Jorge Lay Herrera was born in Mexico City and as a young boy traveled the country extensively with his father, who played guitar, but made his living by buying and selling wood. Very auspicious beginning for a young guitar maker, especially since at a young age he was meeting woodworking artisans of all kinds - cabinetmakers, woodcarvers, carpenters, even visits to piano and furniture factories, to whom his father was a wood supplier. His studies eventually led him to degrees in Psychology and a Masters degree, his thesis being done on the classical guitar. He also took on apprenticeships in various workshops including Juan Hernández Trujillo (Xalapa, Veracruz), José Luis Navarro García (Paracho Michoacán) and his brother Francisco, Miguel Moreno (Mexico City), all highly respected luthiers in Mexico. Jorge then set up as a luthier in 1989 and has since built a wide range of instruments: classical and flamenco guitars, requintos for romantic popular music, guitars of various sizes or dimensions, Cuban Tres, Cajons, Bongos and others.
This guitar, traditionally built with a 7-fan strutting system and Bouchet-esque cross brace under the bridge has a sturdy build, and even has an ebony reinforced neck. It has a thick, bold sound with excellent balance and impressive sustain. It is made with lovely materials including a dramatic set of cocobolo for the back and sides and a flair for decorative elements, particularly in the top purfling and rosette. There were two small repairs done recently to the top by GV Rubio (no cleats, only a bit of glue) who also touched up the finish, which has a nice "matte" quality to it. Very good value for a handmade instrument by a very experienced maker.
