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This afternoon an old friend came by. He had a flamenco guitar from the builder "martin labella" from granada. First I thought he made a joke but it was really on the label.
He seems to be an apprentice of Bellido. It was an awesome guitar. For buleria, tango etc. a much better guitar then my gerundino. It was very fast, vivid and present. And the price was 1250€ ( *!*)
Nobody seems to have the answer so here are a couple of guesses.
First guess Manuel Bellido’s son, Jesús Bellido (full name Jesús Manuel Lopez-Bellido Martín) used to run Andalucian Government funded courses for apprentice guitar makers. One of his pupils was Juan Fabián Labella Manjón (actually they are both about the same age). The ‘Martin Labella’ guitar could be a joint venture.
Second guess Juan Martin and La Bella strings have come up with a great new business project to fill Spain with cheap imported guitars.
You choose! I would be interested to hear if there is an address on the label.
By the way, RobJe thanks for the reply. I will call my friend for some more info on this subject. I asked it here because I thought someone would know the builder(s).
Ok, I woke up this morning and a little bell was ringing.
I´m only 98% sure, so please dont hang me. Its some 4 - 5 years ago since I was in contact with the Bellidos.
Martin la Bella is a fictive name. He doesn´t exist. Its a project and they choosed the name because its easy to recognize. I think I know who might be making the guitars (Juan), but it could be someone else or things might have changed. Its very Spanish, you see it other places. The best example is the famous Hermanos Conde, where you wont know who has made the guitars. Also in many shops they change the names on the label to their own name. Actually I think its illigal and against EU consumer laws. I think we have a right to know who made our products. So maybe Condes should say: Made in Valencia by Sanchiz or the ones making them now.
Never mind, If you like a guitar, its a good guitar and if you dont mind the storys, go for a wrong label one. The problem is that if you order it without trying it, it could be made by someone else but with the same label on, this way you would be buying a completely different product without knowing.
I´m pretty sure you all know what I think about these stories, but if you want to know more about Martin La Bella, you could contact Manuel, Jesus or Miguel Angel Bellido and ask them. You can use my information, but please keep me out of this. I´m not into storys and I like reality the way it is.
Wow Anders, you make this sound like a very sleezy thing.
The builder was very open as far as I know. He said he was an apprentice from bellido. The 1250€ model was a student model. He also made 1A models for much higher prices. It was not a bellido copy as far as I know. Just a bellido-like guitar. Thin body, thin neck.
But I try to gather some more info. You'll hear from me.
If its sleezy or not, depends on you. Some call it culture.
If it was Juan who made the guitar, he´s a nice guy. But why call it Martín La Bella when you have a good traditional name like Juan? I will never understand these things.
I was trying to suggest in my first email that it was a combination of one name of Jesus (Martin) and another one of Juan (Labella). They have such long names, breaking all the Spanish rules. If so, this seems to be a pretty open way of constructing a trade name - a bit like Pedro de Miguel. Rob
Isn't there a line of guitar's out there labeled "Marcelino Barbero", that were made in Japan for a Chicago area guitar shop, that sells them at super high prices, because people don't know there isn't a Marcelino Barbero. :)
But when the shop is on Chicago's most expensive street, the assumption is "These must be fine guitars from Spain!"
Actually the music shop you speak of is Sherry-Brener Ltd in Chicago. He has a location on Michigan Ave. The line of guitars is called "Hernandis" which sounds muy Espanol however I believe they were constructed in Japan in the late 60's and early 70's. I have actually played one of these instruments and its not bad but a 1A model lists for $6,000 which is IMHO too much for a "factory" guitar. I don't recall what the label said about origin of construction. I know Jim Sherry and have visited his Mich Ave shop a number of times and he is very interesting to talk to about many of flamenco and classical guitar luminary's; he's met most of them during his time and has the pictures to prove it. My understanding is that he had a falling out with the Ramirez shop over the "re-labeling" of some of the instruments but I'll let you make your own decisions on that issue... Sig--
I have an office 4 blocks from there, so I have visited occasionally. He's actually a very nice man, makes you want to buy a guitar! Tom Nunez clued me in, and I did some searching around, and indeed there once was a line labeled Marcelino Barbero. Which if you try hard you might just be able to buy one ...
My friend bought the guitar at a shop called "la guitarreria" on the Calle Navas 22 in Granada. Few years ago it was still THE Bellido shop he said. Miguel was behind the counter. They still sell Bellido's.
Something must have happened 'cause the shop vanished from Bellido's official web-site.
P.s. Despite the fuzzy stories my friend is very happy with his guitar.
Thats the shop where I worked for a year or so. And it was owned by Miguel Angel Bellido.... I tried a couple of guitars with the name of Martin La Bella. They were made by "Juan" (cant remember the lat name.) Its 4 to 5 years ago... and I have no idea if the shop still exist or not.
It was some idea of making a concept guitar etc for a good price, that someone else could make if necessary.. etc. I personally dont understand a thing about these stories.
One of the guitars I tried was very nice. Maybe thats the one your friend has. When did he buy it?
Hi, I'm guitarmaker, sorry, my English is very bad. I've come across a reference to Labella Martin guitars, and I have the answer to the question. I know who is the guitar maker....
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