Francisco España, c.1850
Francisco Pedro España (1793-1877) was a luthier based in Barcelona, Spain. He began his luthier apprenticeship with Josep Messeguer, opening his own shop with Jean Louis Charles Thérèse around 1820, until they parted ways in 1835. España was a highly successful luthier who managed a workshop employing several craftsmen. Alongside violins, violas, cellos, double basses, and pianos, he produced exquisitely decorated guitars using exotic woods.
This particular example was crafted in Barcelona c.1850 and features a spruce top paired with a beautifully figured regional wood for the back and sides, and a maple scroll. Recent restoration work has been completed, including top-off repairs, a scroll graft, new individual brass tuning machines, and an adjustable bridge. This beautiful smaller bass has a warm, full sound for its size that would be an excellent orchestral, chamber, solo, or period instrument!