Description

This Conteras Laud is a great sounding and super fun instrument to play. Manuel Contreras (I and II) were renowned Madrid-based luthiers, primarily famous for high-end classical guitars. While specializing in guitars, the Contreras workshop produced exceptional Spanish folk instruments, including the laud, adhering to a “Madrid school” style characterized by rich sound and premium materials. A Spanish folk instrument (cittern family), the laud is a flat-backed, pear-shaped instrument, larger than a bandurria. Features 12  strings in 6 pairs. Tuned one octave lower than the bandurria,  G# G#, C#C#, F#F#, bb, ee, aa. Instruments from the Manuel Contreras workshop are characterized by high-quality tonewoods (spruce/cedar tops, rosewood/cypress bodies) and meticulous craftsmanship. The workshop legacy continues through Victoria Velasco and José Antonio Lagunar. We aren’t sure as to when it was made in their shop in Madrid, Spain. It’s tuners look to have been changed. There is some finish wear wear the headstock meets the neck and some on the sides, in the area where your arm goes over the guitar. It’s owner cut a sound port on it’s side and added a pickguard to it. The fret ends could use some filing, as there is some sharpness. The laud came with 3 inlaid pear side position markers. 3 white dots, in White Out, have been added farther up the neck. There are some tiny chips around the edges, light scratching and other light wear. The tailpieces string tangs are all bent slightly. One is missing and was replaced with a nail. The bridge has a dark strip of wood in front of where the bridge saddle sits. It is either purely ornamental, possibly a repurposed classical bridge (since they mostly made those, or was a result of moving the bridge saddle back, to improve intonation. Overall, this laud is in good condition and comes with a cloth gig bag.

• Made in Madrid, Spain
• Solid cedar top
• Solid rosewood back and sides
• Mahogany neck
• Ebony fingerboard
• 18 1/2″ scale length
• 2″ nut width
• 12 strings in 6 courses
• Cloth gig bag