Description
Manuel de Soto y Solares 1872 – Very rare and collectable guitar from Sevilla built in 1872.
This guitar is a close as you can get to a guitar by Antonio de Torres. It looks exactly like an 1863 Antonio de Torres guitar that was featured in Vintage Guitar Magazine – Link: www.vintageguitar.com/3434/antonio-de-torres-1863/
Manuel de Soto y Solares (1839–1906) was born in Sevilla into a lineage of guitar makers. His father, Manuel de Soto Castañón, and his grandfathers were also accomplished luthiers. Manuel began his career around 1860, establishing his workshop near Antonio de Torres on CerragerÃa Street. According to Romanillos, Soto y Solares and Torres maintained professional exchanges, sharing materials and possibly subcontracting work.
During the late 1860s, Torres struggled to sustain his high-end guitar business and likely produced more affordable guitars under different labels, including Soto y Solares. This connection gives rise to the possibility that some guitars bearing Soto y Solares’ label may have been crafted by Torres himself. Regardless, when Torres retired to AlmerÃa in 1870, Manuel de Soto y Solares became the go-to luthier for Torres-style guitars, attracting significant clients such as the flamenco singer Juan Breva. It is clear from surviving examples that Manuel de Soto y Solares was a master artisan who embraced and furthered Torres’ innovative style.
This exquisite guitar features a German spruce top paired with cypress back and sides, faithful to the materials favored by Torres and other makers of the era. The guitar’s size is smaller than modern standards, with a nut width of 43 mm and a scale length of 580 mm, similar to many romantic guitars of its time. Its construction, including the headstock design and overall build, is strikingly reminiscent of Torres guitars made in Sevilla during the 1860s.
The sound of this guitar is nothing short of magical. It produces a warm, sweet, and intimate tone, with a rich harmonic palette and excellent clarity. The trebles are delicate yet resonant, while the basses are deep and articulate, offering an exceptional balance across the registers. Despite its smaller size, the guitar delivers remarkable projection and dynamic response, making it equally suitable for romantic and classical repertoire.
The guitar has undergone multiple repairs over the years, including crack repairs. Everything is stable and has been checked by our luthier. It retains its original charm while being ready for contemporary use. The neck is straight, and the action is set low (E 2.8 mm and e 2 mm at the 12th fret), making it a joy to play with effortless response under the fingers.
For collectors, historians, and musicians, this Manuel de Soto y Solares guitar is a rare and precious find. It embodies a pivotal moment in guitar-making history and showcases the remarkable skill of a luthier who helped carry forward the legacy of Antonio de Torres. With its exquisite craftsmanship, rich tonal character, and historical significance, this guitar is an extraordinary opportunity to own a true masterpiece from Sevilla’s golden age of guitar-making.
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