Up for sale, a 1973 Ignacio Fleta e Hijos classical guitar in perfect working order, complete with a hardshell case. Known as the Stradivarius of the classical guitar world for good reason, Fleta’s instruments are prized the world over, with the “e hijos” (and sons) suffix indicating the period when his sons Gabriel and Francisco were working side-by-side with their father immediately preceding and following his death in 1977. Before the Fleta family closed their books to new orders, the wait time to receive a Fleta instrument was 20 years. Championed by the greats of the classical guitar world from Segovia to John Williams, Ignacio Fleta’s craftsmanship has placed him among the most respected luthiers of the 20th century.

Among Fletas storied career, the 70s are widely considered a golden age for his cedar top instruments: this particular example is no exception, sporting a rich, dark cedar soundboard. Other tonewoods include Indian rosewood back and sides and a mahogany neck with an ebony fingerboard. Tonally, his Fleta is haunting and sonorous, smooth and warm with a bubbling, almost elusive quality, all while maintaining the exceptional responsiveness and articulation inherent to Fletas proprietary nine-fan bracing. No tonal accolade can be heaped on this Ignacio Fleta which wouldnt be well-worn territory (and well-deserved), but suffice to say it is an expressive and harmonically complex instrument worthy of the Fleta legacy. This Ignacio Fleta e Hijos has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mikes Guitar Bar with normal tension strings and comfortable classic action.

Neck Specs:

-Wood: Mahogany (one-piece)
-Shape: Medium D, measuring .845 1st fret, .930 9th fret
-Fretboard: Ebony
-Frets: Slender, moderate wear on frets 1-3, lighter wear beneath the plain strings until fret 5
-Scale Length: 650mm
-Nut: 53mm, bone, 4mm string spacing
-Tuners: Fustero

Body Specs:

-Wood: Cedar, East Indian rosewood
-Bracing: Fleta proprietary nine-fan
-Bridge: Rosewood, bone saddle, 58mm string spacing
-Marquetry: Ornate rosette, multi-ply purfling
-Label: Date 1973, Calle de los ngeles, #4, Barcelona-Espaa factory
-Serialization: Three-digit stamp on neck block
-Top Resonance Frequency: A

A section of the lower bout on top has been replaced, cut from a very similar piece of cedar, and there are a couple additional professionally repaired splits at the lower bout edges of the top, as well as one additional crack repair on the back at the bass-side lower bout edge. All repairs have been touched-up to blend with the surrounding original finish.

The hand-rubbed French polish finish exhibits checking on top, and this is a well-loved example, with wear across the soundhole, light buckle worming along the treble side of the back, and some minor dings and finish scratches. The gloss finish on the neck profile is smooth to the palm, with a few shallow nicks along the profile length that have been buffed smooth and are virtually undetectable while playing.

A hardshell case is included.