2021 German Vazquez Rubio "Concert 635" SP/ZR

This is a beautiful concert instrument featuring several unique and striking design elements. Materials are very high quality and a pleasure to look at, including a perfectly quarter-sawn spruce top and a dramatic set of ziricote for the back and sides. Snakewood is used in the binding and back center strip, framing the guitar beautifully with its contrasting dark-brownish hue. The meticulously layered headstock is in 3 pieces of maple and 3 pieces of rosewood (with rosewood front and back veneers), which "opens" elegantly into the neck, when viewed from behind. For this particular guitar, German used his "Elite" shaped headstock, with "vanishing" inlay on the front veneer. To top it all off, there is a subtle use of blue in the rosette, tie block, top purfling and even in the top layer of head veneer inlay, barely noticeable with the naked eye, but definitely contributing to the unique look and feel of this instrument. It is fitted with gold Evo frets, and Schaller GrandTune frictionless machines with snakewood buttons to match the binding. The shellac finish is applied with a level of attention to detail and perfection found in very few makers. The sound is extremely responsive and open, with plenty of volume and character. The trebles are very clear and full, and the basses are deep with a nice bouncy response. Playability is a dream with very low action and shorter scale length. It is also fitted with a 20th fret for repertoire requiring a high c natural. Although used, the guitar is in great shape with only very modest wear in the finish. Overall, a beautiful-sounding and intricately made concert guitar for a great price.