Classical Guitars: 1920 Moya Hermanos Almeria

Moya Hermanos

please inquire for price

650 mm Scale, 50 mm Nut. Medium to Wide grain Spruce Soundboard and Cypress back and sides. Pine neck. French polish to be applied then it will be offered for sale after the video is launched.

The quote in the image shown here is by Jose Romanillos. This is under restoration.

This was fabricated by Juan Moya Martinez (1859-) and Andres Moya Martinez (1861-). These are the sons and pupils of Melchor de Moya Redondo (1827-1891), who founded his workshop in 1848, according to one of his guitar labels.

The Moya Hermanos won a first prize Gold Medal in 1895 at a provincial exposition. This has been stated on their labels since that time, in the earlier periods of their careers there was an image of the medal on the label.

According to Domingo Prat on page 380 of his "Diccionario de Guitarristas y Guitarreros", published in 1934: Juan and Andres Moya Martinez became friends with Antonio de Torres when he returned from Sevilla and opened his earthenware and glass shop in Almeria and the Moya Hermanos followed his guitar making school, with the philosophy that he shared. These two families lived about 7 Km apart, if you look at the map below, a 1 hour 45 minute walk, or less time by Horse and Carriage.

The Moya Hermanos have been influential and are certainly still an influence in Almeria having taught Miguel Gonzalez Abad (1906-1989) who then taught his son, the well known luthier, Juan Miguel Gonzalez (1947-).

Jose Lopez Beltran may have been a colleague and friend of the Moya Hermanos: Juan and Andres, as they lived 4 Km away from each other, an hour long walk.

There is a photo of Almeria from 1908 at the end of the photos.