Julio Negron Rivera Vintage Cuatro "Moderno" Start Price USD 650.00 Current Price USD 650.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, October 06, 2008 End Time Monday, October 13, 2008 Location Old Hickory, TN See more about 'Julio Negron Rivera Vintage Cuatro "Moderno"' Description This is a beautiful vintage moderno cuatro, a 10 string instrument similar to a lute. The cuatro is the national instrument of Puerto Rico. My father had this made for me almost thirty years ago. He was told then that the artisan, Julio Negron Rivera, was considered one of the best. The instrument is very unique in that the back, sides and neck of the instrument are made from a single block of wood. It is in excellent shape for it's age and very playable. There are minor dings in the finish for being played for 20 some odd years, the worst of which can be seen in the photos, It is a beautifully sounding instrument and is amazingly loud for it's size. In 1985 Julio Negron Rivera received from the National Endowment for the Arts "Lifetime Honors - National Heritage Fellowships" for his work in sustaining the tradtions of his homeland. http://www.nea.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/fellow.php?id=1985_08  It is only economic hard times that is causing me to put her up for sale. There is no case for the cuatro and it is strictly an acoustic instument. It is my intention to "crate" her when I ship her, I would not trust her well being to a cardboard box. Feel free to make any offers and ask any questions. Thanks for looking and good luck.  All offers will be considered! Seroiusly don't be afraid to bid, I'm ready to deal.   Check it out... it's relisted at a lower price. I lowered the BIN price a couple of times during the first listing in an attepmt to entice someone to bid...it will not happen this time. I've been asked about the woods used in making the Cuatro, I believe the body is made of guaraguao, the wood traditonally used. The grain patterns are similar to other examples I've seen, and it has that nice "cedar" smell. The top is, I think, spruce; not the traditional yagrumo, as it has none of the usual "blue streaks" in the grain. The fretboard I believe is mahogony. Hope this helps.   Place a Bid!