Welcome to one of the most active flamenco sites on the Internet. Guests can read most posts but if you want to participate click here to register.
This site is dedicated to the memory of Paco de Lucía, Ron Mitchell, Guy Williams, Linda Elvira, Philip John Lee, Craig Eros, Ben Woods, David Serva and Tom Blackshear who went ahead of us.
We receive 12,200 visitors a month from 200 countries and 1.7 million page impressions a year. To advertise on this site please contact us.
Good morrow chaps, Long ago and far away, I bought a peghead guitar for about four shillings and sixpence! The label inside says it was made by RAFAEL MORALES, and the date says 1970. Any body know anything him or his guitars? Cheers from sunny Hull!
One of my first guitars was by Rafeal Morales and I think he may have been from Granada. I can't remember to much but I think that it was sweet but without much attack and soft in bass. But as we know guitars are not all the same so yours may be much more exciting
It is possible that Morales never became very famous.
Tomas and Anders, Thanks for very much for your posts, at least I now know something about this guitar maker. The guitar itself sounds just the way you describe yours Tomas, but for some strange reason it is also my favourite, and the one I play the most.
Yes, Rafael Morales, the luthier with the long beard from Granada. Some of his newer top of the line models are jus't a dream in terms of workmanship and highly decorated with multiple purflings. The back features a piece of highly figured maple in between two parts of indian rosewood. I own the book "guitarreros de andalucía" and the book features an article about this luthier with some awesome pictures of his guitars. I have never had the privilege to personally get one of his guitars even in front of my eyes and even less in my hands (as with most other famous brands) but his guitars are alluring to me at least in terms of their visual attractiveness.
Hi. I bought one from RM himself in 1973 when I was staying in Granada. I bought a Manuel de la Chica Garcia classical at the same time. Turns out both of them died about a year later. The Morales is a very good guitar -- extremely low action, very fast, and quite loud with high tension strings. Cedar top, which I guess was unusual back then. It has an old-fashioned look -- cypress face on the peghead, and a white golpeador. I also own a Chica blanca (1967 -- an earlier trip). The Chica is by far better, and I used the Morales for a "banger" for a long time. I'm probably going to sell it now that I have bought a Salvador Castillo.
Morales taught guitar as well as making them. I believe he had a book out with flamenco in tablature and notation.
Printable Version
New Messages
No New Messages
Hot Topic w/ New Messages
Hot Topic w/o New Messages
Locked w/ New Messages
Locked w/o New Messages
Post New Thread