Martinez - Torres Spruce 1/2 RN + Housse

The MARTINEZ Torres Spruce 1/2 RN does not imitate a classical guitar; it retains all its proportions whilst simply halving the scale length. The Torres series draws on the design that has set the standard for classical guitars for a century and a half, here reimagined for a more youthful body.

The Natural colour and its Natural finish reveal the wood’s grain beneath a thin layer – a transparency that showcases the material rather than concealing it. Beneath this surface, the solid spruce top resonates early on, from the very first scales; it is a soft wood that responds to the slightest touch of the strings.

The cypress back and sides enclose the soundbox with a drier wood that sounds brighter to the ear – the hallmark of Spanish guitars long before the flamenco guitar itself. This Torres 1/2 shape retains the same proportions as the full-size model, simply reworked to a different scale.

The 580 mm (22.83") scale length shortens the distance between the frets to suit a hand that has not yet reached its full span, and the 50 mm (1.97") nut maintains a string spacing that allows each finger to find its place. Set up as a right-handed guitar, it follows the most common orientation used in beginner lessons.

Six classical guitar strings complete this design, and a gig bag protects the instrument whilst being carried between the living room and the classroom. This intermediate size is not a toy; it remains a fully-fledged classical guitar, scaled down in size but never in its purpose.