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29 thoughts on “La Guitaria Clasica”
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I am looking for a picture of a guitaria in my research – the sort of guitar that was used by a band visiting El Salvador 1940s – 1950s. It is described as very short and held more like a violin, but the people I am consulting speak little English. Do you know what they are talking about – it may have had 4 strings. Jennifer
This popular thread has been given its own page : Taurus Classical Guitars
I, too have a Taurus, but it’s a 12-string, built in 1971 at the Taurus Lutherie in Barcelona. My parents gave it to me, but I’ve never been able to get attached to it. The action is way too high, and the sound isn’t the greatest. I tried putting only 6 strings on it, but that didn’t help. I’ve just been curious about the history of these guitars; I’m sure the resale value isn’t very good. Any comments out there?
: I, too have a Taurus, but it’s a 12-string, built in 1971 at the Taurus Lutherie in Barcelona. My parents gave it to me, but I’ve never been able to get attached to it. The action is way too high, and the sound isn’t the greatest. I tried putting only 6 strings on it, but that didn’t help. I’ve just been curious about the history of these guitars; I’m sure the resale value isn’t very good. Any comments out there?
: : ,i have a Taurus,casa maxi legangitos 1970 flamenco guitar. it has almost new fretboard .but old body has a crack or two ill fix some day. any imformation on this model -no12 thanks.
Taurus Lutherie made estudio (student level) guitars for the Ramirez workshop and also sold a few models under the Taurus Lutherie label from about 1966 to 1985. The workmanship varies by date and by guitar maker. Antonio Picado learnt guitar making at the Taurus Lutherie and he makes top quality guitars.
Even though the Taurus workshop was located in Barcelona, a unique Spanish Province with its own language (they speak Catalan, not Spanish), customs, and guitar making style, Taurus guitars were made in the style of the Madrid School, which was dominated by Ramirez.
So most Taurus lutherie guitars have the same bracing and construction of Ramirez estudio guitars from the 1960s-70s. Some of these instruments are of very high quality, others are not. Some low quality guitars were produced in Spain during the 1970s and 1980s. As a result higher quality Japanese classicals were able to break into and gain prominence in the market – Kohno, Nakade, Tamura to name a few.
Oddly enough, I just came across a similar guitar.
The label reads:
Made in Spain
Taurus Lutherie
Ano 1969
Barcelona – 12
Paseo Del Monte 26, with a hand-written "60" in the lower left corner of the label.
I was wondering if you had any luck w/ your search.
I bought a Taurus in 1991 for £450. It was built in the Paseo Del Monte studio in 1972 and is a model 59. Ebony fingerboard, cedar top with rosewood back. It has unusual red, green and yellow piping running around the edges of the soundbox and down the middle of the back. Very easy action, a lovely instrument to play with a rich mellow sound, but perhaps lacking a little brightness. I wouldn’t part with it.
David Twibill, Hampshire, England.
: Oddly enough, I just came across a similar guitar.
: The label reads:
: Made in Spain
: Taurus Lutherie
: Ano 1969
Tom,
I just read your entry regarding a Taurus Guitar. Where did you find or purchase it? How long ago? Are there any cracked glue joints? Lack of humidity is the greatest detriment to any glue-jointed acoustic instrument. Keep it in the case when not playing it and use some kind of humifying device to keep the humidity in the case at a constant 30% to 50%.
: Barcelona – 12
: Paseo Del Monte 26, with a hand-written "60" in the lower left corner of the label.
: I was wondering if you had any luck w/ your search.
My father just gave me his guitar. It is a Taurus Classic Guitar from 1969 with the number 59 marked on the bottom corner. Hi told me he bought it new when in Barcelona from a guitar shop. back then it was around $600.
: : Oddly enough, I just came across a similar guitar.
: : The label reads:
: : Made in Spain
: : Taurus Lutherie
: : Ano 1969
: Tom,
: I just read your entry regarding a Taurus Guitar. Where did you find or purchase it? How long ago? Are there any cracked glue joints? Lack of humidity is the greatest detriment to any glue-jointed acoustic instrument. Keep it in the case when not playing it and use some kind of humifying device to keep the humidity in the case at a constant 30% to 50%.
: : Barcelona – 12
: : Paseo Del Monte 26, with a hand-written "60" in the lower left corner of the label.
: : I was wondering if you had any luck w/ your search.
I’ve got one of this guitars, my parents gave me it.
It’s from 1970.In perfect conditions.Do you know if it’s good or not. Please let me know it write me to [email protected]
It appears that you also have one of these fine hand-made classical guitars from Barcelona, Spain. Judging from the classical guitars that I have seen and played at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan, these guitars could/should/would be comparable to guitars selling in the $400 to $800 price range. JCK
: I’ve got one of this guitars, my parents gave me it.
: It’s from 1970.In perfect conditions.Do you know if it’s good or not. Please let me know it write me to [email protected]
: It appears that you also have one of these fine hand-made classical guitars from Barcelona, Spain. Judging from the classical guitars that I have seen and played at Elderly Instruments in Lansing, Michigan, these guitars could/should/would be comparable to guitars selling in the $600 to $1000 price range. JCK
:
: : I’ve got one of this guitars, my parents gave me it.
: : It’s from 1970.In perfect conditions.Do you know if it’s good or not. Please let me know it write me to [email protected]
On March 12, 1966, I bought a Taurus Classical Guitar from the Rodes music store, Avda. Catedral, 6 y 8, Barcelona – 2, in Barcelona, Spain. I have owned it all of these 37 years, transporting it in a VW van to and from Alaska where I lived for seventeen years. It has taken extreme climatic abuse during this time in the original hard pressed-board case that I purchased with it. I have the original receipt stored inside a manila envelop in a new TKL case that I just purchased last fall. The price for this guitar was 4,500 pesetes and the original case was an additional 750, totalling 5,250 or about $85.00 US at the time. The guitar has several cracks along spring joints: one on the top below the bridge and another just beginning above the bridge; on the back there are two on either side of the back stripe. The construction techniques used seem very sound. The back and sides are rosewood, possible a cedar top; ebony fingerboard, peghead overlay and bridge with colorful rosette surrounding sound hole and matching embellishment to bridge. The neck appears to be mahogany with a walnut heel. The only information visible on the inside label is the number 56 and the year 1966. The address on the label reads: Paseo del Monte 26, Barcelona – 12, and Taurus Guitarras. I’m not certain whether this information corraborates anyone elses, but there you have it!
My apologies for coming in late to the discussion, but I have only just discovered this thread.
In 1968 I purchased a classical guitar from Casa Parramon in Barcelona. The instrument carries a Casa Parramon label and, twenty years later while living in the Far East, I wrote to the proprietor to discover the guitar’s provenance. Mr Pinto kindly replied and informed me that the instrument was made for Casa Parramon by Taurus guitars of Barcelona, that their “medium quality” guitars were all made at the Taurus workshop, and that Taurus had gone out of business in the 1980s.
The guitar served me well from California to Hong Kong and France, and then back to the U.K.. The instrument was not exceptional by any means (the trebles were always a little “glassy”), but it did have a wonderful set of Indian Rosewood back and sides. Unfortunately, the years of international travel took its toll on the instrument, with the soundboard warping quite badly.
In 2012, I had the soundboard (replaced with Swiss Alpine Spruce) , fingerboard (Ebony), bridge (Rosewood) and tuners (Gotoh Classical) rebuilt by one of the finest luthiers in the U.K.. The instrument returned to me bore no resemblance to the one I had purchased in 1968. I purchased a medium quality guitar, and was returned a “concert standard” guitar very similar in sound to a Romanillos.
The repairs to the Taurus were not cheap, but I ended-up with a guitar worth over twice the costs of the repairs. Torres himself asserted that the sound of a guitar comes from the soundboard, and he even made an instrument with a papier-mâché back and sides to prove his point. I have found this to be so with my guitar, and I mention my experiences for those folk who own a Taurus-made guitar, are thinking of selling to upgrade, and may wish to consider an alternative (that certainly worked for me).
I have had a Taurus Classical Guitar in my basement music room for over thirty years. I am not a classical guitar player and therefore I have rarely used it.
The details are :
The interior label on the rear face says
“Made in Spain Taurus Guitarras Lutherie Barcelona-12 Paseo del Monte 26.”
There are two badly hand-written inked numbers 1974 and 40 and an inked number 3 in the lower left corner.
I assume mean that either it was the 40th made during the 1974 production year or it is a model 40 made in 1974.
Using a small mirror I can see a small ( half-postage-stamp size) label inside the sound hole on the front face. It is again badly written in ink and appears to read “2144”. The number which I read as a “2” is badly formed so, it could be something similar or even a number sign..
Can anyone explain the meaning of these numbers, please ?
given to me by my parents in Colombia when I was 12, it was bought in Casa Maxy Leganitos 12, Madrid España…. it is here in fort lauderdale with me and cracked glue joints are mortifying myself. Any dependable luthier around to fix it? thanks.
I have a Taurus 56 handcrafted by Grau in 1966 in excellent condition.
I gather it is rather rare and wonder if there is anyone out there who would be interested in owning it, as it is sadly unplayed these days.
It has the most beautiful tone, despite having rather ancient strings and needs a good home.
I bought a Taurus (model 56)classical guitar about three years ago but have been unable to find any information about it. Do you know anything such as woods used and value. It’s in quite good condition.
Thanks
Are you still looking for information on your Taurus? E-mail me if you are. Mike
This popular thread has been given its own page : Re: Taurus Classical Guitar
: Are you still looking for information on your Taurus? E-mail me if you are. Mike
I just read your post relative to the Taurus guitar. I purchased a Taurus guitar in the 1970 timeframe. It was imported to the US (from Barcelona) by a friend – and I purchased it from him. I was wondering if you might have any info on the origin of the guitar. It has the following information on the label inside.Taurus Lutherie, Barcelona-12 Paseo del Monte 26. On the lower left on the label is Ano 1969 (the 69 is handwritten – the 19 is printed). Below that is the number 59 (also handwritten)I assume that’s the model no.Did Antonio Picado work in the Taurus workshop in the late 60’s – or was he later? Any info that you might be able to provide will be greatly appreciated. Thanks, Harold Beck
: I bought a Taurus (model 56)classical guitar about three years ago but have been unable to find any information about it. Do you know anything such as woods used and value. It’s in quite good condition.
Hi,
I own a Taurus as well and am also looking for any info, I’m not sure what model I have.
I am a woodworker and that is the reason I bought the guitar because I was impressed by the construction, and I can tell you about the wood.
Mine looks to have a cedar top, the back and sides are Indian rosewood, the binding is maple and black walnut, the neck is korina, the heel of the neck is hondoras mahogany, the fretboard and headstock overlay is ebony.
I think thats about it, thats a lot of nice wood on one guitar, pretty impressive.
: Thanks Paul
: I bought a Taurus (model 56)classical guitar about three years ago but have been unable to find any information about it. Do you know anything such as woods used and value. It’s in quite good condition.
: Thanks
I have a Taurus bought at the Spanish Guitar Centre, London, more than 30 years ago. It has rosewood sides and spruce top. It is dated, on the maker’s label 1972 and numbered 56 (I presume this number relates to the production of that particular year, rather than the total production of Taurus). There is also a Casa Rodes label , referring presumably to the wholesaler. Intriguingly, there is also a very small label inside the upper bout bearing a handwritten number 1457. I have only just noticed this after owning the guitar for 30 years. The digits 1 and 7 are written in continental form, and the label is out of easy reach, so I suspect that it was fixed during manufacture. Do any other guitars carry similar numbers? What is its significance?
: : I bought a Taurus (model 56)classical guitar about three years ago but have been unable to find any information about it. Do you know anything such as woods used and value. It’s in quite good condition.
: : Thanks Hi Robert My Name Is also Robert Torres I live odessa Texas I don’t have any info about the guitar but ihave a friend that is looking for one if you would like to sell it write back to me
This popular thread has been given its own page : Re: Taurus Classical Guitar
i would like to know the price range of my new-old guitar.the label inside says;TAURUS lutherie,paseo del monte 29.In left corner is number 54 written by hand.in the upper right;made in spain.
The specifics are following:
-solid cedar top
-rosewood back and sides
-mahogany neck and headstock
-ebony fingerboard
: : : I bought a Taurus (model 56)classical guitar about three years ago but have been unable to find any information about it. Do you know anything such as woods used and value. It’s in quite good condition.
: : : Thanks Hi Robert My Name Is also Robert Torres I live odessa Texas I don’t have any info about the guitar but ihave a friend that is looking for one if you would like to sell it write back to me ..
Dear Robert…I have a model 60[1969] Tarus classical guitar. I purchased it for $300.00 in 1969 .That model was the top of the line of the 3 models.It was introduced at the namm show that year.It was made by luthier Tarus in Barcelona Spain commisioned by Jose Ramerez as a STUDENT model guitar..Mine has Brazilian rosewwod back and sides.The top is Pine.Fingerboard Ebony…It is an excellent guitar .Has bright trebles the basses are loud.If the guitar has a flaw it could have better overall depth of sound. I hope this will help you..I do not wish to sell it..Regards,Frank Michael Flandorffer