Portuguese Guitarras For Sale (February 2010) A venda guitarras portuguesas

$895 and up (for guitarra, hardshell case, stringwinder, set-up, special fret dressing, extra strings, fingerpicks, chord book).

These are good sounding instruments made in Portugal which have been set-up by Ron Fernandez for comfortable playing.

As of February 2010 I have a number of guitarras for sale. Each of these guitarras is made in Portugal. When the guitarras arrive in California I dress the frets and set up the action--see my photo essay on how I set up guitars, press here.

We have 2 different styles of Portuguese guitarras: the Lisboa and the Coimbra.

Lisboa head (above)

The Lisboa guitarra (Lisboa is the Portuguese word for Lisbon) has a scroll type head (which is much like a violin head). It has a string length of 440mm or 458mm which allows it to be tuned in the traditional fado tuning. The traditional fado tuning is: bb., aa, ee, Bb, Aa, Dd (1st to 12th string). This instrument is the typical guitarra used to accompany fado singing in Lisboa, and for playing Lisboa style variations.

Coimbra Head (above)

 The Coimbra guitarra has a teardrop or shield type head design. It has a string length of 470mm which allows it to be tuned in the Coimbra style which is: aa, gg, dd, Aa, Gg, Cc (1st to 12th string). This tuning is one full step below, that is, two frets lower, than the Lisboa tuning. This tuning is associated with the music and song of the University of Coimbra (located in central Portugal) which my wife, Jeanette, and I attended during the summer of 1974. The Coimbra style of guitarra is linked to the instrumental music of Carlos and Artur Paredes, and to the student serenades. In recent years some Lisboa fado guitarists also have been using this longer scale instrument to accompany fado.

Here are new descriptions of some of our models.

Occasionally people ask for a guitarra without a case. If they want to pickup the instrument at my shop in California that is okay, but if we are going to ship it we must sell the guitarra with a case to properly protect the instrument. My experience has shown me that it is false economy to buy the guitarra without a case. This is because it is nearly impossible to find a case later that fits these instruments and players who buy without a case typically damage their instrument when they carry it around. I have seen a number of old instruments owned by a grandparent which a grandchild inherits--if it has been in a case it may have survived the journey through time. If it is not stored in a case it is usually physically damaged, cracked and the parts have shrunk so that the frets are sticking out. A case not only protects an instrument from physical damage from impact but also it protects the instrument from rapid loss or gain of humidity which acn cause cracking.

The other important item needed by any Portuguese guitarra player is a string winder. In order to install strings on the guitarra it is necessary to have a string winder ($50) to make a loop at one end of the strings. Portuguese guitarra strings come with a loop on only one end because each instrument has a slightly different string length. The typical installation procedure is to attach the looped end onto the base of the guitarra and then pull the other string end up to the tuning mechanism where the exact length is noted and then to make a loop so the string custom fits the particular guitarra.

The basic price for the Alfama guitarra is $695 and the Alfama Deluxe is $770--this price includes an extra set of strings and a set of special fingerpicks. Cases ($150) and string winders ($50) are extra. So, with a case ($150) and string winder ($50) the Alfama is $895 and the Alfama Deluxe is $970 (shipping is extra as well as California sales tax if you are in California). Extra sets of strings are $15 and extra fingerpicks or thumpicks are $2 each. The Guitarra Magica book which has basic instruction and very complete chord charts is $20.

I should point out here that I personally prepare each guitarra before Jeanette packs it up for shipment. I spend several hours on each guitarra to insure that it is easy to play. You can see the fret work I typically do in my shop by going to Fret Dressing on YouTube. In addition to the refining of the frets I focus attention on the height of the bridge and the nut. Also I take apart the threaded rods on the tuning mechanism, file rough places smooth and lubricate the rods. If these matters are not attended to the mechanism will not be easy to use and there is a possibility that the hook which holds the string in the tuning mechanism may cut the string. This attention to detail is what I am known for in the guitar community.

Alfama Guitarra with wood veneer rosette and nongloss finish.

Back of Alfama made of African Sapelli-Mahogany.

Alfama Guitarra Deluxe with Mother of Pearl inlay, position markers, upgraded tuners and glossy finish.

You can hear what the Alfama Deluxe guitarra sound like at the beginning of my Youtube video on making Unhas for Portuguese Guitar: PART 1. It is at: http://www.fernandezmusic.com/Portuguesemethodpage2.html

You can hear what the Alfama Deluxe guitarra sound like at the beginning of my Youtube video on making Unhas for Portuguese Guitar: PART 1. It is at: http://www.fernandezmusic.com/Portuguesemethodpage2.html

The Mondego and Mondego Deluxe models are Coimbra style guitarras. They are named after the Mondego River which goes through the city of Coimbra. This model features the same woods as the Alfamas model but has a teardrop shaped head and 470mm scale so it can be tuned as a Coimbra guitarra which is one full step lower (2 frets) than the Lisboa guitarra.

The Mondego models both have solid spruce soundboard (face), laminated African sapele (a type of mahogany) backs and sides, and tear drop/shield style heads. The Mondego model has a rosette about the soundhole made of dyed wood veneers, a non-gloss modern lacquer finish and a wenge or other hardwood fingerboard; the Mondego Deluxe has a rosette of inlaid mother of pearl, glossy finish and ebony or rosewood fingerboard.

Occasionally people ask for a guitarra without a case. If they want to pickup the instrument at my shop in California that is okay, but if we are going to ship it we must sell the guitarra with a case to properly protect the instrument. My experience has shown me that it is false economy to buy the guitarra without a case. This is because it is nearly impossible to find a case later that fits these instruments and players who buy without a case typically damage their instrument when they carry it around. I have seen a number of old instruments owned by a grandparent which a grandchild inherits--if it has been in a case it may have survived the journey through time. If it is not stored in a case it is usually physically damaged, cracked and the parts have shrunk so that the frets are sticking out. A case not only protects an instrument from physical damage from impact but also it protects the instrument from rapid loss or gain of humidity which acn cause cracking.

The other important item needed by any Portuguese guitarra player is a string winder. In order to install strings on the guitarra it is necessary to have a string winder ($50) to make a loop at one end of the strings. Portuguese guitarra strings come with a loop on only one end because each instrument has a slightly different string length. The typical installation procedure is to attach the looped end onto the base of the guitarra and then pull the other string end up to the tuning mechanism where the exact length is noted and then to make a loop so the string custom fits the particular guitarra.

The basic price for the Mondego guitarra is $695 and the Mondego Deluxe is $770--this price includes an extra set of strings and a set of special fingerpicks. Cases ($150) and string winders ($50) are extra.

So, with a case ($150) and string winder ($50) the Mondego is $895 and the Mondego Deluxe is $970. Extra sets of strings are $15 and extra fingerpicks or thumpicks are $2 each. The Guitarra Magica book which has basic instruction and very complete chord charts is $20.

I should point out here that I personally prepare each guitarra before Jeanette packs it up for shipment. I spend several hours on each guitarra to insure that it is easy to play. You can see the fret work I typically do in my shop by going to Fret Dressing on YouTube or In addition to the refining of the frets I focus attention on the height of the bridge and the nut. Also I take apart the threaded rods on the tuning mechanism, file rough place smooth and lubricate the rods. If these matters are not attended to the mechanism will not be easy to use and there is a possibility that the hook which holds the string in the tning mechanism may cut the string. This attention to detail is what I am known for in the guitar community.

Mondego (Coimbra Guitarra), Wood veneer rosette, non-glossy finish

Mondego (Coimbra Guitarra) Back

Mondego Deluxe (Coimbra Guitarra), glossy finish, mother of pearl Inlay.

Mondego Deluxe Back (Coimbra Guitarra)

The Severa model is a Lisboa style guitarra, it is named after the first famous fado singer. Maria da Severa who lived and loved in Lisboa (1820-1846). This guitarra has a solid spruce soundboard, ebony fingerboard, solid indian rosewood or solid maple back and sides, two piece bridge, mother of pearl design rosette inlay, carved back of head. The price for the Severa is $1495 with an extra set of strings and a set of fingerpicks. A hardshell case ($150) and a string winder ($50) are extra--so the total cost for the Severa with hardshell case, stringwinder, extra strings, fingerpicks is $1695. Extra sets of strings are $15 and extra fingerpicks or thumpicks are $2 each. The Guitarra Magica book which has basic instruction and very complete chord charts is $20.

At the moment I have a nice maple Severa and a rosewood Severa which has some cosmetic defects in the finish of the back and sides (many small depressions in the lacquer in the grain of the wood) . I will consider offers on the Rosewood Severa Guitarra.

If you come to Irvine, California I will even give you your first lesson on playing the Portuguese guitarra.

Severa Model Spruce face with rosewood back

Severa model back

Severa model with maple back (notice light colored head plate)

Severa model maple back (out of stock)

The Serenata model is a Coimbra style guitarra. It is named after the student serenade of the city of Coimbra. It has a solid spruce soundboard, ebony fingerboard, solid indian rosewood back and sides, two piece bridge, mother of pearl design rosette inlay.

The price for the Severa is $1495 with an extra set of strings and a set of fingerpicks. A hardshell case ($150) and a string winder ($50) are extra.

A hardshell case ($150) and a string winder ($50) are extra--so the total cost for the Serenta with hardshell case, stringwinder, extra strings, fingerpicks is $1695. Extra sets of strings are $15 and extra fingerpicks or thumpicks are $2 each. The Guitarra Magica book which has basic instruction and very complete chord charts is $20.

If you come to Irvine, California I will even give you your first lesson on playing the Portuguese guitarra.

Serenata model spruce face

Serenata model rosewood back

Hardshell case for Portuguese guitarra--it is only sold with our guitarras, it is not sold separately. The interior color varies some are dark red some are dark tan--I have no control over the color which we receive.

One piece bridge

Two piece bridge

Shipping is about $55 to $60 for Fedex ground service across the US (5 day), 3rd day air is about $110 to $120. These are just estimates--we will quote a precise freight price per shipment.

Contact me below by e-mail or call 949-856-1537 for further information on Portuguese guitarras for sale.

• The action on these instrument is set-up by Ron Fernandez who also works on the frets and the tuning mechanism. All of the guitarras I have seen from Portugal need additional work to make them play easily--the bridge and nut must be adjusted so the string height is appropriate and the frets must be leveled, recrowned, smoothed and polished. The tuning mechanism (chaves or leques) must be taken apart and the parts finely filed. Setting up a Portuguese guitarra so it is easy to play is very time consuming--the labor for this work is $150. You can see the work I do on all my instruments on YouTube at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZOqW5S1NVM
• Be sure to view the 4 videos I have posted on YouTube. Two videos show how to play the Fado Menor and Fado Maior which I have written out in notation and tablature in my lesson. The other 2 videos show how to make special fingerpicks for playing the guitarra. (see home page under Portuguese Guitars and Fado. As time permits I will post other videos which will show basic right hand technique, tuning, the fado arpeggios, scales, basic chords, etc.
• 7 Fado song books are now available (see home page under Portuguese Guitars and Fado). There are 2 books of the songs of Amalia Rodrigues, 3 on famous Lisbon fados, one on Coimbra fados ($24 each) and is the Fado Portugues book by Donald Cohen with a CD ($34.95)
• The Soares method book for learning Coimbra style which is about $90 is still out of print as of October 2009.

If you are in the United States or Canada you will find that my prices are very competitve with those sold by a mail order company from Portugal because my price includes the freight to North America and US Customs duty. If you order from Portugal you be charged customs duty and customs clearance fees after the goods get here. Canadian customers will probably be responsible for GST or HST. If you live in California I must charge 8.75% sales tax, if you live in other states there is no sales tax.

If you come to see me in Irvine, California I will also thrown in an introductory lesson on playing the Portuguese guitarra.

If you wish to e-mail me, click on my address: mailto:ron@fernandezmusic.com

Playing the Portuguese Guitarra Lisbon Style (an Internet lesson)

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Ron with spruce face, solid rosewood "Severa" Model