Classical Guitars: 1933 Moya Hermanos Almeria

Moya Hermanos

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650 mm scale, 52 mm nut. Very very Fine to Medium grain Spruce Soundboard and Cypress back and sides, 4 piece back, all original French Polish. 5 Fan braces. My colleague, Richard Bruné says: "The fans were completely shaped and dimensioned before gluing them on the soundboard."

According to Jose Romanillos, who has seen this guitar in person, in his opinion, it is an Antonio de Torres copy and that it is very very interesting. 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 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.

This guitar is now under restoration: When I felt the fan bracing inside the damaged 1903 José Lopez Beltran it had the same width and feeling as the Moya Hermanos braces, I have included a photo of the 1920 Moya Hermanos Cypress bracing to this page.