VICENTE ARBOLADO

[NGiorgio]

Has anyone heard of the guitars of Vicente Arbolado, from Spain? Could this be another imaginary luthier?

These guitars seemed to pop up overnight on both ebay and a west coast dealer's website. (not GSI)

C.Vega, any opinions?

[C. Vega]

When I see someone hawking a line of otherwise inknown guitars on eBay it always sends up a red flag.
I did a quick Google search and saw the guitars. I'm also always suspicious when the label simply says "Espana" or "Made in Spain". Legitimate luthiers almost always include the city or town where their taller is located and often the street address as well, even on the student models that they have made for them.
In looking at the photos I noticed that even the highest priced models are sporting rather cheesy quality tuners. The dealer's site says that they're Fusteros and they may well be but Fustero makes an El Cheapo line as well as the good stuff.
And if a stateside dealer is retailing them at those prices after paying shipping charges, broker's fees, duty, etc. you can bet that they didn't come from any individual luthier's shop.
I could find no mention of a luthier named Vicente Arbolado in any of my reference sources. The name is probably a fake.

That said, they may still be a decent enough guitar, probably comparable to the tens of thousands of them out there in the same price range(s) that are made every year.
My guess is that they're made by one of the big manufacturers with a few cosmetic changes to distinguish them from the others. It's a very common practice. If you order enough of them you can have them made with your headstock design and name on them.
The blurb on the dealer's site is pretty much the standard hype used by numerous others. A lot of blather that really tells you nothing.

[NGiorgio]

I noticed the cheap tuners, and lack of an address on the label. The lifetime warranty certainly raises a red flag as well.

The legacy of Jim Sherry is alive and well ....... and that's a shame.

[mike.m]

I have not found that name on the lists:

http://www.delcamp.net/liens/luthiers.htm
http://www.worldguitarist.com/luthiers.html

Would you have a link or address or some other contact details?

mike.m

[keith]

nick and c.vega: arbolado? notice anything about the first 4 letters? arbo as in tree/woods. arbolado is spanish for wooded grove. sounds to me like a made up name: vincent woods or would that be vincent's woody?

the tieblock and rosette have a ricardo sanchez look to them.

[NGiorgio]

It is definitely another made up name. I am familiar with the dealer who is selling them.

Anybody can get those rosettes.

Vincent's woody? Don't know if that dealer would be quite that creative, but you never know.

[Pepe Vergara]

It is definitely another made up name. I am familiar with the dealer who is selling them.

Anybody can get those rosettes.

Vincent's woody? Don't know if that dealer would be quite that creative, but you never know.
Somthing like Antonio Loriente?

[Jubilee Valence]

...in "D" on the G.H. model..."I once met a girl,' showed me her 'goody'-Norwegian WOODY..."---RUN LIKE HELL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NGiorgio]

Now, that is creative ......... and very funny.

[NGiorgio]

Pepe,

GSI has been upfront about the Loriente line.

The dealer selling the Arbolado guitars has a very different approach which is very misleading.