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.
Hi, I just got a new guitar - it has a Jose Lopez Bellido label inside, no signature. I know of other guitars (namely, Alhambras) sold with that label, but this is a different one altogether. It's clear the guitar was not made by the master luthier - I was told that is is a product of one of his students, however I doubt it. The guitar is decent, I got it in a trade, but I'm still curious - can you help me identify it?
The top is solid cedar, back and sides are cypress (can't verify if solid). I will be grateful for any ideas.
I was told it was made (or at least purchased) in Granada, in 1993.
Images are resized automatically to a maximum width of 800px
RE: Help in guitar identification (in reply to szyroki)
Did you get this guitar on Ebay? Seem to remember one recently that resembled it.
My guess would be, judging by the bridge, headstock and what appears to be a rosewood fretboard, that this may have come from Raimundo or Aparicio shops. If I remember correctly, Raimundo and Aparicio were partners for a while and then went their separate ways. The back and sides look like they could be Alaskan yellow cedar, AKA as Canadian cypress, maybe sycamore.
RE: Help in guitar identification (in reply to szyroki)
I see. You could try contacting both of the companies I mentioned and with the photos, they may be able to give you more details. After looking at your photos again, it appears to me that the top may be spruce. Anyway, enjoy the guitar. Look into obtaining some peg dope to make the pegs turn easier. You could also visit a local violin shop to have some adjustments made to the pegs so they will work better.
RE: Help in guitar identification (in reply to szyroki)
Thanks, I might do that. The top is almost certainly cedar, unless it's tinted. I had a spruce tope acoustic and it was much lighter. Although, age and/or tint may be deceiving me.
I think I will contact Jose Lopez Bellido's shop too, maybe they will provide some information.
RE: Help in guitar identification (in reply to szyroki)
I had a José Lopez-Bellido flamenca blanca with wooden pegs which I bought 1983 in Garanada at José Lopez-Bellido's workshop from the master personally.
It was a very nice flamenca, but I was stupid and sold it. The only thing that makes me a bit uncertain is the head shape; i doesn't look like the typical José L-B heads, he has (or better, had, because he stopped to work) quite a distinct own shape.
But yours might be an economy model, also looking at the picture with the sound hole, my guitar was much more finely made, and had an ebony fretboard, whereas this one seems to have a rosewood fretbard and it is a bit coarse at the end.
Maybe it is made by someone who worked in his workshop under his name and tutelage?
_____________________________
Music is a big continent with different lascapes and corners. Some of them I do visit frequently, some from time to time and some I know from hearsay only ...
A good musical instrument is one that inspires one to express as free as possible
RE: Help in guitar identification (in reply to szyroki)
It looks to me like one of Bellidos "Kit Guitars." It is basically built in the workshop of Bellido by an aprentice or one of the family but the back and sides, fingerboard and top are pre cut and ready to assemble. This is a technique that some workshops use to be able to produce a "hand made" guitar but at a cheap price. The bindings are not that accurate and the fingerboard is rosewood. The rosette is probably Bellido though. However if its set up Ok it should comfortable to play. I have bought some of these types of guitars for students and some have sounded almost as good as the higher end models.
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