Manuel de Soto y Solares (1839-1906) was a close associate of Antonio de Torres during his years in Sevilla. They may have even shared a shop for a while, and latter had their shops on the same street. Torres also appears to have made some guitars for Manuel that were sold under his label. Manuel de Soto y Solares guitars were played by many of the leading flamenco guitarists of the time including Juan Breva, Paco de El Luna and el Maestro Pérez. Tárrega even purchased one as a gift for a friend. I asked Aaron who is a musicologist and luthier to make me a copy of an 1885 Soto y Solares, one of several he has restored. When I visited his shop, he showed me a special German spruce top (over 50 years old that he had obtained from the estate of another Granada maker). Its sonic properties were among the best I have ever heard, so I told him to use it for the Soto y Solares copy. The result is this spectacular sounding guitar with outstanding clarity and richness of tone. This guitar has several repaired cracks on the top.