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Domingo Esteso 



Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish:Shellac
Tuning Machine:unknown
String height:1string 1.2mm/6string 1.4mm

[Profile]
Domingo Esteso was born in San Clemente, Cuenca, Spain in 1882, and after moving to Madrid in 1900, he entered the workshop of Manuel Ramirez. He became a master craftsman alongside his colleague Santos Hernandez, and worked in his master's workshop until Manuel Ramirez's death in 1916. In 1919, he became independent and opened his own workshop at 7 Gravina. After Domingo's death in 1937, the Conde brothers took over the workshop under the label 'Viuda y Sobrinos de Domingo Esteso'. This later developed into the famous flamenco guitar brand Conde Hermanos. Because flamenco was flourishing at the time Domingo became independent, many of the guitars he produced were made of cypress wood. Domingo's work was profound, dense, and uniquely expressive, and it continues to attract many guitarists today, not only flamenco guitarists. He is one of the greatest guitar makers of the first half of the 20th century.

[Description]
We are pleased to announce the arrival of a 1934 Laud made by Domingo Esteso. This is a very rare piece that rarely appears on the market.
The laud is an instrument that is played with the bandurria and guitar in the rondalla ensemble, which is specialized in the performance of Spanish folk music such as jota.
While the bandurria is an instrument about the size of a mandolin, the laud, also known as the Spanish lute, is slightly smaller than a guitar with a string length of approximately 470 to 500 mm. It is a 6-course, 12-string instrument tuned in 4 degrees of pitch, usually from the lowest to the highest: G#, C#, F#, B, E, and A (each course in unison). There are two types: one with a circular sound hole in the center of the sound board like a guitar, and the other with an 'f' hole like this piece. In Spain, many major manufacturers still catalog laud and bandurria for mass production. It is not so unusual to find works by master craftsmen, as Torres and Vicente Arias, among others, have also made them.
This work by Domingo Esteso is very carefully crafted. The string length is 519 mm, which is rather long for this type of instrument. The neck is in almost perfect condition, which is very rare for a steel-stringed instrument, and there is a crack near the bridge of the sound board that has been repaired. Paint is peeling on the back of the neck, but we have left it as it is without any particular modification. Comes with its own hard case.


〔detail〕
InstrumentDomingo Esteso 
Category民族楽器・打楽器
Number/ModelLAUD
Scale length517mm
CountrySpain
Year1934Year
TopSpruce
Side&BackIndian Rosewood
Condition※7
List priceINQUIRE
Price (tax included)Please Inquire
optionwith Hardcase

Click to enlarge the photos below



Domingo Esteso 

※Condition
10New
9Mint
8Exellent
7Very good
6Good
5Normal condition due to aging