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This is my latest project. I hope to list all supposed Torres guitars and include photos and information; the most important of which will be expert opinions on the authenticity of the guitars. The response has been great and I now have to upload the photos I have recieved. This list will remain public and will be updated as I get more information.
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to johnguitar)
Please note that I have corrected the link on the first message. I will include it again here. This is the page that I wanted you all to see and help with.
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to johnguitar)
Perhaps there are not many people with this much collected information to validate Torres guitars. What I would like to read is if you have a particular signature instrument that you prefer building for a regular offer to the public.
I understand that you build very good replicas of old masters but I was just curious if you had a particular model for your regular offer.
I may have asked this before but I can't remember.
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to Tom Blackshear)
Yes Tom, the guitar I make most is my own design although very much based on what my teacher Rolf Eichinger made while he was alive. 5 fan struts with a very low brace under the fans and a Granada-sized body. I think it sounds better than the Hauser body and the seven fan plus V that I used to make. Here is an example.
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to johnguitar)
Not my favorite composition but the instrument demonstrates strong capabilities with its mid to treble range, which to me , is the body of the guitar, and doesn't break down with being too fragile in its delivery.
I like a bold earthy treble and its bass seems to support it well.
Posts: 3487
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to johnguitar)
One of my favorite pieces, beautifully played. The emergence of Dowland's supreme Elizabethan gracefulness from Britten's 20th century angst always moves me.
The guitar has an excellent combination of clarity and warmth. I concur with Tom's congratulations!
Posts: 3487
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to johnguitar)
John--
Torres' FE 01 is dated 1854. The ornamental masterpiece FE 08 is dated 1858. Seven guitars in 3 or 4 years seems like too small an output to make a living as a guitarrero.
There are only 29 or 30 numbered instruments in the 14 or 15 year FE period. That's only about 2 per year on average.
Did Torres only number a certain subset of his production?
I would look for an answer in Romanillos' book, but I have hidden my copy from myself somewhere.
I thought Torres did not number his guitars from the first epoch, so the numbering is only of the surviving ones from that epoch, done by Romanillos (i.e. a [small] subset of what he actually produced).
However, there is the year 1864 from which 9 guitars survive. Judging from that, he must have aimed to make on the order of ten per year.
The numbers from the second epoch are Torres's and go to 155 over 17 years, so a bit more than 9 per year.
Seems like an average of 9-10 per year is a good guess.
However, I have no idea what they would have sold for as new and whether that times the yearly output was a good/sufficient income.
Posts: 3487
Joined: Jan. 20 2004
From: Austin, Texas USA
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to kitarist)
Thanks, Kontantin. Googling I found a few Torres labels from the Calle de Cerrageria in Sevilla with dates, but no numbers.
According to Abel Garcia the label in FE 08 is a smaller rectangle of mother-of-pearl. Abel replicates it in his reproduction, and adds his own in the same size and material, but I can't read them in the video interview I posted.
Now, where did I put Romanillos' book?? I've found his book on guitar making, on the shelves where it ought to be, but the Torres book has gone astray somewhere...
Now, where did I put Romanillos' book?? I've found his book on guitar making, on the shelves where it ought to be, but the Torres book has gone astray somewhere...
In retrospect I miss Jose for his person, passion and knowledge of his craft, so much.
Posts: 15725
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Listing of Torres guitars (in reply to johnguitar)
FE 17 is in great shape….then I saw all the restoration labels . They don’t start looking like real guitars until around FE 21 or so.
I have the Ulrik book, and the footnote in your list shows Romanillos but two are in here also with Audio examples and nice photos…FE 24, and SE 129. That might be good to note. My favorite is SE 54, and we get to hear Brune pound out some Caña/Soleá on her!!
Printable Version
. They don’t start looking like real guitars until around FE 21 or so. 
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