5-course guitar

At the end of the XVI century, while the vihuela de mano slowly falls into oblivion, guitar becomes the new protagonist, now with an incorporated fifth course, and with a form described by Joan Carles Amat in his tractate “Guitarra española de 5 órdenes”, in 1596. 
Its technique, based first in rasgueados to play with dances, also inherited the vihuela complex plucking, thus gaining versatility and acceptance in musical circles throughout Europe.

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Around 1650, it is attributed to the actor and musician Francesco Corbetta the dissemination of the instrument by the French court of Louis XIV, and from there it spread to the England of Charles II. Notable authors such as Gaspar Sanz, Santiago de Murcia, Jean-Baptiste Lully and Robert de Visée wrote pieces for guitar during the so-called Baroque period. 

Italian 5-course guitar

Design based on Antonio Stradivari originals.
Curly maple body and neck. European spruce top. Pear bridge with ebony and bone inlays. Pegbox, fingerboard and pegs made of ebony. 2-layer rosette in pear and parchment with an inlayed ebony and bone edging. Body finished with organic poliresinose alcohol varnish, from cremonese recipes. Top is finished with wax. Vibrating lengths: 650, 670 or 690 mm.
This model is also available in its student version.

"Cumbees" de Santiago de Murcia (Códice Saldívar IV, ca. 1732). 
Interpretation by Robert Cases Marco with one Asier de Benito's italian 5-course guitar. This video was produced by Rafa Sulbarán.

Santiago de Murcia (Madrid, July 25, 1673 - April 25, 1739) was a Spanish guitarist and composer of the Baroque period. 
It is considered the last great exponent of the spanish 5-course guitar. He published "Resúmen de acompañar la parte con la guitarra" in Madrid, 1717, and "Cifras selectas para guitarra", in 1722. The other two known works by Murcia were found in Mexico: "Passacalles y obras de guitarra por todos los tonos naturales y accidentales", 1732; "Codex Saldivar No. 4", ca 1730. This last one takes its name from Gabriel Saldivar, who found it in 1943.
His three books show the richness of the spanish guitar music in the decade of 1700 and the influence of France and Italy. Sometimes it takes the formal, rhythmic, harmonic or melodic features from each country, sometimes join both styles in a cosmopolitan and international style.

Spanish 5-course guitar

Design based on Joseph Pagés originals.
Cypress body, european spruce top, cedar weck. Stained pearwood bridge with ebony carved mustaches. Boxwood and ebony fingerboard, with maple and ebony purflings; 2-layer rosette in maple and parchment. Finished with oil and wax. Vibration lengths: 650, 670 or 690 mm.
This model is also available in its student version.

"Capricho arpeado" de Gaspar Sanz (1640-1710).
Interpretación de Robert Cases Marco con una guitarra española de cinco órdenes de Asier de Benito. Grabación de Rafa Sulbarán

Gaspar Sanz (Calanda, Teruel, April 4th, 1640 - Madrid, 1710) -real name Francisco Bartolomé Sanz Celma- was a composer, guitarist and organ player from the spanish baroque period. He studied music, theology and philosophy in the Salamanca University, where later he becomed music teacher. He wrote three books on pedagogy and 5-course guitar works which mean a great part of the current classical guitar repertoire, according to best players on guitar technics. In 1674, he published his first significant work for 5-course guitar, the "Instrucción de música sobre la guitarra española y métodos de sus primeros rudimentos hasta tañerla con destreza", which enclose 3 books: 
- Volume 1: Instrucción de música sobre la guitarra española (Zaragoza, 1674). 
- Volume 2: Libro segundo, de cifras sobre la guitarra española (Zaragoza, 1675). 
- Volume 3: Libro tercero de música de cifras sobre la guitarra española (Zaragoza, 1697).

Italian 5+1-course  guitar

Design also based on Antonio Stradivari originals but this is a especial work for the Master guitarist Kazuhiro Yoshizumi.

Curly maple body and neck. European spruce top. Pear bridge with ebony and bone inlays. Pegbox, fingerboard and pegs made of ebony. 2-layer rosette in pear and parchment with an inlayed ebony and bone edging. Body finished with organic poliresinose alcohol varnish, from cremonese recipes. Top is finished with wax. Vibrating length is 650mm.