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Marcelino López, with more than a half-century of
experience, is one of Spain's most respected and
accomplished guitar makers.
He is one of only five living Spanish makers included on Summerfield's
list of the finest guitar makers since 1800. Like many luthiers
in Spain, Marcelino worked as a cabinet maker before entering his current profession. He
was drawn into making guitars, because he was studying with Daniel Fortea,
and wanted a fine guitar, but could not afford one. Unlike many makers, he is a fine guitarist,
and still performs. Although, he confesses that as a luthier he is largely
self-taught, he
worked for a time carving head stocks for Hernandez y Aguado, and he informally learned much
the theory of his craft from the widow of Santos Hernandez, and from his nephew Santos
Bayon in whose workshop he hung out regularly as did many of the leading musicians of the
time. He established his own workshop in Madrid in 1949. Marcelino López is one of the few builders in Madrid
that was never influenced by the large body instruments of the Ramirez school, and
continues to build a more traditional instrument. His guitars have a soulful Spanish
character. Because he uses well aged woods (for example the spruce he is currently using
for tops has been drying 20 to 25 years) his guitars have a rich, clear, open sound that
one associates with aged spruce top guitars. Marcelino is a complete luthier, and makes
not only fine classical and flamenco guitars, but historic guitars and ancient
instruments. |