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1991 Manuel Bellido Flamenco Negra - Very Rare

This much-played negra may be one of the best instruments ever built by the great maker from Granada. It is, as far as we know, the only guitar he ever signed three times (once on the label and twice on the bracing).

All original. Obviously, wood is solid, master grade, well aged and meticulously selected: European spruce top, Indian Rosewood back, sides, headstock face and bridge, ebony fretboard and finely sculpted Spanish cedar neck. 650 scale, bone nut (52mm) and saddle; golpeadors. Engraved blackened nickel Fustero tuners; first class hardshell case. French polish entire. Bellido's finishes are among the very best; despite wear, the polish of the top exquisitely sets off the meduallaries and bear claws of the spruce. The instrument has been played a lot--but is structurally, acoustically and functionally intact. It has a number of scratches front and back, a few places where the finish has almost worn into a patina, and a good bit of fret wear, but its low action is not occasioned by any buzzing, its neck is straight, its intonation true. It is a joy to play. In fact, its having been played considerably may have something to do with its rich, vintage, extremely Spanish, sound--one which only the discriminating flamenco will fully appreciate. It has been said that Bellido puts a little negra in all his blancas and a lot of blanca in all his negras, and this is that personified: great edge throughout the entire register, bass is deep and warm yet aggressive. Notes are haloed; trebles are concentrated but still cut.

Overall, we would count this as a tone guitar rather than a cannon. This is a guitar of immense character. It's not cheap, but one virtually guaranteed to accrue in value and, for the right owner, one of incomparable recording potential.