Ariel Ameijenda’s new workshop in the Uruguayan native forest

Not only did Ariel receive from his father the art of guitar making, but also love and respect for nature, plants and wildlife.

Ariel has been a lover of nature since his youth, and as he was ever drawn to the countryside, he finally decided 12 yeas ago to move out the urban sprawl of Montevideo to where he lives now between a hill and the sea in the area of Piriápolis.

Recently Ariel heard about a place in the more remote wild hills and forest - 1600 acres of countryside in the interior of the country, called “Las Campanas." It was land that was set aside to be opened to just but a few settlers, with very strict rules about nature conservation. This immediately caught his attention as this is precisely the kind of place his love of nature was drawing him to. He was further surprised when he realized that this was the same area where his parents had taken him many times when he was a child. In these forests he had learned from his father to identify different songs of the bird populations and also to identify the different species of plants and trees.

Ariel feels so connected to this natural place, that he built a house in this magical location, with views of rolling hills and the sounds of singing streams that can be heard from his forest home. And of course he had to include a guitar-making workshop where he can build guitars inspired by the surrounding landscape, and we can’t wait to see what comes of it! The first guitar he will build here is coming to GSI as our next “70th anniversary” model. He used excellent materials, including Alerce for the soundboard and CSA rosewood for the back and sides. The neck is made of Exotic Ebony. In the photos below, you can also see Ariel's updated label.

We are very much looking forward to seeing and hearing what comes out of this tranquil and peaceful place!