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Marcelino Barbero A1 Classical Guitar w/ Case (USED)

Our Notes: In Very Good condition. There is a small crack in the fingerboard between the D and G strings that starts at the sound hole and continues to the 14th fret. There is a very, very narrow crack about 4 inches long on the back of the body, running parallel to the neck (e.g., with the grain of the wood), behind the upper bout on the treble side. 

We had this guitar appraised to gain further insight into its backstory, and there was much insight to be gained! This guitar was once part of the collection curated by the one-and-only Jim Sherry, an eccentric Chicago-based classical guitar importer who was rather infamous for his creative embellishments.

Among classical guitar aficionados, Sherry's modus operandi was well-known: he would import a well-made classical guitar from somewhere other than Spain, re-label it to suggest luxuriously Spanish provenance, and mark up its price to account for this newfound provenance. He might have calculated that a customer, enchanted by a guitar's majesty, might overlook small details. One such detail, case in point, is the name on this guitar's label, "Marcelino Barbero." This name bears remarkable resemblance to "Marcelo Barbero," one of the most renowed Spanish luthiers of the twentieth century. Marcelo Barbero guitars enjoy legendary renown among collectors, and are priced accordingly!

Based on the overwhelming evidence, it seems reasonable to conclude that Marcelo Barbero probably did not make this guitar. But it's also clear that the anonymous maker of this guitar, whoever they were and wherever they lived, was nothing less than exceptional at their craft. This is a very special instrument, a lightning rod for musical joy that will appeal to collectors and musicians alike. Its somewhat frazzled origin story is a minor footnote compared to the music it can make when placed in the right hands. Stop by to see if those hands belong to you!