Ignacio Fleta Ex. Adam Holzman, 1973

A rare opportunity to acquire a historic 1973 Ignacio Fleta, played and toured for decades by legendary artist and teacher Adam Holzman. This is the very guitar heard on more than a quarter-million records sold across multiple landmark CDs, including volumes of Sor, Ponce, Mertz, and the Grammy-nominated recording of the Lauro Waltzes, all on the Naxos label.

To say this guitar is part of modern classical-guitar history is an understatement. This was Adam’s primary instrument throughout his most prolific recording and touring years, and it comes with a detailed letter of provenance documenting its complete performing and recording history, alongside the original Royer flight case covered in early touring stickers, an artifact in its own right.

Fleta’s work from the 1960s and 1970s remains the most sought-after period of his career, and No. 631 is a standout example: powerful, throaty, brilliantly responsive, and deeply played-in by one of the great concert artists of our time.

Specifications

Luthier: Ignacio Fleta
Year: 1973
Number: 631
Top: Western Red Cedar
Back & Sides: Indian Rosewood
Construction: Traditional
Scale Length: 650 mm
Nut Width: 52 mm
Action: Approximately 3.75 mm bass / 2.75 mm treble
Tuners: Original Fustero with white rollers
Case: Original Royer touring case
Provenance: ex. Adam Holzman; detailed signed letter of provenance included
Strings: D’Addario XTC45FF with normal tension nylon first string
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Condition: Exceptional structural condition, no cracks or repairs, with honest play wear

Sound

Few guitars carry this level of musical identity. The first strum reveals the unmistakable Fleta growl, a deep, earthy, almost seismic bass response that fills a room instantly. The trebles are everything one hopes for in a great cedar top: warm, colorful, singing, and, uniquely, bright and assertive when pushed. Where many cedar guitars from this period can lean dark, this one remains surprisingly brilliant and articulate, especially under tension.

Adam’s priorities as a concert artist were always sustain, projection, and color flexibility, and this instrument delivers all three in abundance. Notes such as the high C# ring on seemingly forever. The guitar rewards an aggressive, confident touch yet remains expressive at low volumes. It feels alive, open, seasoned, and responsive in a way only a heavily concertized instrument can be, pushing air in a physical, visceral way. To play it is to feel decades of musical history under your hands.

Playability

The action is set very low at approximately 3.75 mm on the bass side and 2.75 mm on the treble side, exactly as Adam performed with for decades. There is very little room left on the saddle, but the guitar plays cleanly and buzz-free even under a heavy concert touch.

About the Luthier

Ignacio Fleta (1897 to 1977) built instruments that defined the sound of the Spanish concert stage in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s. Julian Bream famously shaped his signature voice on a Fleta, helping cement the maker’s reputation internationally. Fleta introduced a unique structural and tonal identity: thick cedar tops, powerful basses, blooming sustain, and an unmistakable projection quality that made his guitars staples of top soloists. This 1973 instrument sits squarely in his golden era, and its sound is among the most impressive Fletas we have played.

This guitar has been played extensively, as great guitars should be. The cedar top shows honest play wear, light string marks, scratches, and patina from decades of professional use. Despite this, the guitar is in exceptional structural condition: no cracks, no repairs, a straight neck, and plenty of life left in the frets. The back and sides show light marks and finish wear typical of an instrument that has lived on stages for half a century, but remain in excellent condition for the age.