You need this product. Concert guitarist, Rico Stover, the author of Six Silver Moonbeams- The Life and Times of Agustin Barrios Mangoré, told me about and gave me a bottle of this nail hardener. The price is $24.95 for a 1/2 oz. bottle, and in just a few days you will stop breaking nails, you won't even get nicks in the tips. The bottle will last for 2 years. One brushful will do a complete set of nails. Onymyrrhe is the name, it fortifies and strengthens your nails, just put it in the online order form, come in or call me. This will change your musical experience.The frustration of broken nails is over. This is 100% all natural Onymyrrhe.

   7/5/05 Update: I haven't broken a nail yet since September, 2004. I do my nails 6 days a week. I read 2 newspapers while leaving the liquid applied for about 20 minutes. This is the same product used by zoo veterinarians on elephant's hooves, who have successfully used it for over a decade. This really works, as it has for the dozens of guitarists that have purchased it. I have not had anyone ask for their money back, nor do I expect to have to do so. The price is $24.95 for a 1/2 oz. bottle that will last for 2 years.

• The Guitarist's Guide to Fingernails by Rico Stover  $9.95
•   Presented in this informative text is a concise, clear picture of the fingernail, its anatomy, what affects its health, how to combat weak nail problems, how to obtain strong, healthy nails and what products to buy. Included is an analysis of all currently available artificial nail systems (acrylics, wraps, gels and glue on tips) with a discussion of the potential health risks involved.
•   The Guitarist's Guide to Fingernails also introduces a revolutionary new artificial nail system that is nontoxic, removable yet effective, with no risks to the health of your natural fingernail. An absolute must for guitarist's of all kinds!

Flamenco Guitars For Sale

   Since the 1980's all Guitars bought from Fine Fretted String Instruments have had a 100% trade in value.
   Come back at any unlimited time and spend 100% or more on your next purchase and not be over invested, provided first guitar is returned with no more than normal wear.
   Ex.:$200-400-800-$1,600-3,200 without being over invested.

 These are my best prices, there is no need to send an e mail inquiring as such.

 1870's Eladio Molina Malaga

Spruce and Cypress 650mm scale and 52mm nut, 7 fan braces and dead straight neck.

C. Eon gears as used by Antonio de Torres, Old hardshell case

This is a thin body guitar the upper bout depth is 2 3/4" and the lower bout depth is 3"

There are 4 known to exist by this guitarmaker. One is in the Felix Manzanero collection in Madrid, another in the Angel Luis Cañete collection in Malaga.

Eladio Molina won a 1st Prize Medal at an artensan exposition in 1862-these details are on the label. He was still active in 1882-83-his name was listed in the trade guides-this information is from the The Vihuela de Mano and The Spanish Guitar: A Dictionary of the makers of plucked and bowed Musical Instruments by José Romanillos Vega and Marian Harris Winspear.

Price: Inquire

1963 José Ramirez Flamenco with pegs 52 mm nut 657 mm scale Spruce top and Cypress back and sides, with the original bone nut, bone saddle and Rosewood pegs (which work great) and dead straight neck. There is a newer larger tapguard. No cracks. This was made by Ignacio Manzano Rozas before he opened his own shop.

$4,995.00 SOLD

1977 Rafael Diaz Flamenco Granada 52 mm nut 660 mm scale. Signed Model Cedar top & Cypress back and sides. This has 7 fans and 2 chevrons. This has the original gears, bone nut and saddle, golpeador (tapguard) and a dead straight neck. There is a repaired crack on the treble side of the fingerboard (photo below).

   Rafael began building in 1972, having studied with his brother-Francisco Manuel Diaz and earlier with the Eduardo Ferrer shop.

$4,495.00 consignment

   I'm excited to start offering the Rafael Quiles Ballester Flamenco Guitar models. Talking to Rafael on the phone, I learned he has been building guitars for 45 years, and has built over 1,000 by himself. Until the mid 1980's he worked with his father and two brothers and they were building 500 guitars annually. Rafael's father learned his lutherie skills working in the Ricardo Sanchis (now Vicente Sanchis, since 1956) workshop from 1918-1958. Rafael's father opened the Quiles shop in 1958, and Rafael soon began making guitars under the guidance of his maestro. These guitars have the largest amount of doming on the back of the guitar I've ever seen. They have 4 back transverse braces, in place of the usual 3 braces. The sound quality is so lively, you'll have to play one to see what I'm talking about.

Rafael Quiles Ballester Model 14 Massanassa, Spain

Spruce or Cedar and ply Sycamore 50 mm nut, 650 mm scale with Deluxe gears and Ebony fingerboard. $749. w/ s.s.case

Rafael Quiles Ballester Model 32 Massanassa, Spain

German Spruce & Solid Spanish Cypress
650mm 53 mm nut Deluxe gears
Ebony fingerboard $2,895.

Rafael Quiles Ballester Model 33 Massanassa, Spain

German Spruce & Solid Spanish Cypress
650mm 53 mm nut Deluxe gears
Ebony fingerboard $3,495.

Rafael Quiles Ballester Model 34 Massanassa, Spain

German Spruce & Solid Spanish Cypress domed top
650mm 53 mm nut Deluxe gears
Ebony fingerboard $3,995.

   I am happy to announce a new line of guitars imported from Spain by Fine Fretted String Instruments. Since 1998 I have imported 278 guitars from Spain to the delight of my customers. (3 / 17 / 05)

Diego Robles 10 made in Valencia, Spain and imported by Fine Fretted String Instruments
Solid Spruce soundboard and ply-laminated Cypress back and sides, Rosewood Finger board, Deluxe gears

The fan bracing system is composed of 7 fans.
650 mm scale 52 mm nut $695.00 w/ softshell case.

Diego Robles 20 made in Valencia, Spain and imported by Fine Fretted String Instruments
Solid Spruce soundboard and Solid Cypress back and sides, Ebony
Finger board, Deluxe gears

The fan bracing system is composed of 5 fans.
650 mm scale 52 mm nut $1,895.00 w/ Hardshell case.

Diego Robles 30 made in Valencia, Spain and imported by Fine Fretted String Instruments
Solid Spruce soundboard and Solid Cypress back and sides, Ebony
Finger board, Deluxe gears

The fan bracing system is composed of 7 fans and 2 bottom chevrons.
650 mm scale 52 mm nut $3,195.00 w/ Hardshell case.

Diego Robles 40 made in Valencia, Spain and imported by Fine Fretted String Instruments
Solid Spruce soundboard and Solid Cypress back and sides, Ebony
Finger board, Deluxe gears

The fan bracing system is composed of 5 fans and 2 bottom chevrons.
650 mm scale 52 mm nut $3,995.00 w/ Hardshell case.

   Luis Molina guitars have been imported by FFSI from Spain since 2001. After their arrival, they are adjusted and made showroom ready. They are made in a small shop in Spain, whose artisans have been engaged in lutherie since 1945. These have a lot of personality, and can greatly develop in tone due to the quality of materials and superb workmanship involved.

Luis Molina Model 75 Handmade in Spain, German Spruce & Solid Spanish Cypress back & sides, 655 mm, ebony fingerboard w/ new hardshell case $1,495.00

   This is our entry level all solid wood Flamenco guitar. It has plenty of volume and that resonance you associate with the handmade instruments of Spain. This guitar has a 5 fan brace system.

Luis Molina Model 60 handmade in Spain German Spruce top & Spanish Cypress back & sides 650 mm $2,995.00 This Luis Molina flamenco guitar is constructed by a single luthier & has a unique 10 fan brace system, with a treble restricter. With a quick attack and a growl in the bass it can provide all the duende at your juerga.

Luis Molina Model 70 handmade in Spain German Spruce top & Spanish Cypress back & sides 650 mm $3,995.00

   This top of the line Luis Molina flamenco guitar is constructed by a single luthier & has a 10 fan brace system, with a treble restricter. The ornamentation is very fancy to the eye. The resonance in the bass has the "growl" as the flamenco players call it, & I would describe the tone as "muy caliente" or in English "very hot".

   2000 Vincente Sanchis made in Massanassa, ( Valencia) Spain since 1915 (Antigua casa de Ricardo Sanchis) 650mm, 52mm nut, all solid wood w/ Ebony fingerboard & Deluxe Gears

9-25-00 Here's an update on the workshop of Vicente Sanchis:
In February 2000, Vicente retired, having managed the workshop since his father, Ricardo, died in 1956. Manolo Alcoy Ramon and his father bought the enterprise from Vicente, after a long involvement, under Vicente's supervision. The new labels say "successors" to Vicente Sanchis. The workshop has a new address in Massanasa, and they have cutback on the variety of entry level models (solid top w/ laminated back & sides). This in no way affects the availablity of models to FFSI-in that we carry almost exclusively, upper grade all solid wood models, which are still built by the artisans who have worked there for decades.

5-14-01 I am very proud to present this collage of photos of the artesans in the Vicente Sanchis work shop, from the cover of the new catalog, received May 14, 2001. No CNC (Computerized Numerical Control) here, and therefore, guitars with more personality, that always sing, and without the antiseptic quality of production models that don't vary with the wood, when it differs. FFSI has carried the best of the student level & all solid wood Vicente Sanchis flamenco guitars since 1998.
To see photo click here: Vicente Sanchis Artesans

Model 39 Spr. & Cyp.Domed top w / Deluxe gears, huge sound $2,595.

Model 40 Flamenco Spr. & Cyp Domed top w / Deluxe gears & special case $3,495. This comes with a John Gilbert style bone saddle.

Model 41 Flamenco Spruce & Cypress 650 mm with Schaller gears. This Deluxe Flamenco model has a different bracing pattern, than the other models. It has 6 fan braces, with a slanted transverse brace, in the style of Santos Hernandez, Jose Ramirez III of Madrid, or the Miguel Rodriguez workshop of Cordoba. Besides it's increased power, the purflings make it the most stunning model as the photos show. This comes with a John Gilbert style bone saddle. $3,995.

Vicente Sanchis Model 41 Negra Cutaway Cedar Top & Indian Rosewood back & sides, repaired centerseam on top due to carelessness by the American Airlines cargo crew at San Francisco airport. This has no affect on the structural stability or sound. A 20% discount is reflected in the price. $2,995. and as always $100 % trade in when you're ready to move up.