Hi there,

I was test-driving a classical guitar yesterday, which had obviously been used for some heavy-duty flamenco playing. There are considerable scratches in the French polish (spruce top). Now, the scratches outboard of the treble strings are perfectly normal and expected. What confuses me are multiple deep scratches on the top, between the rosette and the bridge, which are UNDER the bass strings. The scratches (divots, really) were mostly between the 5th and 6th strings, some between the 4th and 5th. Almost none outboard of the 6th string.

I'm at a loss to understand what sort of RH thumb technique would cause so many dings in the places I've described? Any insight is appreciated.

David

Hola David

From what you say it could possibly have been from playing flamenco something like alzapua if maybe the bridge had been made very low. The other possibility is that the guitarist may have used a plectrum even if playing flamenco.
I suppose for you the question is if it is bad enough for you not to buy the guitar.
If the cuts are deep enough to break the French polish then I imagine it might be trouble some time with damp in the future but I am not sure.
Un saludo

Tomás

It was classical guitar, with a good 12mm clearance between the string and table in that area. The damage as I saw it didn't really break the French polish, but it was certainly obvious to see. I simply can't figure out how (or why) anybody would play that deeply on the bass strings. Scrape-marks between the strings and the sides are normal, but I've never seen them under the bass strings. How the heck would a player get his thumb (or even a flatpick) down in there AND still be able to play, without literally ripping the string off the instrument? And there were quite a few of these marks, not just a one-off accident.