Manouk Papazian Classical (1965)

Fifty five years ago, a leading professor at New England Conservatory brought his classical guitar student on a guitar-buying expedition to the shop of Manouk Papazian in New York City. The luthier displayed a batch of mahogany-backed guitars, built as a single run of more affordable options for the aspiring classical student. This guitar was the pick of the litter that day, and has remained with its owner, lovingly maintained for all the intervening decades between then and now.

A very lightweight build, the Papazian plays very easily, intonates well, and, most importantly, has an engagingly warm, bass-rich, clear, resonant tone. We rarely encounter older mahogany classical guitars built to this level of quality. It is reminiscent in response to an excellent, vintage Martin 000-18 steel string.

This instrument comes to us in very good condition with no cracks, no significant wear, and with the original '60s hardshell case.