Up for sale, a 1971 Montero-Bellido classical guitar in exceptional condition and in perfect working order, complete with the original hardshell case. Antonio Marín Montero and Manuel Bellido, both master luthiers in their own right, are widely regarded as the two leading founders of the current “Granada school” of Spanish guitar luthiery. In the 1960s and early ‘70s, they produced guitars together under the joint Montero-Bellido label. This expertly-crafted instrument was produced just two years before the dissolution of that partnership, with the understated aesthetics and efficiency of construction that have come to define the modern Granada style.

Tonewoods include a fan-braced cedar top with bookmatched Indian rosewood back and sides, and a mahogany neck capped by a thick slab ebony fretboard. There’s notable warmth and depth to the tone, with an overarching articulation and immediacy. The top end is pristine and sonorous, with piano-like clarity. Weighing 3lbs 11oz, this Montero-Bellido has been professionally setup here at Mike & Mike’s Guitar Bar with normal tension D’Addario strings and optimal classical action.

The mahogany neck has a substantial D-shaped profile carve with generous shoulders, measuring .930” deep at the 1st fret and .980” at the 9th. The thick slab ebony fingerboard retains the flawless stock slender fretwire, and the instrument plays cleanly up the straight neck with action that measures 12/64” on the bass side at the 12th fret and 10/64” on the treble side. The scale length is 655mm, and the bone nut measures 52mm in width. The slotted headstock features a rosewood veneer, and the gold-plated engraved tuning machines turn smoothly and hold accurate pitch.

On the body, the rosewood bridge sits flush with the cedar top on all edges, and the saddle has ample room for future adjustment. The string spacing at the bridge is 60mm. Visible through the soundhole, the label dates this guitar to 1971 and is signed by both Antonio Montero and Manuel Bellido.

There are two professionally repaired slender splits on the treble side of the top just north of the bridge, and the varnish finish is remarkably well-kept with a glossy sheen, exhibiting only very minor, localized muting of the gloss from careful handling. There are a few pinhead-sized marks on top, largely localized on the treble side of the soundhole, one finish chip on the back body edge, and a few faint finish scratches on the body as a whole. The smooth finish on the neck profile has just a couple minor marks on the bass-side shoulder behind frets 5-6 that have no impact on playability.

The original hardshell case with orange plush interior is included.