Félix Manzanero
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Felix Manzanero was born in Madrid in 1937. He had
learned a little about guitar making from Modesto Borreguero-- who
been trained by Manuel Ramirez-- and was a friend of the family. So, at the age of 14,
when he learned that the Ramirez shop was looking for someone, he applied.
He began his apprenticeship under José Ramirez II (1885-1957) doing
varnishing and building bandurrias, and working along side Alfonso Benito
and José Ramirez III, the only others in the shop. He recounts how he secretly
made his first guitar out of scraps of wood he saved. When Ramirez saw it,
he was impressed, and then allowed Felix to build guitars, eventually
promoting him to a master craftsman. After 12 years there, he started his own
business and workshop.
Felix Manzanero is one of the foremost builders of the Madrid School. His guitars have won such prestigious prizes as First Place in Acoustics in the Concurso Internacional de Maestros Guitarreros in Tarbes, France in 1989. Manzanero is mentioned as among the best builders in Spain in books by Cano, Evans, Mairants, Morish, and Urlik. I would concur. (References) His guitars are made completely by hand using the finest quality of woods. The wood used for making his finest quality guitars are at least 25 years old, giving them a special sound and guaranteeing they won't crack or warp. After the wood is chosen for the instrument, it is then treated with special care in his own dryers for two years. |
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