All the comments I've read about the frets of these instruments seem to assume that they had metal inset frets from the very start (ie c. 1750-60). However, since in Spain we know that these instruments continued being played well into the nineteenth century (1830-40s), it is quite possible that the earliest of these instruments originally possessed tied frets (like the contemporary gallichon/mandora) and may then have generally been refretted with inset metal frets in the early nineteenth century (as commonly found on other guitars in this later period). I'd therefore be grateful for any evidence which sheds light on this issue: in particular any iconography (including engravings) of these early (pre- 1800) Spanish instruments which show the rear of the neck. MH
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