José Vargas Machuca é Hijo Guitar

From what I could make out on the label, José and Son must have been prominent guitar builders in Arequipa, Peru, sometime in the 1950's or 1960's. This classical guitar belonged to my late friend, Phil Yost, and was given to me by his "surrogate son," and heir, Ethan. Phil must have purchased, or was given, this guitar in 1964, because Phil penned that date on the label. (Phil dated a lot of things, including instruments he acquired, instruments he designed, and instruments he built.)

This is a lovely sounding classical guitar with close-grained mahogany sides and back and a spruce top. The fingerboard and bridge are Brazilian rosewood, and the light wood purfling is inlaid with white shell pieces. Unfortunately, someone drilled a hole through the top of the head, probably to hang the guitar from a peg or nail, and also peeled the pickguard off, leaving a discolored and slightly damaged section on the soundboard.

I have no plan to restore this guitar. Right now, it has a very nice tone and sustains quite well. This is the way Phil had it and played it for so many years, including on a few of the pieces he released on the three albums he did in the 1960's.