Fine and Rare Guitars Bruce Banister

• Hermann Hauser, 1936

  Spruce top, Brazilian back

  “Original Landsdorfer machines”

  Special feature

  Condition: mint, original

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Ignacio Fleta e hijos, 1973

  Cedar top

  Indian rosewood sides and back.

  Condition: excellent

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Andrea Tacchi “Bouchet”, 2008

  Spruce top, Brazilian back

  Rodgers machines

  Condition: very good

  Price: $13,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Vicente Arias, 1889

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: very good

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• José Luís Romanillos, 1978

  Spruce top, Indian rosewood sides and back

  “La Madreselva Nº 558”, Rodgers machines

  Condition: excellent, original

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Robert Bouchet, 1966

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: excellent

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Hernández y Aguado, 1973

  Cedar top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: near mint, original

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Miguel Rodríguez, 1980

  Spruce top, Honduran rosewood sides and back

  “The finest spruce Rodriguez I have played”

  Condition: excellent

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Miguel Rodríguez, 1976

  Cedar top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  “Churchdoor”

  Condition: excellent

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Daniel Friederich, 1978

  Cedar top, Indian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: excellent

  Price: inquire

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Hermann Hauser III, 1999

  Spruce top, flame maple sides and back

  Condition: mint

  $18,000

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Kevin Aram, 2007

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Rodgers machines

  Condition: near perfect

  $8,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• José Ramírez, 1964 (I.M)

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: excellent

  $11,000

• 
• 
• 
• 

• José Ramírez, 1964

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: mint, original

  $11,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Manuel Velázquez, 1954

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Conditon: very good

  $16,000

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Olivier Fanton d'Andon, 2005

  Spruce top, Indian rosewood sides and back

  Conditon: like new

  $19,000

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Richard Howell, 2002

  Cedar top, Indian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: excellent

  $8,000

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Paulino Bernabé “Imperial”, 2006

  Spruce top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: mint

  $18,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Paulino Bernabé “Imperial”, 2006

  Cedar top, Brazilian rosewood sides and back

  Condition: mint

  $17,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Paulino Bernabé “flamenco”, 2004

  Cedar top, Cypress sides and back

  Condition: near mint

  $13,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• José Oribe “Gran Suprema”, 2002

  Cedar top, Birdseye Maple sides and back

  Condition: perfect condition

  Price: $8,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Gioachino Giussani, 1993

  Spruce top, Brazilian back

  Condition: good

  $4,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Masaru Kohno, 1990

  Spruce top, Brazilian back

  Condition: near mint

  $5,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Thomas Malpanis, 2003

  Spruce top, Cocobolo rosewood sides and back

  Condition: near mint

  $7,500

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Antonio Sánchez 1a

  Solid spruce or cedar top

  Indian rosewood sides and back.

  $1,400 (hard case included)

• 
• 
• 
• 

• Antonio Sánchez 2a

  Solid spruce or cedar top

  solid Indian rosewood sides, laminated rosewood back

  $1,000 (hard case included)

• 
• 
• 
• 

I will send guitars on approval. Shipping and insurance costs are paid by the prospective buyer. I also require a check covering the cost of the guitar which will be returned if the customer decides against purchase.

If you are interested in a guitar, please call or email me. I prefer a call because I like to get to know the people who buy guitars from me. It is a big decision and I make it a point to satisfy my clients.

If you are looking for something I don't have, let me know and I will do my best to find it.

Fine and Rare Guitars is dedicated to bringing the finest classical and flamenco guitars to players and collectors. Every instrument, including the student models, is selected by me.

My priorities are quality of sound, playability and condition. By special arrangement, all of the guitars are stored in a temperature and humidity-controlled vault to insure their longevity.

Having lived for twenty-six years in Europe, I have had the great fortune of experiencing a vast number of guitars from makers the world over. I have procured guitars for important collections such as that of Sheldon Urlik. In addition, some well-known players have benefited as a result of a purchase from me.

My many connections can also help me find a specific guitar for you that may not be in my inventory at the present time. If you would like to sell an instrument, contact me with full details.

It is important to me that my clients are satisfied. Buying a fine guitar is an important and personal decision. Whether you are a novice or a professional, I will do all I can to make sure your guitar purchased from me is the right one.

In 1971 I traveled to Spain to study guitar. I spoke no Spanish and knew no one. Within two days I had met the famous guitar maker Paulino Bernabé, who became a close friend. I asked his advice about who was the best teacher in Madrid and he said without hesitation, Regino Sainz de la Maza. Paulino called him and arranged an audition. My playing was quite poor, but somehow Don Regino accepted me as a pupil. I studied with him for seven years. It was a great privilege to have had his guidance.

I got to know most of the guitar makers in Madrid; Bernabé, Hernández y Aguado, Arcángel Fernández, Ramírez, to name a few. I spent a great deal of time in Bernabé's shop at Cuchilleros 8 in Madrid watching him build quality guitars. The education and insight has proven invaluable.

"Bajo la palmera"
- Duo Llobet -

Bruce's CD made with Thomas Königs is available for $15.00 which includes S&H in the US.

In 1979 I went on a short trip to Germany and was offered a teaching position at a city music school in Wasserburg am Inn. I did a lot of teaching and performing. Through a friend I met a very fine guitarist, Thomas Königs, who became my duo partner. We worked exceptionally well together and in addition to performing concerts we recorded a CD of Spanish music for Aurophone.

It was during my sojourn in Germany that I began dealing in fine guitars, a business that I continue to expand. My experience as a player and dealer leads me to seek out the finest guitars for the money I can find. I consider myself a caretaker of these wonderful instruments. It is a responsibility I do not take lightly.

Finally, in the fall of 1998 I returned to Iowa, where I grew up. The move was rather traumatic, but we have adjusted and have met some wonderful people. Who knows where the future will take us? One thing is sure - I will always have a few fine guitars around.

Andrea Tacchi “Enrique García”, 2010