Requinto Guitars from Spain and Mexico

Requinto Guitars from Spain and Mexico (July 1, 2011)

When applied to musical instruments, the term requinto is used in Spanish to mean a smaller, higher-pitched version of another instrument.

The requinto guitar is a six-string nylon guitar with a scale length of 530 to 555mm, this is about 18% smaller than a standard guitar scale (650 to 655mm). Many requintos have cutaways. Requintos made in Mexico typically have a deeper body (115mm to 120mm) than a standard guitar (100mm to 105mm), while requintos made in Spain tend to be of the same depth as the standard classical. In Mexico, the requinto is typically used in a "trio romantico", which includes the use of two other guitars along with the requinto.

There are small, medium, and large bodied requintos. The small and medium are usually tuned: A, D, G, c, e, a. (like a guitar fretted at the 5th fret). Occasionally, one comes across a long-scale requinto--with a scale of 570 to 585mm. Such instruments should be tuned G, C, F, b flat, d, g (like the 3rd fret on a standard guitar) in order not to put too much stress on the soundboard.

At this time we have a some interesting requintos in stock from Spain (made by Esteve Guitars), and a professional requinto (made by Jesus Jurado) from Mexico.

Esteve Requinto Model 6.04 Cutaway, spruce face

Esteve 6.04C requinto cutaway with spruce soundboard

Solid cedar soundboard, rosewood fingerboard, laminated mongoy back and solid mongoy sides. 535mm scale, 21 frets with fingerboard extension over soundhole, cutaway. This is a great sounding requinto. Made in Spain. List $1295case included.

Requinto Guitar from Esteve, photo of back back

Back of Esteve 6.04C requinto

Solid Rosewood Requinto by Esteve with cedar face

Esteve 6.CUT Cedar soundboard, Ebony Fingerboard, $2295 with case.

Esteve Requinto model 6.CUT, Spruce face, Solid Rosewood body

Esteve 6.CUT Spruce Soundboard, Ebony Fingerboard, $2295 with case.

Esteve 6.CUT Solid Rosewood back with ebony insert in the neck

Esteve Deluxe Requinto case

Mexico style Requinto made by Jesus Jurado. This requinto has a 550mm scale, solid spruce soundboard, solid Indian rosewood back and sides. The body depth is a little more than the Spanish style requinto; maximum depth at the base of the requinto is 112mm and at the neck-body joint the depth is 107mm. Price is $1895 with the Mexican case.

Photo of Mexican Requinto made by Jesus Jurado

Photo ofr back of Jesus Jurado Requinto Guitar

Splendid Rosette of Jesus Jurado Requinto

Requinto Prices

Esteve 6.04C (cutway) laminated MONGOY sides solid sides, rosewood fingerboard, solid cedar face, extended fingerboard with 21 frets, List $1295

Esteve 6.CUT, Solid Indian Rosewood, ebony fingerboard & neck insert, cutaway, $2295 case included. (solid Cedar or Spruce soundboard)

Jesus Jurado, Deluxe Requinto, 550mm scale, solid Spruce soundboard, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides, Ebony Fingerboard, Made in Mexico. Price with Mexican made case. $1895.

In you live in California we must add 8.75% sales tax. Prices are FOB Irvine, California.

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