One might think that these two makers – the 19th century maker of the first recognizably modern guitar and the most famous maker of the 20th century – made very similar instruments and in general that would be correct.  Both made lightly-built, responsive and beautiful guitars and in general used the integral neck and fan bracing of some description.  However, both makers experimented extensively, Torres with body shape and tornavoz while Santos used many different fan and transverse bar layouts.

I am making one of my very much in demand Torres copies right now alongside a Santos copy which has also proven to be quite successful.  The depth measurements of a guitar body affect the air volume and hence the resonant frequencies, it can make the guitar more or less comfortable for the guitarist to hold and play and of course it changes the aesthetics. This picture shows just what a difference in depth there is between these two models. There are a few other differences as well, the Santos is made with thinner top and sides and the lower transverse bar is placed diagonally.  I had never experimented with that configuration before but I am liking the results.