Classic Guitars International for fine classical and flamenco guitars, Chris Kamen
2007 Paulino Bernabe Flamenco Blanca
Top: Spruce
Sides & Back: Spanish Cypress
Scale: 650 mm • Origin: Spain
Price: $11,500


This guitar sold to a great player in England, if you are interested in a Blanca by Paulino Bernabe please contact me...

Manuel Reyes has personally made me six Flamenco guitars for my own use, so I am very familiar with the sound and feel of a new Reyes guitar. In my opinion, Bernabe Flamenco guitars are the absolute closest that you can come to duplicating the sound and feel of a new Reyes. With Reyes now permanently closing his list, Paulino's guitars represent what I consider to be the only viable alternative to a new Reyes. Paulino Bernabe is of course one the finest builders in Spain. Bernabe roots extend way back to the old Ramirez days, but for years now father and son have been creating some of the most highly regarded guitars in Spain. All the Bernabe guitars that I offer are completely hand made by the father and son and I selected this guitar when I visited them in their shop in Madrid on a recent trip. Their store of aged woods is second to none, I was not expecting such a vast and well aged store of superior woods. The woods for this guitar are truly master grade, a stunning spruce top and the finest quality of Spanish Cypress for the back and sides. Workmanship is legendary and flawless, but what about the sound? I played this guitar in their shop and could not put it down. I asked Paulino to send it to me and when he did I played it some more at home. The sound is pure Bernabe, by that I mean, in a class by itself, so pleasing on so many levels that it makes description difficult. There is something 'sparkling' in the tone that, while it is very Blanca like, has something 'more', a glitter in the notes that brings something extra to what you would normally expect from a Blanca. A brilliant guitar from a master and perhaps the only real substitute for a new Reyes.

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