Andalucia, the home of Flamenco guitar and indeed the place of my ancestry, has left a deep impression on me. In fact, my first guitar was a Cypress body Flamenca with bar frets and wooden pegs. I like both the old type and the more modern Flamencas, so I have built Marcelo Barbero, Gerundino Fernandez, Manuel Reyes, and Maldonado copies as well as my own design which is suitable for stage amplification.
I choose my Cypress from Spain and like it matched to both Spruce and Cedar. The combination of Cedar top and Cypress back and sides makes for a very bright and “Duende” sounding guitar. For a more modern sound, a “Negra”, made with a Rosewood body, adds more color to the sound and provides some sustain. The use of geared mechanical pegs adds a touch of originality and makes the Cedar neck lighter, desirable for a traditional Flamenco.
My Flamencas are world-class and are played by many well-known players.
