Rafael Villafan
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Model: Rafael Villafan Classical Guitar
Top:
German Spruce
Back
and Sides:
Mexican rosewood
Scale: 590mm
Nut:
52mm
Finish: French polish
Country: Mexico
Year:
c.1950
Condition:
Excellent
Price: $2,500
Rafael Villafán Zalapa (1923-1980) was a born in Parach. Around 1949 he moved to
Mexico City and set up workshop in Mexico City in the Colonia Morelos, (Tepito)
at Granatas 105. Where he soon earned the reputation of being among the
finest luthiers in Mexico of his day. This guitar substantiates his reputation
as both a fine craftsman and an outstanding luthier. The tone of this guitar is simply remarkable, especially
for a short scale instrument. Although the style of the rosette is reminiscent
of patterns used by Madrid makers from 1900-1930s, this guitar was
probably built in the early 1950s. It is what is in Mexico is called a tercerolo,
short scale guitar which seems to have evolved to meet the needs of trio players
in the mid 1940s, and were popular among trio players until the golden age of trio
passed away in the 1960s. Today these guitars are rarely seen. Tercerolos were
tuned a third higher than a classical guitar, where as requintos are tuned a
fifth higher. This guitar with its scale of 590mm, and its deep body measuring
107mm at the end is typical.
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