The oval-shaped soundhole of the guitar Aguado is playing in his famous lithograph is clearly a Laprévotte design, while another drawing looks like an early Guadagnini guitar. After his arrival in Paris, various accounts indicate he used French guitars by Lacôte and Laprévotte. Since Aguado came from Spain, he must have used Spanish instruments early in his career, but information as to which specific builders has not surfaced. It is always possible new information could be revealed to change our thinking. This information is based on some surviving written accounts, luthier information, surviving ownership and instruments. Here is a chart showing what instruments were played by the most famous guitar composers of the early 19th century. Instruments used by the great 19th Century Guitar Composers: More links to 19th century builder information can be found on this page: I do not say that others do not exist but never having tried them, I cannot decide on that of which I have no knowledge." The guitars which I have always given the preference are those of Alonzo of Madrid, Pages and Benediz of Cadiz, Joseph and Manuel Martinez of Malaga, or Rada, successor and scholar of the latter, and those of M. Lacote, a French maker, the only person who, besides his talents, has proved to me that he possesses the quality of not being inflexible to reasoning. In the goodness of the body or box, the Neapolitan guitars in general long surpassed, in my opinion, those of France and Germany but that is not the case at present, and if I wanted an instrument, I would procure it from M. Panormo made some guitars under my direction, as well as Mr. It often helps the resale value of the guitar to pay for a written appraisal.įernando Sor mentions several builders in his " Method for the Spanish Guitar" English Translation of 1836, published by Tecla Editions: Most guitars of this era have lost their label and are identified by estimating their country of origin and time period, based on design characteristics of other labeled, known dated guitars.
Even the primary builders remain surrounded by uncertainty as to the most basic details. The historical facts of most of these builders have fallen into historical obscurity and are lost. There was a great variety of construction technique and design. There were plain-looking guitars for musicians (which often have surprisingly good tone quality and power), and ordinary household guitars for students. Some makers achieved great playing guitars with tremendous power and tone, while others made ornate instruments for social graces. Just like today, some builders made expensive, highly-prized concert guitars, while other makers made cheap household guitars, and every level inbetween. For many of these makers, perhaps only a handful or even only 1 guitar survives. There were numerous 19th century builders, in fact probably hundreds of luthiers. This site presents only the most rudimentary basics of the topic. Only the most famous builders from the earliest 6-string guitar through the 19th century are discussed on this page. General Information about 19th century guitars: Instruments used by the great 19th Century Guitar Composers
These are prime examples of the main early 19th century guitar styles: Italian, Viennese, French, and Spanish. The photo left is a period Fabricatore, and the others are reproductions of originals by luthier Bernhard Kresse.
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