Story of a guitar

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Story of a guitar

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Guest

Story of a guitar

Hola

In 1972, Mario Melero of San Fernando made a beautiful guitar: cypress, spruce, pegs and a wonderfully thin and fast neck. It was bought by El Niño de los Rizos, the most famous gaditano guitarist of the time, who toured with Caracol and Melchor and was later sought out by Paco de Lucía.

He swopped it for a Conde from Manolo de Ceuta, who was then playing first guitar in the cuadro of the Peña Mellizo.

Manolo sold it to El Niño de la Leo, an ordinary guitarist but good businessman.

El Niño lent it to me and during a juerga to celebrate the Christmas concerts of our villancicos group, Toma Castaña, he fell in love with a guitar of mine, made by Rafael Lopez. As a result, I offered to swop the Lopez for the Melero and he accepted.

Some time later, one of Cadiz’s best young guitarists, Oscar Lago, was in my house and played the Melero. He liked it so much that I lent it to him. Then he phoned me and asked me to sell it. At first I refused because I love it too, but my policy is to help young flamencos and I do not like guitars to gather dust in the hands of collectors. So I said yes and he sold his Conde to pay for it. Now he is playing a guitar which is considerably older than himself!

Which caused me to think that we are not owners of our guitars, merely caretakers: some of them will be played long after we are gone.

Suerte

Sean

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 3 2008 3:28:39

Kate

Posts: 1827
Joined: Jul. 8 2003
From: Living in Granada, Andalucía

RE: Story of a guitar (in reply to Guest)

Nice story Sean, reminded me of that novel 'Accordian Crimes' where the narrator follows the fortunes and misfortunes of the families who become custodians of an old accordian over the decades.

Kate

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Emilio Maya Temple
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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 3 2008 3:45:49

mark indigo

Posts: 3625
Joined: Dec. 5 2007

RE: Story of a guitar (in reply to Kate)

In about 1997 or 8 I bought a guitar in the UK which says on the label it was made by Mañuel Fernandez Fernandez, Hospital Santa Ana 12, Granada. I don't know anything about it, or the maker. Can anyone fill me in?!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Oct. 3 2008 6:59:36