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  • #21476
    photowriters
    Participant

    I have a Taurus guitar that I purchased in Barcelona in 1967. The label says “Made in Spain Taurus Guitarras Lutherie Barcelona-12 Paseo del Monte 26.” There are two inked numbers “60” and “1966” that I assume mean that either it was the 60th made during the 1966 production year or it is a model 60 made in 1966.

    When I went to the music shop in Barcelona to look for an instrument, I did not see/test anything that pleased me, and told the owner so. He took me up stairs where he had his “special guitars,” and that is where I found the guitar. I paid 65 for it including a fur like -lined hard case.

    I have tried find out more information about the guitar, but have not been very successful. The Flamenco playing owner of the local guitar studio here in Kansas City says that it resembles a Ramirez student guitar of the same vintage, and many of the Ramirez student guitar at that time were made by other luthiers and marketed under the Ramirez name. I have searched the Internet several times without success. Today, however, I found a commercial site that confirms the proprietor.

    The web site says that Antonio Picado Berga, a guitar maker in Barcelona, worked in the “Taurus” workshop from 1968 to 1982 and that many Ramirez student guitars were made by the Taurus workshop during that time. Ramirez student guitars from that time currently sell for ,000 to ,000. The new Berga models are listed from 00 to ,000.

    I know that the guitar still has an excellent tone if a little worse for wear after 30 years of being hauled all over the US and on seven major deployments with the U.S. Navy, and that is all I know about Taurus Guitarras. However, I would like to know more. For example what would it cost to replace it? Does the Taurus workshop still exist? What sort of reputation to the instruments have? Etc.

    Any information that anyone could provide would be greatly appreciated.

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    • #79419
      Anonymous
      Guest

      I purchased a “MG Contreras” a while ago. Just had first chance to do a bit of work/ string change. Very normal label but couldn’t see a date. On the bottom block, a Taurus label…had written at top looks like “59 781 1970 ” and typical Taurus Barcelona label. I am hoping to hear from Contreras. Taurus built Ramirez…Contreras too? It’s a great guitar…nice woods, big mellow voice

    • #79206
      Anonymous
      Guest

      Hi, it is perhaps a little late, but I didn’t see this article before now. I own a guitar from 1965, made in Barcelona by Condal – possibly a maker named Manuel Condal. One of the back bars inside is stapeled “Taurus” in big golden letters. So the question is, did this guitar maker put a label of his own into the Taurus guitars, or what …? The label is marked “No. 35”, perhaps the Condal model number. The tone quality is OK, neither something special nor very loud. Once the neck had to be corrected, because twisting, perhaps not the best neck wood. It is a very beautiful guitar with ebony fretboard and rosewood sides and an interesting rosette. Nineteenth fret is undivided and free of the sound hole. An article somewhere at the internet “Did Manuel Condal really exist” is affirmative. The author of this article once met him in his shop, dressed in a dusty coat. So he apparently made his own guitars, in any case. But the Taurus brand … ?

    • #77685
      Anonymous
      Guest

      Hi, I am a former owner of a guitar shop in Houston, Texas. I first got acquainted with Taurus when purchasing instruments for my shop. At the time, I bought two guitars, Model 56 ($350 retail) and the model most expensive they made at the time, Model 60, selling for $500.00. Keep in mind, these were 1969 prices. I ordered direct from Spain and received a nice letter from them and was also surprised to receive a person phone call all the way from Spain (and no Internet, just a real phone call long distance). I sold the Model 60 and kept the Model 56 which to my ears had a better tone quality than the expensive one. Now out of the business, I have nearly 20 personal guitars including 4 classic style instruments. The quality of workmanship in those days was meticulous. The wood for the top straight grained and beautiful matching rosewood backs and sides. I’ve been very pleased, and yes, the sound quality over the years from 1969 to the present 2018 is like a fine vine and only gotten better much to my satisfaction. There are still a lot of guitar enthusiasts that are not acquainted with the Taurus Company. I can only sing praises to my guitar. In fact as a composer/arranger for the classical guitar, I intend to play it at an upcoming concert in California in 2019. I have always desired a little better bass response, but the overall sound is excellent!

    • #76839
      Anonymous
      Guest

      After some visits to music shops recently I was so disappointed with the tone of guitars I happened to try (and the prices asked!) that I wondered if my instrument was something special, because of the mellow tone, not to be found with any of the guitars I saw in the music shops. I had owned a Mittenwalder (spruce top) before, but I play my Taurus now for fourty years. I would not want to give it away for the beautiful full tone, the excellent craft of all details and, over all, the fact, that the tone has become better and better over the years. I believe the guitar has got a pine top, ebony bridge and fretboard and mahogany body (back and sides).

    • #76253
      Anonymous
      Guest

      When I passed my ALCM exam when I was at school in the 1970s my father said I will pay for half a good guitar if you’ve the rest. I passed and we bought Taurus model 54/57 (not sure which because if the writing) from 1977. A beautiful guitar with amazing tone. I nearly became professional on the recommendation of at least one person who was a protege of Julian Bream but my life took a different turn. I was then 17 and am now 57 – the guitar still has character, though mellowed, and I agree with the comment regarding low to medium tension strings – somehow brings out the best. I am contemplating paying some serious money for a guitar as a last hurrah before I get too old but struggle to give up the tone of the Taurus. A fine guitar perhaps with an uncertain and understated heritage that should have been better praised.
      David

    • #75730
      Anonymous
      Guest

      I bought a Taurus no.56 from Ivor Mairants Music Centre in London in 1970. It has the “Made in Barcelona” label inside with the date (Aug. ’70) and model no. 56. I recall I paid £72 for it new. It has a lovely tone which seems to improve with age. I’m pleased to see from preceding comments it is a well thought of make. Does anyone know if they are still in production and the approximate value today?
      I re-inforce previous comments about using medium tension strings. I find D’Addario Pro-Arte strings well suited to this guitar.

    • #79883
      Anonymous
      Guest

      It’s a long time since the last post, but I thought I would add something to the comments above. I also have a Taurus guitar which I bought many years ago from a specialist guitar shop close to where I was living in Barcelona, Spain. Mine was bought in 1977 and has the year marked on the label. The number 52 is the model number, and this specific guitar is classified as a studio guitar. It was one step down from a concert quality guitar, but excellent quality with an ebony fretboard and a lovely rounded sound. I have just bought a couple of sets of new strings for it. None of the ones I have used over the years have been anywhere near as good as the ones which were on it when I purchased it, so the advice about low to medium tension strings is probably good. The ones I have bought are by Gato Negro (black cat) and can be purchased on-line from a company called “Guitarras de Luthier” in Madrid. The unwound strings are black in colour – hence the name, but I always loved their tone.

      • #101999
        Anonymous
        Guest

        I bought a Taurus 1977 Model 52 when I went to Barcelona for a student vacation in 1977. Now as a retiree, I am playing guitar again after many years not touching this Taurus. My question is ” what telling us the model 52 ? is there other model for Taurus 1977 ” ? thank you.

    • #57122
      carel
      Participant

      Hi there,

      I was born in Spain, Barcelona, and my dad bought me a Taurus 1979 with number 52. My guitar teacher was also professor at the Conservatorium and he told my dad which guitar to buy. At the time I was 13 years of age and the guitar is EXCELLENT. As far as I know it is indeed also sold as a Ramirez. In Spain Taurus is a boutique guitar bought by the real spaniards who what a GOOD guitar both for student use as for recitals.

      the sound is great. I advice not to use high tension strings since traditionally spanish music uses medium to low tension.

      greating from holland

      carel

    • #57121
      Barry
      Participant

      I just gave my oldest son a 1970 Jose Ramirez I bought used over 22 years ago and I think I have just found out (I send pitures to a distributor of Ramirez guitars) that it was probably made for Ramirez at the Taurus shop, although the label inside says Madrid. I would post pictures of it here if someone could tell me how to do that. It looks like Rosewood sides and back but I can’t really tell

    • #57117
      Barry
      Participant

      I just gave my oldest son a 1970 Jose Ramirez I bought used over 22 years ago and I think I have just found out (I send pitures to a distributor of Ramirez guitars) that it was probably made for Ramirez at the Taurus shop, although the label inside says Madrid. I would post pictures of it here if someone could tell me how to do that. It looks like Rosewood sides and back but I can’t really tell

    • #57119
      wyeknot123
      Participant

      Is this subject still of interest? – if so, I have a Taurus guitar No52 of 1977 which I bought new in Bristol (UK) in ’78 in the original hard black case and used it for only a few months before having to give up due to presure of work, since when it has rested quietly in it’s case and has developed a beautiful tone. It is as new and was examined by a leading teacher in this area and described as in beautiful, virtually new, condition and fit for the concert platform. I am about to put it up for sale through Classical Guitar Magazine and, if unsuccessful, via top end auction house in Bristol or eBay uk. Photos available if anyone interested.

    • #57116
      Dennis Bertram
      Participant

      I have also wondered about the Taurus guitars. I bought one in Tossa, Spain in 1975. Very fine wood grain, black body, and plays quite nice. I paid $150 for it. It has been a joy ever since. It was made in 1974 and has the number 50 on its label. Had the bridge fixed once and the fellow who fixed it was quite impressed by the instrument.

    • #57118
      lowblow
      Member

      hi bob,
      a quite late answer, do you still have this taurus guitar, if yes, can you send some pics to my e-mail-adress:
      [email protected] or [email protected]
      i just bought one for nothing (100 sfr= 80$) on a fleamarket, a 9.5/10 instrument wich i d’like to trade with a martin 00-18 or a duolian national.
      i’ll be enjoyed to hear from you
      robert

    • #57120
      rebabevets
      Participant
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