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From the appearance of the printed label, José
and son must have been prominent guitar builders in Arequipa, Peru, sometime in the 1950's
or 1960's. This guitar belonged to my late friend Phil Yost and was given to me by his
"surrogate son," Ethan. Phil must have purchased, or was given, this guitar in
1964, because Phil penned that date on the label. (Phil dated a lot of stuff he was given,
a lot he designed, and most of what he manufactured.) This is a lovely sounding classical-style guitar with close-grained mahogany sides and back and spruce top. The fingerboard and bridge are Brazilian rosewood, and the light wood purfling is inlaid with white shell pieces. Two items that are a detriment to the guitar's aesthetics are an off-center hole drilled near the top of the head and the peeled -off pickguard, which, when it was peeled off, pulled some of the finish with it. I won't restore or refinish this guitar because it is very playable and nice sounding the way it is, and this was the way Phil had it for so many years. |