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I was asked to build a Domingo Esteso flamenco guitar by a performing musician. I found plans for one, but the owner of the site that sells them has not replied to any of my emails and I do not know if the owner is even alive or monitoring the site any longer. I know that Esteso studied under Manuel Ramirez, and that Esteso's nephews continue to build today under the Conde Hermanos name.
Since I can not locate a set of blue prints for an original Esteso, can anyone tell me which, if any plans available, are closest to an Esteso?
Thanks in advance,

Tony

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Hi Tony,
I'll check to see which of the available plans look like the closest match.
Here is my 1922 Esteso Flamenco.
This guitar has cypress back and sides, spruce top, rosewood fingerboard and bridge. the bracing is simple 7-fan symmetrical (no cut off bars). Estesos were unusual in that the top was fastened with peones whikle the back utilized a solid lining. This guitar originally had pegs but was converted long ago to machines.





I'd be happy to provide additional pics or tracings to you....PM me.
Best!

Thanks David. Please let me know which plans match the closest. If I need more info, I will definitely PM you.

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Without a doubt Tony the 1912 Manuel Ramirez plan (Segovia's guitar) drawn by Richard Brune' from the GAL is the closest match.
All the dimensions are either spot-on or within a couple mm of my 1922 example. Scale is the same as well (654-55 mm).
Top bracing is identical except as I mentioned the presence of the cut off-bars.
Eliminate them and extend the fans a bit make the body in cypress and you pretty much have it. Other details such as peghead and internal foot are also correct for Esteso.

Let me know if you need more info, or, would like to stop by and do an in-hand inspection of my guitar.

Best

David,
Thanks so much for your help. Since you are only three hours away in Albany, visiting you is not entirely out of the question. PLus, I wentto college in Albany, so I wouldn't mind visiting again. I will get the GAL plans and keep in touch if I have more questions! I appreciate the fast reply.
Tony

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http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC

Here's another one and rather similar to mine:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/1926-Domingo-Es ... 1435wt_856

Something that's important to note here is that (as you mentioned)
Domingo Esteso and Santos Hernandez were the two best makers who worked in the shop of Manuel Ramirez and indeed made many of the guitars (Santos made the 1912 Segovia guitar) sold under the Ramirez name.
After Manuel Ramirez died in 1916, the two made guitars for his widow for a time and then individually went out on thier own.
It's no surprise then that the pattern they used is quite similar, they both built essentially the same guitar (of course with their own individual touch) which owed much to the M. Ramirez model.
Thus it's no surprise that the 1912 Manuel Ramirez (actually built by Santos Hernandez) is so similar in pattern to a 1922 Domingo Esteso.

That's what I read online. Thanks again David.

_________________
http://www.CostaGuitars.com
PMoMC