1970s Unmarked 3/4-Size Mexican Fretless Classical Guitar Conversion

This came in the shop as a repair project for a local customer but as soon as we were done with it and took our first strums, it became clear that its frets were placed completely incorrectly! Every note was either flat or sharp at every position on the neck. So, the customer gave up on it and it sat for a while. Eventually, I pulled the frets, filled the fret slots, and made it into a fretless classical guitar. This is a popular thing in certain regions these days and, yes, you can get a whole lot of "oud" vibes in there if you've got the technique down. I added side dots that correspond to "fret location" for ease of use, too, as the "faded lines" on the fingerboard are not in the right spot.

Jose had done all the work up that point, however, and he did quite a nice job on it. This is a friendly, relaxed, and sweet little guitar to have in your lap. It's small enough that it makes a good couch-potato buddy, too, and the smaller soundbox and scale gives you some interesting alternate tuning (higher pitch) options if desired.

The guitar itself is unmarked but is very typical of '70s Paracho-made (Mexico) instruments. It uses the same types of woods and build style as most of the stuff I see coming into the shop from that place and era. I'm not sure if this was meant to be a fraction guitar when it was made or a simplified requinto.

Repairs included: bridge modifications, cleats for back cracks and fill jobs, seam repairs, new fret-style saddle, frets pulled and board slots filled/fretless-ized, new side dots positioned at proper intonation points.

• Weight: 2 lbs 8 oz
• Scale length: 22"
• Nut width: 1 13/16"
• Neck shape: medium D
• Board radius: flat
• Body width: 13"
• Body depth: 3 7/8"
• Top wood: solid cedar, maybe?
• Back & sides wood: granadillo, I think
• Bracing type: fan
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: rosewood
• Neck wood: not sure -- spanish cedar?
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” bass 1/16” treble (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: medium-tension nylon
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: fretless

Condition notes: it's beat-up in the finish all over with small nicks, scratches, and dings here and there and a lot of finish crackle. While the top and sides have no cracks, the back does have some repaired hairline cracks on the longer side. It, of course, has also been modified as mentioned above.

It comes with: sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: EJ