Cómo se fabrican las guitarras españolas

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constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

Cómo se fabrican las guitarras espa...

I just came across this video. It's interesting how they make the sides from veneers.

I worked in a cabinet shop where there was a guillotine like that for cutting veneers. That would be so handy for making purflings.

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Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 1:56:33

Pgh_flamenco

Posts: 1506
Joined: Dec. 5 2007
From: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

So that's what the Conde shop looks like...

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 2:55:57

Stephen Eden

Posts: 914
Joined: Apr. 12 2008
From: UK

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Cool vid. When I first had the thought about becoming a guitar maker I assumed all guitars were built in factories and I would go and find a job in one! Although I am always impressed with machines that are built to do that kind of thing I am more impressed with what I can do myself.

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Classical and Flamenco Guitars www.EdenGuitars.co.uk

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 10:04:05

keith

Posts: 1108
Joined: Sep. 29 2009
From: Back in Boston

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

thanks ethan for posting this video. it would have been interesting to see how they attached the necks to the guitars. i was curious why the workman was putting glue at the tips of the already glued braces. any idea?

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 11:21:21

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Working in this factory looks a lot of fun with a nice family working atmosphere. If they were making well designed, reasonably priced furniture for schools and hospitals I would have even warmer feelings about the place.

However, over at the Admira website (this is the Admira factory I think) we read

Handmade Spanish guitars: your music, our passion. Discover the Admira guitar family

We might have read

Our laminated cosmetically perfect guitars will never split or crack. When you come to sell yours after it has been under the bed for 20 years since the end of your first disappointing week of trying to play it, you will find that it is still as good(?) as new

I invented the second bit. Perhaps I was unfair, but my first guitar was a good piece of furniture but a disappointing musical instrument so my opinion is coloured by unhappy memories.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 12:55:38

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to RobJe)

quote:

Our laminated cosmetically perfect guitars will never split or crack. When you come to sell yours after it has been under the bed for 20 years since the end of your first disappointing week of trying to play it, you will find that it is still as good(?) as new

I invented the second bit. Perhaps I was unfair, but my first guitar was a good piece of furniture but a disappointing musical instrument so my opinion is coloured by unhappy memories.

I think you might be looking at this the wrong way.

In order for you to get what you pay for, lower end guitars are made to be furniture on purpose. That's why even though the CNC machine might be the same, the high end all solid model will have a nice neck and the cheap beater laminated model will have a baseball bat.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 13:08:12

sig

Posts: 296
Joined: Nov. 7 2007
From: Wisconsin

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to RobJe)

quote:

Our laminated cosmetically perfect guitars will never split or crack. When you come to sell yours after it has been under the bed for 20 years since the end of your first disappointing week of trying to play it, you will find that it is still as good(?) as new

I invented the second bit. Perhaps I was unfair, but my first guitar was a good piece of furniture but a disappointing musical instrument so my opinion is coloured by unhappy memories.

That is seriously funny stuff as I can totally relate. My first "flamenco" was a Rodriguez C3F and looking back now I can say it was as dead as a cadaver. I had been playing flamenco about 3 years at the time and I thought it was pretty decent until a more experience player enlighted me to his Eliasson. of course that was over 10 years ago and I've learned a thing or two since then.

I agree with Sr. Martins, you are looking at this the wrong way. Perhaps this is a really just an elaborate ploy to weed out the non hackers right from the get go. If you can't make a go of it playing flamenco on a crappy beginners instrument, what right do you have continuing your journey? You have to suffer for your art you know. This will eliminate all the posers and pretenders right away!!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 15:16:47

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to sig)

quote:

I think you might be looking at this the wrong way.

Perhaps.

My early guitar/furniture buying experience came in 1960 – it was a different world. The second guitar I bought was cheaper. I bought it “new” in Spain from a “reputable” dealer – still in business today. I came to realise later that it was not new – just refinished (tell-tale sweat mark under the varnish) with a new back made from cheap wood. Of course such dishonesty would never be encountered in these modern times!? But it was a joy to play and still is – my son has it.

Although there were plenty of cheap plywood "guitars" in those days it was also possible to buy cheap playable instruments made from solid timbers by people who knew how to do it.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 15:42:02

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to RobJe)

quote:

Although there were plenty of cheap plywood "guitars" in those days it was also possible to buy cheap playable instruments made from solid timbers by people who knew how to do it.

If you had a guitar factory business, how would you differentiate your products and price ranges if everything was great & awesome?

Since you can't produce guitars that are even better than your best guitar, the only solution is to cut on materials, cosmetics, playability, setup, etc.... until you reach the furniture models.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 16:03:42

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

If you had a guitar factory business, how would you differentiate your products and price ranges if everything was great & awesome?

Well you did it by methods that wouldn't be acceptable in the modern age - and I do understand why.

This is how it was done.

- cheap solid timbers for back and sides – cut to maximise the usable timber you could get out of a log - wide and wavy grain – 3 piece backs – don’t worry too much that it might split

- tops made of cheaper wide grained spruce -

- pegs or cheap creaking machine heads

- very simple rosette, no purfling very basic cosmetic details throughout

- finish with a quick spray – make it a nice red colour to cover up the blemishes

- get some guys who know a bit about making guitars (not factory operatives)

- buy a cheap plot of land in Pozuelo de Alarcón and build a shed where guitars can be made

The crazy thing is that most of these guitars were pretty good to play and some of them guitars survived. And they were so cheap!

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 18:01:15

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to RobJe)

quote:

Well you did it by methods that wouldn't be acceptable in the modern age - and I do understand why.

I didn't do a thing, I just described what happens nowadays.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 18:13:52

bernd

Posts: 680
Joined: Feb. 15 2004

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Here is Alhambra:

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REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 20:07:27

RobJe

Posts: 731
Joined: Dec. 16 2006
From: UK

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to Sr. Martins)

quote:

I didn't do a thing, I just described what happens nowadays.

I was just replying to your question that I quoted - make cheap guitars differentiated from the best by being good but disposable rather than cr*p and everlasting

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 20:11:14

Sr. Martins

Posts: 3079
Joined: Apr. 4 2011

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Kremona:

There are a few more from the factory if I remember correctly.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 13 2015 20:11:23

constructordeguitarras

Posts: 1677
Joined: Jan. 29 2012
From: Seattle, Washington, USA

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to keith)

Hi, Keith.

Yeah, I was curious about that glue at the tops of the braces too, and they showed it more than once. I have no idea. Maybe to throw off the competition.

The necks are probably attached with a spline--it would be the easiest and cheapest way and that appears to be what they're into.

_____________________________

Ethan Deutsch
www.edluthier.com
www.facebook.com/ethandeutschguitars
www.youtube.com/marioamayaflamenco
I always have flamenco guitars available for sale.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 14 2015 1:57:58

Joana

Posts: 43
Joined: Jan. 14 2015

RE: Cómo se fabrican las guitarras ... (in reply to constructordeguitarras)

Thanks for posting the videos. I enjoyed the Alhambra video presentation,
as I just purchased an Alhambra guitar this winter.
Lots of love, care, expertise and patience goes into guitar construction.

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Mar. 14 2015 13:27:26