Rare Jose Oribe 1968 Cedar Top Guitar

Rare Jose Oribe 1968 Cedar Top Classical Guitar

Made in Inglewood, California.

Featuring rare rosewood on the back and sides.

A redwood top which has a bold response, with a brilliance complemented by warm overtones similar to cedar. The neck is reasonably thick which gives support when playing.

It comes complete with a custom made carbon fiber Accord case(rrp £1250)

I instantly fell in love with its exquisite.  It has a depth of sound that is rare and a responsiveness that means the player can explore a full range of colours. It has been meticulously looked after with only a few light nail marks on the top as pictured. It has seen many concerts in venues such as Wigmore Hall and the Hay Literary Festival.

A FEW EXCERPTS CHOSEN FROM HUNDREDS OF LETTERS RECEIVED THROUGH THE YEARS

“It’s very simple from my point of view, a person can hear, see and feel perfection, or not. I know many very accomplished musicians who cannot “feel” and while they might rise to a high level of expertise, they simply do it all by rote imitation. If a person is asking why does it cost so much, that’s the wrong person, they won’t appreciate it anyway and will always fall for the next “big thing”. Now if they are saying how can I afford it, that’s simply trying to overcome a problem to get to perfection.

"For my part, I have played many very fine instruments in my 50 year career. Oribe guitars are far more than beautiful, perfect, balanced and dynamic, they are as close to a living creature as I have ever found, one that can read your mind and knows what you want and delivers the sound instantly. It is of course impossible, but it feels like all of my Oribe’s “quickly” respond to what my ears want to hear. So it makes playing sensual or dynamic music very, very easy."

"My greatest public moment with an Oribe was my return to the concert stage performance for a sold out audience after a decade long hiatus. My rosewood 664 was only a few weeks old, it had already been acclaimed as “sounds more like a fine grand piano!” and even at this early playing age, it was filling the hall wonderfully with that rich, gorgeous sound, suddenly in the middle of one of the songs, it’s voice fully opened up (video below). The sheer exhilaration of holding this instrument as it launched was a thrill I never expect to duplicate again. And yet, when I played the Bird’s Eye Maple Oribe, I found this guitar to be a perfect match to my personality, I never expected to ever find such a blending of instrument to personae and still every day, there it is yet again!"

"There have been so many magical moments with my Oribe that I finally wrote a song for it when suddenly after a brilliant evening of soaring high, it dawned on me that when I’m gone, it will never play these songs this way again. It might well have another life of pleasure but I wonder if anyone will ever hit the emotional highs that this guitar has made possible for me. So, I wrote the piece as a tribute to our moments together."

"So, bottom line, I have never haggled with perfection, these instruments suit me and I really don’t care what they cost only that I can find a way to make it happen. Oribe guitars complete me emotionally and allow me to express myself in a manner that pleases me and there should only be one opinion that a person listens to when it comes to matters of the heart. You either “feel” it, or you don’t. I know that those of you who own an Oribe, understand perfection.”

"The Oribe guitar is the finest I have ever seen or played…and I have played many throughout the US and Europe. I’m planning now with Doris what I have to do to buy the Gran Suprema. You were right about that…I don’t want to compromise at this point in my life. I want the best guitar in the world…and I found it in Vista, Ca. Thank you for your time and warm hospitality."