1990s M.G. Contreras Spanish-Made Classical Guitar

Overview: Ancel received this instrument in some sort of trade deal and immediately set to work fixing it up. While the Contreras name is found on high-end, luthier-built models from the same time, I expect this one was more of a "jobber" grade instrument brought-in from another workshop to flesh-out the company's lower/mid-range sales-floor models (this is typical for a lot of Spanish-made, name-brand sellers). It's still a Spanish-made flamenco-style guitar and plays and sounds a treat, but is unlikely that it was made in-house at Contreras (please let me know if I'm wrong).

As noted, it appears to be more of a "flamenco" style guitar with a solid spruce top over solid cypress (I believe) back and sides. It's a got a good, even, fairly strident voice and a nice, lived-in look.

Repairs included: Ancel repaired hairline cracks extending into the sides from the neckblock area and also a hairline in the neckblock itself, too. He then leveled/dressed the frets, added side dots (as I recall), shaved the bridge a bit, shaved the saddle, and set it up. It's playing quick and easy and is ready to go.

• Weight: 3 lbs 4 oz
• Scale length: 26 1/8"
• Nut width: 2 1/26"
• Neck shape: medium D
• Board radius: flat
• Depth at first fret: .95
• Depth at seventh fret: 1.0
• Body width: 14 1/2"
• Body depth: 3 7/8"
• Top wood: solid spruce
• Back & sides wood: solid cypress
• Bracing type: fan
• Bridge: rosewood
• Fretboard: ebony
• Neck wood: mahogany or Spanish cedar
• Action height at 12th fret: 3/32” overall (fast, spot-on)
• String gauges: normal tension D'Addario Pro-Artes
• Neck relief: straight
• Fret style: medium/lower

Condition notes: A hair of ski-jump at the fretboard extension means that the frets up there needed to leveled very low the closer they get to the soundhole while the frets on the rest of the neck are more normal-height. It has the aforementioned crack repairs (with lots of cleats) to the sides and neckblock area (see photos). There are light scuffs, scratches, nicks, and dings here and there in the body and neck but overall it looks nice. It has clear pickguards fit.

It comes with: Sorry, no case.

Consignor tag: AC