Portuguese Guitarras of Master Builders--For Sale from Fernandez Music, Irvine, California

A venda guitarras portuguesas de artesão

This page shows fine Portuguese Guitarras presently in California made by very good builders from Portugal over the last century. Some of these guitarras are for sale. Make your best offer. Certain instruments must be picked-up in the United States.

Below: There is no label glued to the back but there is one glued to the interior right side which states "Ulisses 1964".

Back of "Ulisses" 1964. Spruce face, Rosewood back, ebony fingerboard, elaborate Mother of Pearl Inlay. Very good sound and playability. Even though it was made in 1964 this instrument is in excellent condition. I repaired a crack in the back, French Polish the body, refined the fret work and set-up, the action. I was told by a knowledgable player in Lisbon that Ulisses was one of the Gracio family. Price $7500 or best offer.

João Palmeiro, 1994, Lisboa style. Spruce soundboard, rosewood fingerboard, Portuguese Walnut. French Polished Finish, set-up and fret refinement by Ron Fernandez. This instrument was made for me by Senhor Palmeiro. I have had it in my personal collection and it is in fine condition. Price $7000 or best offer.

Below: João Palmeiro Coimbra Guitarra. Made in Montijo across from Lisboa. 1994. This guitarra wasmade for me.

I did the final French Polish, refined the frets and set-up the instrument. The face is spruce, the fingerboard is rosewood, the back is probably sycamore. 470mm scale. Price $7000 or best offer.

Above: Joao Palmeiro, 1994 Coimbra head (back and front) and above that the beautiful back. French Polished by Ron Fernandez.

Below: Kim Gracio made in Lisbo 1963? This is one of the superior makers, he was a member of the Garcio family. The soundboard of this instrument was repair with epoxy on the inside. The repair has stablized he soundboard but the work is obvious and surface of the 2 sides of the crack are not perfectly flush. Nevertheless, this is a good sounding professional instrument. $4500 or best offer.

Below: German Vazquez and Ronald Louis Fernandez, Coimbra Guitarra. Body by German and Fretting, bridge and French polish by Ronald Fernandez. In Process. $4800 or best offer.

Below: Joao Pedro Gracio Junior, 1962. Spruce soundboard, Portuguese Walnut body, ebony fingerboard. Private Collection

Below: Santos Beirao, Lisboa 1950 to 1970's. Spruce face, rosewood fingerboard, perhaps mongoy back. Fret work, set-up and French Polished by Ron Fernandez. This was a good production instrument sold in Lisbon in the mid-20th century. This one was sold through the Santos Beirao shop in the Chiado which burned down. I found it in Palm Springs, California. It had a crack in the back--we did a lot to this instrument to restore it. I have another with a repaired crack in the face. I will take offers on these instruments.

Above: The light color on the back of this guitarra is merely a light reflection

Above: Another Santos Beirao, Lisbon mid 20th century. Repaired crack in face. French Polished and set-up by Ron Fernandez. Make offer.

Below: Antonio Victor Viera, Lisbon, probably 1920s. Repaired and French Poished by Ron Fernandez

Above: Back of Antonio Victor Viera. There are several repaired cracks in the back of this instrument. It has a very interesting sound because the scale is shorter ans the sttrings are looser than modern guitarras. Make offer.

Below: Fernandeo Meirles, 2002. Coimbra. 470mm scale. Private Collection

Below: Joao Manuel Andrade, Ca. 1895. Lisboa. Make offer.

Above: Joao Manuel Andrade, Lisboa, ca. 1895. Make offer.

Below: Manuel Cardoso, Lisboa, ca. 1980. Private Collection

Above: Manuel Cardoso, Lisboa, ca. 1980, Private Collection.

Below: Oscar Cardoso, Lisbon, 2001, Private Collection

Above: Oscar Cardoso, Lisboa 2001, Private Collection.

Below: Unnamed Guitarra, unknown origin. Found in Southern California. Judging from the tuners it is from 1920 to 1950. I don't know if it was made in Continenatal Portugal, the Azores or in the United States. It has a"pine" soundboard, rosewood fingerboard, body may be of beech (but I am not sure), 472mm scale. This guitarra needs repair work. The back panels have shrunk so there is a separation between the two panel. There is a split in the back right panel. Price $250 or make offer in cash or trade, no case.

If you have any questions, email me: ron@fernandezmusic.com

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