FUQ (eff -yu - cue) - FAQ's with an EDGE

Tagged As: Classical Garcia Guitar

Question:
A friend of mine has an old classical guitar that I've never heard of. It's called a Garcia, the model number is 1A, there is no serial number but the label says the exclusive distributor is Antigua Casa Sherry Brener, Ltd. of Madrid. It appears to be a solid wood soundboard and the sides and back appear to be rosewood. He says he bought the guitar in late 1969. Any additional information or insight into this guitar would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
Sherry-Brener imported a number of guitars during the late 60s and early 70s with labels saying Antigua Casa ... Madrid. The labels carried Spanish names (e.g. Garcia, Hernandis, Barbero) as if the instruments were built in Madrid by Spanish luthiers. Sherry-Brener, however, was a Chicago importer. It's highly likely that these guitars actually were made in Japan, not in Madrid -- and certainly not my luthiers named Garcia, Hernandis, or Barbero. The use of the Barbero name was especially misleading given the link to the real Barbero family that made wonderful flamenco and classical instruments. (Jim Sherry was forced to remove the Barbero labels from his remaining inventory when a customer discovered that there was no Barbero who made his instrument working in Madrid). I own one of the label-less Barbero instruments. Although Jim Sherry has said to my face that my instrument was built in Spain by a luthier who trained in the Ramirez shop, I believe he's telling tales. Richard Brune, a well-respected luthier who knows a lot about the history of classical guitars, tells me that my Barbero was built in Japan. There are construction details on these instruments that are characteristic of Japanese shops and never would be used in Spain. So, the Garcia probably is from the same lineage -- an instrument makde in Japan, imported to Chicago, and labeled with a Spanish sounding name. As for the construction, there seems to have been some variation in the instruments. Although I can't speak for the Garcia line, I know that some of the Barberos were solid wood all around whereas others had laminated sides. A luthier could give you more information about the construction. However, don't bother to call Sherry-Brener -- who knows what you'll be told!