Thanks so much for working on this one for me Ted. For the people asking questions about the guitar and price. I paid $450 USD and am very happy with it at that price. This particular guitar sounded very unique among them all. It was fantastic and fun to visit his shop and he was very happy and proud to show how they do their work. It's not a high end concert instrument, but it plays very nice (much nicer now that Ted worked his magic on it). Most of the instruments in this shop were for the local market for sure and he's having to compete against cheap $100 Chinese guitars, so I understand the need for the cheap tuners, etc and it was not a surprise. This instrument sounds beautiful in the room and with a mic in front of it. The decorations are a little over the top, but there were others with even more bling if you can imagine! This was about the sound and the story/memory for me and I think it hits the mark all around ;)

So cool! As a side note, from 50 yrs ago. In my 20's, I spent a few yrs with the 5 sons of medical missionaries that grew up in Ecuador. Living in the jungle with the Ahuca (headhunter) indians. The wood of choice for the Indian's bows was Black Palm. That fingerboard was identical to the bow Danny Fuller, 3rd son, gave me way back then. I always coveted the shrunken head he had dangling from the mirror in his VW bus. He'd watched it being shrunken 😮 the Palm was elastic but really hard!

I’m not one who likes a lot of ornamentation, but for some reason I find this guitar to be gorgeous. Thank you for BBC the tour of the shop in Equador. Fascinating.

Bill Cumpiano works down the road from me. A great guy. I’ve been to his shop many times over the years.

It is a really pretty and very human-made instrument. Glad you put your finesse on it.

The fretboard is definitely made out of black palm. It isn't a bad looking wood, but it is rather brittle and very prone to splitting. With the drastic humidity change that guitar has gone through, I am not surprised that it cracked.

Even though not 100% perfect, this guitar has music in it. The slight imperfections make it way more interesting to be honest. Such a cool guitar

Those tuners were the cherry on top of this beautiful guitar. Well done!!

Such a beautiful instrument!

I actually Love the design of this guitar. It looks bold, but not to the degree of being obnoxious. And the colors work so well together. For me, I absolutely adore this design. (Of course I'm Colombian-Cuban 50/50, but grew up in America) Anyway, I honestly dream of getting such a beautiful guitar like this one day.

Of course, probably the most influential guitar maker who couldn’t play the instrument is Leo Fender… Great video as usual, Ted :-)

One of the more fascinating repair videos. The guitar looks and sounds bright.

I like the way that thing RINGS.

I bought a nylon string guitar in Massaya, Nicaragua about a decade ago. Made entirely with local wood, it’s got a Mahogany top, and some truly stunning Cocobolo back, sides, fretboard, & bridge. I’d love to visit Paracho in Mexico, and these other guitar making towns throughout Latin America. It’s like visiting a distant cousin in a foreign country.

The imperfections stand out a lot, but it just adds to that handmade look.

Such a lovely truly hand crafted instrument. What it lacks in precision it makes up for with bucket loads of charm. I would love and cherish it if it were mine. 🥰

Thanks for taking us on a tour, Ted and Owner. Looks like great work done quickly, and now refined. ❤

WOW! What a beautiful guitar. Loved the ornamentation on it. It's amazing how they build it with such minimal tools. Over here, people I talk to are put off from building instruments because they think they need tens of thousands of dollars worth of tools. Thank you for the vid and thanks to the customer for sharing pics with us!

The icing on the cake is its beautiful voice.

You should make a podcast about the history of guitar making. I enjoy those anecdotes so much!

WOW THAT GUITAR SOUNDED AMAZING TED!!!! Great show great job 👏 well done 👍

Now, there's an instrument with genuine soul. Very nice video.

Some might say that the decoration is over the top. But I think it's amazingly cool. It speaks volumes about the maker and the musical society of the region. And was it bad of me that when you showed the crack in the fingerboard that my first thought was "mini bow tie inlays" as a suitable fix that would fit right in with the flamboyant look?

Wow. Extraordinary video of a totally different approach to construction - but that tone. Superb.

That is a stunning instrument. I personally love the “handmade” qualities as it makes the guitar unique.

Glad you put those nice German tuners on it. Nice glimpse of traditional Ecuadoran Guitar making.

Thanks for sharing this. I've lived here in Ecuador for 15 years, a couple of hours outside Quito, which is in the north of Ecuador. I believe there are some good luthiers in the country, but I haven't had a chance to visit them yet. As I am now retired, I plan to visit a lot of them. As the luthiers here are not very well known outside the country, there hasn't been a lot written about the state of the craft here.

Finishing touches at the bench make that instrument gorgeous!

That's a gorgeous guitar. I love the way the blue abalone, especially pops.

Being a player who has never attempted building a guitar (the world is far better off for me never attempting such a thing) I'm always amazed at Ted's skill in repair and building guitars. Add to that the construction techniques of this fine instrument and its wonderful voice and I'm truly in awe! Mr Guertin you are a very fortunate man and I hope this guitar brings you as much joy to play as it seems to have to those of us who simply watched it being made even better by Ted's magic. This will become an heirloom instrument if you're not careful!

I am always amazed at how much history and background you provide on these obscure instruments. Great work

I almost bought a guitarrón while on vacation in Mexico some 25 years ago, and I've regretted my decision since. It was dirt cheap and it sounded nice!

Love the concept. My cousin lived next door to Robert Benedetto, builder of archtop guitars costing 20k and up. He is a master. This man builds simple guitars with the same passion for pennies in comparison. I respect both the same. I started building cigar box guitars 12 years ago and worked up to electric solid bodies and acoustic models. It takes passion.

Outstanding episode. Thank you.

I have a few instruments built in Bolivia, a Cuatro Venezolano (4 string small guitar) made in the Spanish style and two ukuleles made in the style of charangos where the neck, back and sides are carved from a single, solid piece of timber. The tops are made with spruce or pine from salvaged orange crates. They are not the the most refined instruments in the world, yet they are among the loudest and richest sounding acoustic instruments i have ever heard. These guys know what they are doing. Perhaps it gets into the DNA.

Most beautiful guitar I’ve ever seen

I’ve never been to Ecuador but, if I do go, I’ll visit that shop! Those were beautiful instruments.

Been enjoying catching up on your videos. I enjoy your insights into dealing with difficult customers

Cool! I was a student of William Cumpiano back in 1979!!

I like that you called the ornamentation exhuberant rather than ostentatious. Your word choice denotes consideration for the craftsman and respect for the time, effort, and skill it took to accomplish.

@twoodfrd I was in that very shop last year, their skill is amazing and they couldn't be nicer people! They told me they make most of their own chisels and plane irons as well. The fretboard is a type of black palm called chonta, the indigenous people in the area used it to make weapons, its incredibly dense.

You can watch anyone fix a guitar but what other channel gives you in depth history on every repair? That's why I watch..and I'm a drummer! Keep it up sir!

Awesome episode! Thanks for sharing the pics

Cool video, thanks for sharing the photos of the little shop very interesting.

Gorgeous, simply gorgeous! As were the other instruments we saw in the shop photos. I hope that art and skill never depart.

Great episode! And good on you for putting those nice tuners on that guitar.

Your videos complete my Sunday. Thanks.

Fascinating insights and lovely work, thanks

Always learn something from you Ted. The Fir wood this time, Thanks.

Once I study with a Luthier to learn about archtops building techniques, he mentioned going to meet up there about that same village. I never went there it took me 10 years to do this. Mostly how to use a bandsaw and restoring a Sears redial arm saw. It was the first powered equipment I was using it and building an A frame cabin in Mammoth Mountain. Ufie Nelson taught me and we were like brothers. So I really started ready doing the work was in 2019 and I made one this year, Ms. Teatar Duncan. Cheers!

Beautiful example of handmade quality and the BEST IN CLASS! I love the decorations!

It would be interesting to see exactly how they put them together like that. I can't imagine putting the sides on last.

Rubner (Ltd.) makes fantastic parts. Located in Markneukirchen, Germany. A rich history since 1864.

Really cool. The extended bridge I could take or leave but I REALLY like the rest!

I think the builder will get some unexpected enquires from your gang! I'd buy one if i was passing thru.

such a sweet bass tone

Absolutely amazing. Beautiful guitar, absolutely beautiful repairs/mods. Excellent work. Great history too.

That headstock stencil is immaculate.

Interesting construction! I've come across quite a few similar examples clearly made to be accurate "guiter shaped objects" with little or no thought put to playing the damn thing. Wall hangers for sure. Neat this one cleaned up so easily!

Absolutely fascinating video thank you

As others have stated - that is one lovely guitar. The imperfections are just singing to me a wonderful tune of the hand made character of the instrument. The fretboard on the other hand - not such a lovely song... Thanks for taking the time to share about this instrument and it's heritage.

Rubners! I have them on three of my mandos. Love em. Nice video, and cool gtr. Thanks!

DUDE. Love it! Great video.

What an amazing story and insight. Thanks for sharing!!

Very amazing sound for nylon strings and the response sounds like a very expensive guitar. Thanks for sharing!!

Really like this guitar.

Wow, what a beautiful guitar

Sweet! Nice conservation, Ted!

A great find. The shop pictures are fascinating.

That has to be the most ornamented classical guitar I've ever seen. Some really impressive inlay work!

Just a wonder to see it brought to Speed. New tuners were Magic touch. Any minor inlaid imperfections. Are a perfect charm. Proving human craftsmanship. Every guitar must pass many hands and eyes. Check and dubble check. Only by being played Can it reach true immorality. Lastly only time and season with loving care can bring it to legend. Such as the one we see hear. Thank you for the journey

Beautiful purflings and rosette!

Really sweet guitar. Nice work on the fingerboard, frets and saddle. I make my own solid bodies and do all my own repair work. I’m computer illiterate (I just recently learned how to take pictures with my phone), so I don’t make my own videos, but right now my project is taking the neck off a dirt cheap Dean solid body and grafting it onto an imported Dean Soltero I got used and cheap about ten years ago. The guitar has a headstock break that is pretty bad, and I could fix it, but the neck has a deep V carve that is murder on my aging, arthritic hands. The new neck is maple instead of the original mahogany one, and I’m converting it from a bolt-on to a set-in style. It’s the most ambitious mod I’ve tried yet, but I’m retired so I’m in no rush to finish the job. It will be interesting to hear if the maple neck has a big effect on the tone of the guitar. I’ll just keep that to myself, since I don’t want to get embroiled in the whole tonewood controversy for solidbodies. Great channel, and one of my favorites!

That is a beautiful instrument! Thanks for sharing

It’s gorgeous. Makes the trip to Ecuador almost worth it.

WOW THOSE GERMAN TUNER MACHINES ARE IMPRESSIVE! I like!!!

This makes me want to go to Ecuador. (iPhone autocorrect just tried to correct “Ecuador” to “Europe”. I’d love to go there too, but not the same)

THE TUNING. KEYS YOU PUT ON. REALLY. IMPROVED. THAT GUITARS APPEARANCE.

Wow! Those pictures are GREAT! 😮👌

Actually pretty amazing build quality considering it's all hand tools and NO Forms (that's just flat out mind boggling). I spent almost as mu ch time building my octave mandolin/bouzouki forms as I did on the instruments getting them set up and clamp surfaces routed in place.

Thanks for playing them for us Ted!

Really enjoy rustic local instruments.

Sounds brilliant!

This was a great video. The craftsmenship is stunning. Sure....a lot of pieces that shows a bit of hurrying... I want to mention the sound. I bluetooth through my cars audio. So...not the tin sound from my phone speaker. It is veryresonant. Nice deep tone with quite a bit of sustain. I am very impressed with what I heard!

Being of Andean (Bolivian) decent, 1st gen in the US, this was an exciting video to watch. Ted really presents a lot of inside baseball so very well. One thing that struck me a little odd was that builders mainly do not play guitar. I would counter that statement with what I know of South American culture, and this is a broad brush that should be taken with a grain of Bolivian Uyuni Salt Lake salt. In South American, most everyone plays a little bit of guitar--not virtuoso level, but very rudimentarily. South American nations are very musically inclined and at youth parties, everyone passes around the guitar for someone to play a song, according to my father. But this decidedly anecdotal testimony is born out when I inquire with the local Brasilian Jazz mafia here in Seattle. It is just a thing in down there. Even here in te US, I am shocked when a luthier has any significant guitar chops, but my sample size of about 16 repair cats is rather small.

A awesome looking guitar thanks for sharing God bless

You have helped motivate me. *My goal is by the end of this month I will be able to finish ohhh about 2 dozen guitars from my collection about twice that lol.* I will finally setup my shop for it. In there is a few *very* important acoustics, including my 1st guitar. I filed the bridge, nuts and gorilla cranked the trem until I could solo on it like an electric anywhere on the neck. *$100 for a vintage Cort Acoustic from sis's BF at the time. He first gave me a mint condition Hagstrom acoustic/electric that my sister eventually became so jealous of, she bullied me into giving it back!* The joke was on herself though since learning on the Hagstrom with ultra stiff strings had trapped me at about a half dozen chords.

Thank you. Another excellent trip down guitar lane.

She sounds great!

Very rich overtones; sounds like a responsive instrument. It can be hit and miss with these ethnic-folk type export instruments, but it sounds like this one is a winner. I hope the owner understands that it will probably need constant attention to humidity, especially in your Canadian winters when the heaters are on full blast... It would be a shame to have it come apart due to splitting and cracking, as I've seen with other similar imported instruments from South America and also the Middle East.

When I first saw the sound hole inlays I thought it had an overall Inca vibe. Very beautiful guitar in spite of the possibility of it being hastily built. Thanks for sharing something that most of us would never have known. Sounds great too.

I look at that and I am speechless.

Those photos are wild!

nice bright tone.. wouldn't mind owning it

What’s the cost of that guitar? Just curious :) sounds lovely and I’m sure it will bring the owner lots of amazing memories every time he plays it.

Domestic flair ! Sorry when ya said that in the video around the 5:20 mark it cracked me up. Thanks as always for the videos :-)

gorgeous , sometimes the little imperfections in hand crafted good slightly irk me but they definitely made a really nice looking product and unbelievable to do it with so little and im sure they are not charging an arm and a leg, always a pleasure to see there are real artisans out there still

I love your channel, and I greatly appreciate the work and effort you put into its creation! Thank you for that! Does anyone know if there is a channel that similarly focuses on building/repairing guitar pedalboards and electronics?

I love his benches. they yell "I've been working every week day for the past 100 years". you see a lot of them here in Brazil as well, you cant even tell what kind of wood they are made of. Night and day to a youtuber with a scandinavian bench that does 2 ugly boxes a year and uses sacrifice boards so he does not mark his bench

Interesting that they glued the top and back first. Wonder how they do the inside kerfing, or if there's any at all. 🤔