Del Pilar Classical Guitar (1958), made in Brooklyn, NY, French polish finish, Brazillian rosewood back and sides, spruce top, Spanish cedar neck with ebony fingerboard, black tolex hard shell case.
The "Artist of Atlantic Avenue" Guillermo Del Pilar, built very high-grade instruments in the heart of Brooklyn from the 1950's through 1970's. This is a nice example of his 1950's work, hand signed and dated April 1958.
The back and sides are made of truly spectacularly fine straight-grain Brazilian rosewood�this would be style 45 quality in Martin terms! The top has 5-ply wood binding with a side line, the bridge is Brazilian rosewood, and both the front and rear of the headstock are faced with Brazilian as well.
This is a great playing guitar; extremely responsive, even, warm, and round sounding, with good volume and surprising projection. This would be an excellent instrument for Bossa Nova styling as well as the straight classical repertoire.
These Del Pilar guitars are becoming highly prized today and Del Pilar's reputation as one of the finer, if unjustly unsung, luthiers in postwar America is still growing.
Overall length is 38 15/16 in. (98.9 cm.), 14 1/2 in. (36.8 cm.) wide at lower bout, and 3 3/4 in. (9.5 cm.) in depth at side, taken at the end block. Scale length is 25 3/4 in. (654 mm.). Width of nut is 2 1/16 in. (52 mm.).
This guitar has had some repair work but is in excellent playing condition; there is one long spliced grain crack to the back and one center seam split on the top. These were repaired some time ago and had French polish applied to the top and back. The frets are large jumbo style; the original smaller frets are still in the case!
Overall a very nice-playing example of a rare and beautifully made guitar. Includes an extremely nice original hard shell case. Excellent Condition.
