Depending on who you talk to the last 3-4 years Sr. Reyes is either 'fully retired' or 'partially retired', he certainly has slowed down a lot, though he is in the shop most every day still. He 'officially retired' according to a good friend of mine close to Reyes, around May of 2011. How much his son has worked on individual guitars that carry the Padre label over the past few years is a matter of some discussion. Regardless, this is one of the best Reyes hands down I have ever played, and he personally built me 6 new ones for my own use, and of course I have had many through the store, so I have seen some really great Reyes. It bodes well for we Reyes lovers that the father seems to have passed the torch successfully to the son. This then is the last new 'Padre' Reyes that I'll have in this shop, and it is a great one. In the end I decided to keep this one for myself, it is really that special, and in a way both the end of one era, and the beginning of another. Thanks Sr. Reyes for all that you have given to me, and to Flamenco around the world.

Those of you who have acquired guitars from me know that when I say ‘this is one of the best….” that I mean exactly that. I turn down a lot of guitars, even some Reyes guitars, because they are not among ‘the best of the best’ in my opinion, and that is what my clients expect from me. So now I am going to make a statement that some might snicker at, but which those of you who have worked with me over the years will know is absolutely true: This is hands down the best Reyes Blanca I have had in this shop, or ever heard, and this comes from personally owning many Reyes guitars, having many many come through the shop over the past 15 years, and hearing many played by some amazing artists.

This is “THE” Reyes every Reyes lover dreams of. You know when you listen to Vicente and you think “ Man that is the most awesome Reyes I have ever heard”, this is that guitar. No exaggeration. Just fact. I have had other amazing Reyes guitars come close to the title of ‘best Reyes ever’ but now I think that title will permanently belong to this guitar. She already sings and I suspect the sky is the limit as to what she’ll sound like after a year or two of playing. Most Reyes Blanca’s have those famous incisive trebles, but some are so dang punchy they lose a bit of their musicality, not this one. The Maestro seems to have put his heart and soul into this lady and everything came together flawlessly, including a beautiful and very musical voice with gorgeous sustain, but yet so capable of that driving biting attack that the great Reyes guitars possess. Why go on, I’ll just use one word that says it all: Perfect.