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Spain traditionally has never cracked down on putting things like "hecho a mano". There's millions of factory guitars from Spain that say this on them. It could be from anyone one of the MANY guitar factories in Valencia, the region is famous for it and you can see it was "made for" J. Romero, not "made by" J. Romero. I doubt you could track down where J. Romero likes to have his guitars made. If it was an actual luthier made instrument it would more likely have a signature.
I follow what you are saying. Thanks Seems like I won't be able to find out much. ( ie price/ value) On a different note even if handmade does not exclude the use of factory machines.... " artesania " does ; sounds a bit fraudolent at that point... anyhow thanks folks
Factory doesn't mean it is NOT hand made....it means "parts made separately and assembled by MANY different hands belonging to individuals with differing political views".....more or less.
That's a good point, my mom worked in a sewing factory in the garmant district and would sew custom dresses on the side. Both places it was just her hands and a sewing machine. Only difference is at work she sewed one thing a thousand times instead of A thousand things one time.
I heard a thing on the radio about it recently. It's argued well then if they do it 1,000 times a day they should be really good at it right?? Not really, they just get really fast and efficient, not "better". It's proven that the more steps your involved with the more you care about tge quality of the final outcome.
If a luthier as a few helpers and/or is mainly supervising the whole process, is it not a luthier made instrument anymore? Where should we draw the line?
Good question sr. martins, I have offered a few opinions over the years on this but it is clear that each person needs to draw their own line. The question becomes what should we do with the fraudsters that lie? As long as they tell the truth, each client can decide for himself. Yes, I made this guitar by myself. I have 30 employees making the guitars. I buy the guitars in Valencia and change the label. It would be lovely to hear these honest words from a few people.
On another note: The Valencian law (only in Valencia) defines artesania as a business with a maximum of 20 employees (not including family relations). So you can have as many family members working and up to 20 additional employees and you are still making the guitars "by hand" no matter what the process. 21 employees and you can no longer use the word artesania or artesano (craftsman).
Once a professional guitarist asked me to accompany him to Sanchez in Valencia to buy a guitar. The idea was that I should evaluate the quality of construction, wood, sound etc, while he would evaluate comfort and playability.
I rejected 18 of 20 guitars and left him two real gems to evaluate. He bought the guitar with media luna, though I would have bought the other.
But these are excellent people who are not trying to engañar: not every guitar comes out the same. Remember that Ricardo was a compañero de Faustino.
I would have no problem buying a guitar from these people, just as I had no problem in rejecting a guitar by Reyes Hijo, though I would have to try them or order one handmade by Ricardo.
This family is honesta y simpática: should I ever visit Valencia again, I would invite them for tapas.
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