❌SOLD❌ Manuel Contreras Doble Tapa CSA Rosewood Classical Guitar, 1990

From time to time we see spectacular examples of functional art, such as this Manuel Contreras Doble Tapa guitar, built in Madrid during 1990.

Manuel Contreras’ career was spent in Madrid, Spain. For many years he was a respected cabinet-maker, but in 1959 began to work with Jose Ramirez III. In 1962 he opened his own workshop at Calle Mayor 80. The shop is now at Calle de Segovia, 57.

In 1974, Contreras developed his ‘Doble Tapa’ model, which adds a second Spruce layer over the back. In a perhaps related effort, in 1983 Jose Ramirez III laminated other woods such as Cypress or Sycamore to the interior of Rosewood sides with the aim of suppressing ‘wolf tones’ when the guitar was played hard.

This Manuel Contreras Doble Tapa classical guitar is in excellent condition, with just the slightest wear. It has had no visible damage, cracks or repairs, but has been recently set up at The Twelfth Fret Repair Shop; the action is at a fairly low setting and can easily be raised for concert use. It has been very well taken care of and properly stored and maintained.

Signed and dated in 1990, it is built using the traditional Spanish method with the sides slotting into the heel. The top is European Spruce, the body blocks and neck are Spanish Cedar. The sides, back, head plate, binding and bridge are CSA (Central South American) Rosewood, and the fingerboard is Ebony with discreet side dots at frets 5,7,9 and 12. Fustero tuners, engraved and gold plated with pearloid buttons, are installed and work perfectly. Fustero tuners were standard equipment on many high end Spanish instruments, but due to the builder’s retirement are no longer made. High quality copies are available from Gotoh.

This exceptional Manuel Contreras Doble Tapa appears to have been hardly used, and that by an experienced and careful player. As it has a Spruce top and light use, its voice has not fully developed.

The original brown hard shell case is included.