vinyl handle is a nice touch. While this is actually “new old stock,” it certainly provides outstanding protection for this valuable instrument.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashiers and personal checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before buying or making a reasonable offer.

Thank you for your interest in this fine classical guitar.