1999 Matthias Dammann “Copy” of 1890 Torres #141

Top: Spruce/Fan braced
Back and sides: Rosewood
Scale: 650mm
Origin: Germany
Price: $34,950

Dammann has always been inspired by a certain and very special Torres that he had in his shop, on loan from a dear friend, for many years. (#141 dated 1890, I happen to have this actual Torres available for sale at this time, please call for details). I have played this Torres while visiting Dammann at his shop and it is likely the best sounding Torres I know of, simply angelic. This Torres was perhaps a ‘muse’ of sorts for Dammann and it inspired him to make the amazing composite top guitars we hear Manuel Barrueco, David Russell and so many others play and record with.

So it is a particular treat for me to offer this Torres model by Dammann himself. It is essentially a duplicate of Torres #141, the only slight difference being Dammann chose to make the body just a bit wider to account for the slightly larger build of modern players as opposed to those in Torres’ day. It has Rodgers tuners, a 650mm scale as well. The original Torres has a cypress back and sides, while this is Rosewood, three piece back and sides as you can see. It is in literally ‘like new’ condition.

As I played her, I can definitely hear the strains and character of that 1890 Torres in her voice, like her ‘big sister’ this Torres style guitar has a ‘bigger’ than expected voice! She too has clear round powerful trebles like the original, and lovely singing basses. The extraordinarily fine piece of Spruce Dammann selected for the top surely contributes to this overall voice.

This is as close as you can get to a ‘modern Torres’, if Torres were alive today, I think this is what he would be building. And available for a fraction of the price of the real Torres, it is an irresistible combination of elegant and surprisingly powerful voice, superior craftsmanship, and excellent value. A superbly playable, and highly collectible guitar.