Once in a great while I receive a guitar that is an absolute masterpiece. This elegant looking instrument is such a guitar.  Not only is the craftsmanship perfect-- its tone is sublime. This guitar is not an accident. Antonio Raya Pardo (b. 1950) is the youngest of the five living Spanish makers Summerfield includes in his list of the finest classical guitar makers since 1800. He is also among the few luthiers to whom Luis F. Leal Pinar devotes an entire chapter in "Guitarreros de Andalucia" (2004). Guitars such as this only occur when luthiers of great talent are able obtain truly great woods. The German spruce, Antonio chose for this guitar, is among of the finest I have ever seen-- very tight, even, and straight grained, with beautiful mandular rays. The Brazilian rosewood is true (dalbergia nigra) and comes with CITES documents. The wood itself is over 30 years old, and is also master grade quality with straight grain (so it less likely to crack than figured wood) but also allows it to function better as a tone wood.