1974 Garcia Grade 1

In the late 1960s and early 1970s there was an influx of generally very good classical guitars from Japan with “Spanish” names, presumably on the assumption that a classical guitar with a Japanese name would not be evaluated on its merits. (This was obviously before makers like Kazuo Yairi, Matsuoka, and others had established international reputations.) The Garcia Grade 1 is near the top of the Garcia line, purportedly made of all solid woods, and on its merits is a very good classical guitar, suitable for high level studio work and even concert performance.

Garcia guitars—like Hernandis, Barbero, and perhaps other guitars of the period--were made for and distributed by Sherry-Brener (“Antigua Casa”) of Chicago and Madrid. The first guitars were apparently built by Federico Garcia in Spain, based heavily on the designs of the famed Ramirez guitars, of which Sherry-Brenner was for a while the sole U.S. distributor. The guitars were graded and priced to be a mid-range alternative to the very expensive Spanish-made classical guitars of the time, just as virtually every major American manufacturer (Gibson, Martin, Guild, etc.) has created less expensive versions of their top models, most of them made in Asia.

As agreed by virtually everyone who plays these instruments, the quality of these early Japanese classical guitars is exceptionally high for their price, and the tone and sound of the higher-grade instruments have always been considered comparable in almost every respect to the higher-priced Spanish guitars of the time. Unfortunately, when the actual assembly and finishing of their guitars was moved to Japan, Sherry-Brenner neglected to inform the guitar-playing public of this change of venue until forced to do so by a lawsuit. The discrediting of the Sherry-Brenner firm has unfairly resulted in the questioning of the value of the guitars themselves, usually by folks who have never played them. The testimonials on-line by actual owners are almost universally enthusiastic.

If you go to the website at Sherry-Brener in their classical guitar selection, you will see the Garcia Grade I, currently listed for $3,000. I frankly doubt that anybody ever paid that list price, but this is purportedly the first of the all solid wood models; the lower grades generally have solid tops, but laminated backs and sides, and are not as close in quality to the Grade 1 as the price listings indicate. The Garcia Classical Guitar Grade 1 was handcrafted in Japan with premium materials, featuring a solid Spanish Pine (Cedar) top, with nicely figured Indian Rosewood back and sides. The 12-fret neck is Cedar, with a Granadillo (Ebony) 19-fret fingerboard, and Rosewood headstock, heel-cap, and bridge. There is wood purfling around both top and bottom of the body, with distinctive matching inlays on the bridge, rosette, and headstock. The gold tuners are the originals, still smooth and accurate. The scale is 660 mm with a 52 mm nut; the action is set at 4 mm at the twelfth fret.

However, this particular guitar (dated 1974 on the label) has obviously been modified by a previous owner; for some unexplained reason, the top has been very carefully re-finished to a glossy black. The guitar is in very good condition, with virtually no dings or bruises and no sign of structural problems or repairs. As with most classical guitars, the action is a little higher than on my steel-string, but there is plenty of nut and saddle to allow adjustment to suit your taste and style. It has beautiful design and workmanship, with a traditional seven fan bracing system almost identical to the Ramirez 1A.

The resonance of the seasoned woods is of course quite good—clearly superior to my 1962 Gibson C-1 Classical. The sound is rich and robust, the volume, projection, and intonation are excellent, and it is a delight to play. I am sure that you will be pleased with the appearance and performance of this fine instrument, a guitar similar in design to a Ramirez 1A at a fraction of the cost.

The case is a hard foam soft shell case made by Road Runner, and is in good condition. While there is some wear of the tough fabric exterior, the zippers are fully functional, the storage space is intact, and it offers solid protection for this very good guitar. The light weight and comfortable molded handle are a bonus for travel.

Buyer pays a flat rate of $55 for insurance and shipping to the lower 48 states; shipping costs elsewhere will be negotiated as necessary. Payment by Paypal is preferred; cashier’s checks are acceptable, but checks must clear before the guitar will be shipped.

I have made every effort to describe and illustrate this guitar and case with scrupulous accuracy. Its return will not be accepted unless it can be shown that it was egregiously misrepresented in this listing. Please check out the pictures, and ask any questions you might have before offering to purchase it.

Thank you for your interest in this cool classical guitar.