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This historic shop was established by Domingo Esteso (1882-1937)
one of this century's greatest guitar makers. Domingo Esteso began his career in the
workshop of Manuel Ramirez (1884-1916). He opened his own shop in 1915. Faustino Conde
Salamana was born in Villalba de los Alcores in 1913. He began his apprenticeship with his
uncle in when he was only 13. When Domingo Esteso died in 1937, Faustino and his brothers
Mariano and Julio Conde took over their uncle's workshop in Madrid, continuing to work for
their uncle's widow until her death in 1960. The Conde brothers established their
reputations as master guitar makers, building guitars for such great flamenco players as
Sabicas and Paco de Lucia. Mariano died in 1989. Faustino died in 1988 and Julio in
1995. The original Esteso-Conde shop currently is run by Faustino's widow. The
shop not only still occupies the same building, but their master craftsmen
continue to build the same models that made the Conde name famous. |