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Greetings all! I'm hoping for some help in getting some information on a guitar that was uncovered in my mom's estate. I only had time to snap one quick photo of the label and to do just a quick bit of research (which partly led me here). From what I can gather this is a 1962 Conde Hermanos no.2 sold by Locker's in Philly. My mom was the original owner. I understand that there is a wealth of useless knowledge out there, so by all means, please correct me. I'm hoping for some guidance in uncovering just what I have here.
Are there tell-tale markings or design cues that I should be looking for? I'm tempted to try to peel back the Locker's label to see if the original Conde label underneath has any more legible information.
Assuming that what I have is what it appears to being a very nice condition (unstrung and unplayed for at least 25 years) with the original red felt lined case (case is in rough shape outside but nice inside), what would the range in value be?
I very much appreciate any help! thanks
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RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
Thank you for the reply. I was actually looking at the page on 12fret when your reply came through. I don't remember the back of mine being 3-piece, but I'll verify that. Is it odd that the rosette inlay on mine if facing the other directions (the "arrows" are pointing in the opposite direction around the hole) and the colors aren't the same?
RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
quote:
Is it odd that the rosette inlay on mine if facing the other directions (the "arrows" are pointing in the opposite direction around the hole) and the colors aren't the same?
The rosette variation is typical. Rosettes with no mosaic just veneer are the lower level guitars. It may be a two or three piece back. One can tell it's a student model from the label's green border and it's pattern. The 1st and 2nd labels have a different pattern in red. As below:
Student
1st and 2nd (second would be same but have no signature)
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RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
ahhh...makes sense.
Would you recommend I take it to a guitar shop to have them string it, tune it, etc? I actually play a little guitar, but not classical, so I could certainly do it myself. My main concern is that it has been unstrung for so long that something might need to be done with caution.
RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
So, I was able to spend some more time with the guitar last night. A few things that I noticed that are different from the one on 12fret (again, maybe they make no difference or maybe that stand out): - the tuners are engraved and more decorative; the handles are more translucent/opalescent than the opaque white ones; the tuner posts are ivory (or appear to be) not metal - the wood on the back seems to be different. The graining looks different. Is it cedar like the one on 12fret suggests is standard?
Again, I appreciate the help!
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RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
You need to replace all the tuner rollers since they are cracked. If the rollers are a standard size most luthiers will have replacements. The crack in the lower bout diminishes the value considerably. If it hasn't already been done you should have cleats installed to stabilize it.
RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to jshelton5040)
I bought one of these guitars in Calle Gravina in 1978. Same headstock, later same cracks, made in Pozuelo de Alarcón, I believe. Was great at the time, but probably worth very little. I still have it, hung as a decoration on the wall of the Peña Flamenca de Irlanda del Norte
RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
I bought one guitar, like this, from Locker's in 1962, priced at $190 shipped to Dallas Texas. It was an apprentice guitar and not worth much, but then again, the Faustino Condes were selling for $350 in 1965 in Madrid, which means Lockers would have had a higher mark up price from that particular model in Madrid.
RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Mine cost 15,000 ptas and had a Gravina label, but Faustino offered me a media luna, signed by himself for 35,000 ptas. But I was a poor student, with limited travellers cheques and no way of getting more money, so a lost opportunity
RE: 1962 Conde Hermanos in my family... (in reply to bcontento)
thanks again guys! I emailed the company and got this back:
Thank you so much getting in touch and sending us photos of this guitar built in our workshop in Pozuelo de Alarcón close to Madrid in 1962. This guitar was built using German spruce for the top, Spanish cypress for the back and sides, ebony for the fret board and Honduran cedar for the neck. The tuners seem to be Spanish made and original.
This is a studio guitar equivalent to today´s model FP15, the orientation value for this guitar is circa 2500€. I see Locker´s of Philadelphia has stuck their label over ours, and labeled and numbered the guitar, I hope it can be removed easily.
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