Hernandez y Aguado – 1966 No. 311

Description

The two friends Santiago Diaz Martinez, better known as Manuel Hernandez, and Victoriano Aguado Rodriguez got to know each other while working together in a piano factory. After the factory closed, they founded their own company that initially focused on the restoration of furniture and pianos. They built their two first guitars privately between 1945 and 1948, which were also played and examined by Regio Sainz de la Maza. This was a very encouraging experience and the two friends decided to keep on building guitars. In 1948 Modesto Borreguero, who had worked in the workshop of the famous luthier Manuel Ramirez, joined Manuel Hernandez and Victoriano Aguado Rodriguez, and they started to increasingly focus on the making of guitars – with huge success. Famous artists, such as John Williams, Julian Bream and Atahualpa Yupanqui played „HyA“guitars.

This masterpiece was made in 1966 and is numbered 311. It is signed on the label and on the inside of the instrument with an elegant green pencil. Not only the condition is stunning with only superficial playing marks, but it still has its original nut and saddle. The nut is a fascinating piece as Hernandez y Aguado always made it two-tone, underlaying a section of bone with ebony.

Besides, the characteristic carved H. y A. head plate gives this guitar a distinctive look, and the rosette is the largest and most prestigious made by the Madrilenian workshop. It displays colorful and elaborate marquetry, much more extensive than on most H y A guitars. In terms of sound, it has all the hallmarks for which the fascinating isntruments of the remarkable guitar-building duo are known and sought after worldwide: great expressiveness, fantastic sustain and perfect intonation. A guitar like this one is a rare find.

Check out the presentation video of this specific guitar below in which you will find plenty of extra information about its playability and sound.