1981 Jose Romanillos "La Toronto" SP/IN
| Year | 1981 |
| Top | Spruce |
| Back & Sides | Indian Rosewood |
| Scale Length | 650 mm |
| Nut width | 51 mm |
| Finish | French Polish |
| Country | England |
| Luthier | Jose Luis Romanillos |
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This instrument has all the qualities of an exceptional Romanillos - in short, a sweet and lyrical tone with excellent separation. The volume is excellent and yet it's almost "noiseless" - string noise and nail noise are absorbed and not amplified, allowing the notes themselves to sound unhindered. All in all, this is a remarkable musical instrument. The guitar has the classic Romanillos aesthetic - the Moorish arches in the headshape and in the mosaic of the rosette. The instrument is a bit on the smaller side, and notably it is numbered 593, meaning it's the 93rd guitar built in the "5" series, guitars Romanillos built that were structurally based on Sergio Abreu's 1930 Hauser I. The first 3 Romanillos guitars in this series from 1973 went famously first to Julian Bream (#501), Sergio Abreu (#502) and his brother Eduardo Abreu (#503). Bream would also later own another Romanillos also built in 1981, just 1 guitar before this one (#592 “La Lechuza”)! This instrument therefore represents (in great style and amazing sound), that for which Romanillos is most famous. This is a top example from this maker, there may be equals but nothing finer. Condition is amazing, having only had some light finish touch-up and fret/setup work done over the course of its life. Highly desirable for either performer or collector - this is a masterpiece from one of the top luthiers of the 20th century.
Radamés Gnattali's "Petite Suite" performed by Michael Váscones on a 1981 Jose Romanillos guitar
