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That is a nice workshop and nice to see guys like that still involved in the day to day builds.
I was hoping some luthiers would challenge this guy's practice as more of a "factory".... remember he is famous for the Paco de Lucia model guitar etc... "infamous" I should say.
That is a nice workshop and nice to see guys like that still involved in the day to day builds.
I was hoping some luthiers would challenge this guy's practice as more of a "factory".... remember he is famous for the Paco de Lucia model guitar etc... "infamous" I should say.
Not sure whether the video went out of its way to not show all the workers and just focus on him or not, hard to say without seeing it with your own eyes. There didn't seem to be an overabundance of staff there banging out guitars but who knows if it was posturing for the video or what the real story is. It did have the feel of a smaller workshop environment vs. a larger factory/assembly environment. I think I saw maybe 4-5 other people through the entire video.
It should be obvious from the size of the building, the industrial park location, the amount of wood in stock, etc. that this is much larger than a four or five person operation. The Carrillo operation builds at least a dozen different models of classical and flamenco guitars (and that doesn't include the PdL and Tomatito models) along with a number of versions of bandurrias and laudes. They all seem to be readily available from a number of dealers. (sound familiar? ) Vicente may actually do some hands-on work but my guess is that most of what's going on in that video is just posing. Did anyone besides me think that in the scene where he's supposedly sawing out a top that he doesn't actually appear to be cutting any wood? And why is the blade guide on the saw set so high? The actual gluing/assembly operations in the video are being performed by hands that do not belong to Vicente. Amalia Ramirez likes to do the same sort of thing (posing in the workshop) but I seriously doubt that she actually dirties her dainty digits very often.
Let's say me and 4 or 5 of my friends build 100 guitars a year. It takes 14 to 15 years for the wood to dry as they say. You would need considerable space to store 1500 sets of wood. Makes me envious with so much to choose from! But yes, a small factory maybe.
Actually I inherited #11 from a friend who died, it's a decent guitar. It's light, plays well and is responsive. Plus it has that cool Paco signature on the label ...
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.... remember he is famous for the Paco de Lucia model guitar etc... "infamous" I should say.
I don't understand what all the fuss is about. He has not come out and said he builds all these guitars himself. In fact, he mentions something in the video about having craftsmen that build everything by hand. He runs a large operation with many builders and very little machinery. They build a good guitar. I think the end result is the only thing that matters.
Ah, well I suppose I could get the guitar DNA tested to see if Paco ever really touched it ... I wonder if maybe he licked the label? There's a thought!
I completely get the joke, but seriously that's part of the problem about the guitar is all the kidding about it, It's actually a decent guitar.
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Is it a real signature or a mass produced factory signature?
That's the case with many factory instruments. Now if only the manufacturers and dealers would cool it on the bullsh*t and stop implying that they're something that they aren't.....
Now if only the manufacturers and dealers would cool it on the bullsh*t and stop implying that they're something that they aren't.....
Do you mean like: Guitarras Alhambra: Guitarras de artesanía hechas a mano en España
What about this american guy that buys assembled violins in China, puts his own label in them, varnish them and say that he has fine tuned and improved them?
I think there´s someone doing the same with guitars as well.
(Why is it so that its always the americans capable of improving things from inferior places like China and Spain?)
I doubt that's what he meant, it's more the case where some guitars are just built and play well despite their lineage. Obviously a luthier built instrument will have a lot better track record of good guitars from one to the next, but many guitars that are built by "many" hands still turn out as nice guitars.
It's highly biased to say that just because a guitar comes from other than a small shop, that it's going to be a poor guitar.
In any case, there are TWO things we know Anders doesn't like, and one of them is "factory" guitars ... :)
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Do you mean like: Guitarras Alhambra: Guitarras de artesanía hechas a mano en España
What about this american guy that buys assembled violins in China, puts his own label in them, varnish them and say that he has fine tuned and improved them?
I think there´s someone doing the same with guitars as well.
(Why is it so that its always the americans capable of improving things from inferior places like China and Spain?)
In any case, there are TWO things we know Anders doesn't like, and one of them is "factory" guitars ... :)
Wrong and please stop putting words in my mouth. I have nothing against Factory guitars as long as they are being presented as what they are (Factory guitars)
Is a cheap Alhambra guitar a handmade artesan built guitar or is it a Factory guitar?
Is it ok to buy chinese violins, varnish them and putting your own label in it or is it cheating people.
What about this american guy that buys assembled violins in China, puts his own label in them, varnish them and say that he has fine tuned and improved them?
I think there´s someone doing the same with guitars as well.
It's highly biased to say that just because a guitar comes from other than a small shop, that it's going to be a poor guitar.
Just as there are plenty of decent quality factory guitars there are also numerous instruments from small shops and individual makers, including some of the big names, that are less than stellar. A name or a signature on a label guarantees nothing. A label is just a piece of paper.
While some makers may find it difficult or even impossible to admit, there is always a fair amount of luck involved.
Just as there are plenty of decent quality factory guitars there are also numerous instruments from small shops and individual makers, including some of the big names, that are less than stellar. A name or a signature on a label guarantees nothing. A label is just a piece of paper.
While some makers may find it difficult or even impossible to admit, there is always a fair amount of luck involved.
Totally agree with this. Especially that last part.
Just as there are plenty of decent quality factory guitars there are also numerous instruments from small shops and individual makers, including some of the big names, that are less than stellar. A name or a signature on a label guarantees nothing. A label is just a piece of paper.
While some makers may find it difficult or even impossible to admit, there is always a fair amount of luck involved.
Totally agree with this. Especially that last part.
yep.
Carrillo guitar was pretty good, not real bright and flamenco but a decent instrument.
The one that I owned, which was about 13 years ago, was very well made and the craftsmanship was flawless. It just wasn't as dry and percussive as I like my guitars. I got to play one about 3 years ago that was better than the one I owned so maybe some changes were made.
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