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2007 Paulino Bernabe "Imperial"
Top: 30+ years aged Spruce
Sides & Back: Well aged Brazilian Rosewood
Scale: 650 mm • Origin: Spain • Tuners: Rodgers (Graf tuners also available)
Price: SOLD

This hauntingly beautiful Imperial is the perfect embodiment of the Spanish Guitar. Although the younger Paulino Bernabe has been the primary builder of  Royal/Imperial/Especial guitars for years, his father would still drop by the shop from time-to-time and ‘help out’ with these amazing guitars when he could. Paulino reports to me that such was the case with this guitar and sadly, his father passed away before it was completed, making it the last Imperial to be touched by both father and son. A very special guitar indeed. The workmanship is standard setting, the top is of very well aged Spruce, more than 30 years old, while the back and sides are of some of the most beautiful and well figured Brazilian you are likely to find anywhere. You fall in love with this guitar before you ever play a note. But when you do play you discover that as beautiful as it is to look at, it is really here to make music and sing it does.

The Imperial guitar is the penultimate Bernabe creation, exceeded only by the “Royal”. Flawless craftsmanship, superior well aged woods, and of course that famous Bernabe sound, have resulted in the Imperial becoming one of Paulino’s most desired models. The sides are doubled, having an internal lining of Maple and an external lining of fine Brazilian Rosewood. This design, coupled with the unique and creative bracing design that is only found on the Imperial and Royal models, creates a guitar with superb refinement and excellent volume and projection. I feel that these instruments create a sound ‘bridge’ between a traditional fan braced guitar and contemporary lattice braced or double topped guitars, providing aspects for lovers of both styles to enjoy. Very traditional Spanish tone, but with so much volume and complexity that they clearly have a foot in both traditional and contemporary camps. A true blend of the best of both worlds. The finish is the highest level of French polish

 I once had a client who had the good fortune to be testing three Fleta’s and one imperial all at the same time, not surprisingly, they selected the Imperial and sent the Fleta’s back. Such is the effect of these guitars and this instrument in particular. Each Bernabe guitar comes with a laminated certificate of Authenticity showing a photograph of the guitar front/back and label and signed by Paulino Bernabe, a copy of which is kept on file in the permanent Bernabe files for reference.

This is a special guitar and I know that it will find a worthy home with one of you...

To learn more about the Bernabe reputation, and the differences between the various models that are hand built by Paulino, click here.