Miguel Rodriguez, 1991

This 1991 Miguel Rodriguez arrives with something rare: a 650mm scale length. In our experience with Miguel Rodriguez guitars, the 650mm scale is the exception rather than the rule. Most of his instruments were built at longer scale lengths, and while those guitars can be wonderfully playable in the right hands, they do require a certain reach. This one is different. If the scale length has been keeping you from trying one of these guitars, this may be your moment.

Miguel Rodriguez guitars are among the most celebrated instruments in the classical guitar world. Known for their enormous projection, unmistakable Spanish character, and extraordinary range of color, they have long been the guitars of choice for some of the finest players of the 20th century. The entire Romero family played Miguel Rodriguez guitars, and Pepe Romero's legendary "La Wonderful" remains perhaps the most famous example of what these instruments are capable of.

Specifications

Luthier: Miguel Rodriguez
Year: 1991
Top: Spruce
Back & Sides: Honduran Rosewood
Construction: Traditional, five fan brace with floating soundhole brace
Scale Length: 650mm
Nut Width: 54mm
Tuners: Original
Strings: D'Addario XTC45FF with normal tension nylon first string
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Condition: Excellent, no cracks or repairs

Sound & Playability

From the first notes, this guitar announces itself with the raw, powerful Spanish voice that Rodriguez instruments are famous for. The volume is on a different level: loud in a way that can catch you off guard, even knowing what to expect from this maker. Yet that power never feels like bluster. The sound is completely alive, responsive, and musical at every dynamic level.

What is especially striking is the range of color available on this instrument. Play with a light touch, and you find something sweet and singing. Push the guitar, and the sky is the limit. The trebles have a beautiful bell-like quality that can be shaped from warm and rounded to bright and brilliant. The evenness across the fingerboard is impressive, with a consistent character and sustain from register to register.

At 650mm with a 54mm nut width, the feel is immediately comfortable. The neck has a rounded profile and medium thickness, not squared off, and the tall frets and low action make this a genuinely easy guitar to play. The right hand, too, feels at home from the start: the guitar is responsive and generous, giving back whatever the player puts in.

Construction & Design

The top carries the traditional Rodriguez fan bracing, with five fans beneath the soundboard. It also features the distinctive floating brace that runs under the soundhole, a hallmark of Rodriguez's workshop: it rests against the top at the center and at each side, but floats between those points. This detail appears across virtually all Miguel Rodriguez guitars from this period and is widely understood to contribute to their particular character and projection.

The back and sides are Honduran rosewood, beautifully straight-grained and reminiscent of old-growth Brazilian rosewood in appearance. The headstock carries a veneer of the same material, and the classic "Rodriguez Cordoba" stamp is visible at the top. The original tuners retain a beautiful patina. The iconic Rodriguez rosette is present as always, with its pattern of reds and greens, and the same motif repeats on the tie block.

This guitar is in immaculate condition. There are small nail marks in the expected locations, and a little wear to the finish, but nothing beyond what you would expect from a well-played instrument. There are no cracks or repairs anywhere on the guitar.