The acoustic guitar is an intimate musical instrument. Its voice is best appreciated in small venues when the audience is there to listen and be carried away by its romantic tone. Be it flamenco, bossa-nova or the many musical forms that make up the classical repertoire, most of us have felt the seduction of the pure Spanish guitar sound.This doesn't mean that the guitar can't carry when played in a larger hall. Amazingly, great guitars can fill an auditorium when they have been made to have a clear voice. My style is to make light, vibrant guitars with clear vowel tone and balance over their entire range. I've been told my guitars are also easy to play and have a very comfortable neck.
I specialize in making classical and flamenco guitars in the tradition of the great European master luthiers of the past, such as Torres, Santos, Esteso, Hauser and Bouchet. But luthery can be very personal and one uses a lot of intuition when building, not following a plan to the letter. The senses are in tune with the materials, the mind is clear in the concept and the tradition.
To make a great sounding guitar, I look into the traditional ways of building as a base, and I am inspired by the great makers of the past, as well as contemporary makers. Knowledge of the properties of the materials is of utmost importance. Fret-work and set-up are important to make a guitar playable and have great intonation. Design and embellishments are a nice touch to make a guitar unique and visually stunning, and the finish highlights the natural beauty of the woods. Yet to make a great instrument, one has to look beyond any one of these aspects and integrate, in order to inspire the player who will use the instrument as a tool for musical expression, which in turn will inspire the listener.
I also restore and repair guitars and other instruments. It is very satisfying to help a musician get the action right on their guitar or to revive a guitar that has been played hard, neglected or in an accident. Maintenance is very important for musical instruments and they must be kept at the correct humidity at all times. I have a deep love for many types of music and guitar sounds, including classical, flamenco, folk, latin-american, bossa-nova and jazz, so I like to listen to a particular player's wishes and needs and follow from there.
Bio
I got started in luthery while in my late teens. Interested in the alternative way of life of the artisan, I sought to find viable means to make my livelihood as such. Since I was playing bass, it seemed natural to experiment on my own instrument, and I discovered I had the knack for this sort of work. I began building my collection of tools, some of which I still have. All this time I always had in mind my ultimate goal: to become a luthier. Time has gone by. I completed a certified guitar-making course, followed by an apprenticeship, repair work and construction of classical, steel string and bass guitars. I've spent time with dozens of luthiers of all types, in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Argentina and my native country, Panamá. I continue to read all the books on guitars and luthery that I can get my hands on and I am a member of the Guild of American Luthiers.
All of this cannot replace the fact that one learns to do anything by simply doing it: by experimenting and using one's heart, intellect and creativity to always make the best that one is capable of, and by doing good work that one can be proud of. This is the essence of what it is to be a true artisan and is what I love the most about my work. I seek to combine the beauty of art with all the technique of engineering in my work, drawing from both my knowledge base and my intuition.
I also restore and repair guitars and other instruments. It is very satisfying to help a musician get the action right on their guitar or to revive a guitar that has been played hard, neglected or in an accident. Maintenance is very important for musical instruments and they must be kept at the correct humidity at all times. I have a deep love for many types of music and guitar sounds, including classical, flamenco, folk, latin-american, bossa-nova and jazz, so I like to listen to a particular player's wishes and needs and follow from there.
Bio
I got started in luthery while in my late teens. Interested in the alternative way of life of the artisan, I sought to find viable means to make my livelihood as such. Since I was playing bass, it seemed natural to experiment on my own instrument, and I discovered I had the knack for this sort of work. I began building my collection of tools, some of which I still have. All this time I always had in mind my ultimate goal: to become a luthier. Time has gone by. I completed a certified guitar-making course, followed by an apprenticeship, repair work and construction of classical, steel string and bass guitars. I've spent time with dozens of luthiers of all types, in the United States, Spain, Mexico, Argentina and my native country, Panamá. I continue to read all the books on guitars and luthery that I can get my hands on and I am a member of the Guild of American Luthiers.
All of this cannot replace the fact that one learns to do anything by simply doing it: by experimenting and using one's heart, intellect and creativity to always make the best that one is capable of, and by doing good work that one can be proud of. This is the essence of what it is to be a true artisan and is what I love the most about my work. I seek to combine the beauty of art with all the technique of engineering in my work, drawing from both my knowledge base and my intuition.