Ignacio Fleta, 1965

This is the first spruce top Ignacio Fleta e Hijos from the 1960s we have had the pleasure of getting to know in quite some time, and it does not disappoint. The 1960s and early 1970s are widely considered the golden era of Fleta guitars. John Williams was already playing Fletas from 1961, and this instrument was built just four years later, in 1965, squarely within that celebrated period.

Ignacio Fleta built upon the great Barcelona tradition he inherited from makers like Enrique Garcia and Francisco Simplicio, but he pushed it toward something bigger: more projection, more power, and the richer, louder voice the concert stage demanded. You can hear that ambition in this guitar, and you can see it too. The plantilla is wonderfully voluptuous, and the rosette carries the unmistakable influence of Simplicio and Garcia. The label reads Ignacio Fleta e Hijos, 1965, Barcelona, España.

This is a Fleta that will undoubtedly find its way to a very lucky owner. Guitars like this do not come along often, especially in this condition, and especially in spruce.

Specifications

Luthier: Ignacio Fleta
Year: 1965
Top: Spruce
Back & Sides: Brazilian Rosewood
Construction: Traditional, nine fan bracing
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut Width: 52 mm
String Spacing at Bridge: 59 mm
Tuners: Original Fustero
Action: Low and comfortable
Strings: D’Addario XTC45FF with normal tension nylon first string
https://ddar.io/guitar-collection
Condition: Excellent, no cracks and no repairs

Sound

This one has the signature golden era Fleta sound, with that famous bite in the bass, but because it is a spruce top you also get a little more sparkle and shimmer in the trebles. From the very first chord the guitar feels extremely balanced. There is no need to compensate with the thumb or the fingers; whether you play pianissimo or fortissimo, it responds with the same even, focused voice. That kind of balance can be rarer than you might think on flat top guitars, which can sometimes feel a little muddy or bogged down. The spruce top seems to help here.

The basses have a deep, rich authority that harkens back to the sounds of Simplicio and Garcia, while the trebles are clear, present, and alive. The first string is bright and supercharged, with a beautiful glow even in the lower positions where some macho Spanish guitars can sound closed up. The third string is heavenly. The fourth and fifth strings are immediately open and wide, with that bite we love about Fletas, and the sixth is pure horsepower, holding vibrato beautifully. In drop D the guitar turns haunting and rich. Sustain, clarity, and bloom all come together in a way that feels genuinely magical.

Playability

This may be one of the more comfortable Fleta necks we have come across. Fleta necks are often a bit chunkier, but this one, while not thin, sits very comfortably under the hand. The action is set low, and the guitar invites you to play anything on it. If you like an instrument you can drive hard, this one rewards a confident right hand.

Construction & Design

The spruce top is supported by Fleta’s signature nine fan bracing, a hallmark of his work. The back and sides are a beautiful, unassuming set of Brazilian rosewood, so straight and uniform that at first glance it could almost be mistaken for Indian rosewood. It is a stunning set. The bridge and tie block are simple and elegant, with the saddle leaving plenty of break angle and room above for future adjustment. At the head, the signature flat top shape is fitted with the original Fustero tuners, which carry a gorgeous patina and still turn smoothly and precisely.

Excellent overall condition for a guitar built in 1965. The spruce top shows only the occasional small mark here and there, with no cracks and no repairs, a rare and highly desirable trait for an instrument of this age and caliber. The Brazilian rosewood back and sides are similarly clean and in really great condition, and the original Fustero tuners remain smooth and fully functional.