Fernandez Music--Authorized importer of Vicente Sanchis Guitars.
Vicente Sanchis Guitars are made in Masanasa, a town near the Mediterranean city of Valencia, Spain. This artisan factory-workshop has about two dozen craftsmen who produce about 700 guitars per month. There are 30 models in their line of Spanish guitars which includes classicals, flamencos, requintos and salon-size instruments. These guitars range from production models with laminated backs to signed master luthier models made of solid, exotic woods. They also make Spanish style mandolines, and bandurrias and laudes which are 12-string Spanish folk citterns.
In the year 2000 Vicente Sanchis retired but his partner and his son (Manuel Alcoy) who had been running the workshop took over the business. They are using the same traditional techniques and have most of the same workers. They have eliminated many of the lower end models. In my view the quality is the same as before.
Photo of Sanchis--R.Fernandez 1F (flamenco) with 3-piece back
For many years Fabrica de Guitarras Vicente Sanchis Badia (which is the full name of the workshop) has made guitars for other Spanish firms who sell them under their house labels. This, of course, is a tribute to their quality by those in the business. This small factory-workshop still largely uses traditional hand construction methods.
I import these guitars because I especially like the traditional sound and feel of their flamenco guitars and the light flamenco qualities of their other instruments. I should say here that I have played flamenco guitar since 1963. Over the years I have performed solo but my favorite activity is to accompany dancers. At various times I accompanied dancers at classes in the dance departments of the University of California at Los Angeles and Irvine. I have made a few flamenco guitars completely from scratch with hand-tools. Also I have personally set up and dressed the frets on over 8000 guitars. These experiences have given me a special insight into the essential characteristics of flamenco guitars.
In March 2006, Jeanette and I visited the Sanchis workshop outside of Valencia. It was a rainy day and the taxi driver helped us find the new location. I had been to their previous location several times since the mid-1990's. They continue to make guitars in the traditional Spanish way (with the integrated neck-body construction) and with minimal mechanization (except for band saws, table saws, drill press and sanders).
The Vicente Sanchis workshop makes me special models with my own rosette, bracings, ornamentation and head stock which feature their label with my model designations. I personally install the tap plates, refine the frets, set up the action and install the tuning machines.
Vicente Sanchis Guitars Price List 2010 (for current stock)
Flamenco Guitars with a real gypsy sound
Sanchis--R.Fernandez 1F(flamenco), solid spruce, solid spanish cypress back and sides, ebony fingerboard, 5-strut bracingand sides, golden machine heads, double clear plastic tap plates. Special domed top. Deluxe 3-piece back models. 650mm scale. $2095. See photos at top of page.
Sanchis--R.Fernandez 2F(flamenco--cypress), solid spruce, special grade of solid spanish cypress back and sides, ebony fingerboard, 5-strut bracing, golden machine heads, double clear plastic tap plates. Special domed top. 2-piece back. 650mm scale. $2595
Sanchis--R.Fernandez 2F(flamenco negra--rosewood), solid spruce, solid Indian Rosewood back and sides, ebony fingerboard, 5-strut bracing, golden machine heads, double clear plastic tap plates. Special domed top. 2-piece back. 650mm scale. Indian rosewood back and sides. $2595. A flamenco guitar with a rosewood back is often called a "flamenca negra" (balck flamenco) whereas a flamenco guitar with a cypress back is often caled a "flamenca blanca" (white flamenco) or simply a "blanca".
Sanchis--R.Fernandez 2F Cutaway Flamenco, cypress, $2795. This is a great sounding guitar and easy to play. (photo above)
Sanchis--R.Fernandez 2F Cutaway Flamenco Negra (rosewood), $2795. This special model has a mixture of flamenco "punch" and classical "warmth". I especially enjoy the playability of these cutaway models. To my surprise, the cutaway does not seem to detract much from the fullness and projection of the sound. (photo above)
Salon Size Guitars--The Torres Models made by Vicente Sanchis
Torres Model 1903 (above) This is a Sanchis Guitar made in 1998. Solid cedar soundboard, laminated rosewood back & sides. 645mm scale (this is a slightly shorter scale, like those of some 19th century guitars). 52mm nut. Ebony fingerboard. $1195 with custom size case.
Torres model 1904 (above). This is a Sanchis Guitar made in 1998. Solid Cedar Soundboard. Solid Indian Rosewood Back & Sides. Ebony fingerboard. 645mm scale (this is a few millimeters shorter than the other Sanchis guitars on this page). Nice tuners and a deluxe scalloped bone nut. $1595 with custom size case
Classicals
Model 42C Solid cedar board, Special Rosewood, soundboard French Polished by Ronald Fernandez, with Fustero tuners (made in Spain, hand-engraved, gold-plated with lyra). Made in 2000. $6900 with case. This is a unique instrument. I have personally dressed the frets and set-up the action. This guitar has a vibrate feel between a classical and black flamenco. It is a very loud guitar. This guitar has some cloudiness in the lacquer of the back (as mentioned above, the face has a french polished shellac finish). I will sell this guitar as is with some discount or I will French Polish it after I receive a deposit for the instrument. This is a remarkable sounding instrument. It is bright with nice harmonics and good sustain. These characteristics make this a fun guitar to play. I have kept this instrument in my private reserve with the intention of keeping it as a very good example of the Sanchis sound.
Return to Table of Contents To see other flamencos select "Return to Table of Contents" and go to Esteve Flamenco Guitars and/or Juan Hernandez Guitars