The Bellido Workshop is one of the great family workshops of Granada, Spain, founded in 1957 by Manuel López Bellido, a pupil of Eduardo Ferrer. Today Manuel and his sons Jesús and Mauricio each build classical and flamenco guitars by hand, and together with Antonio Marín Montero the family is regarded as one of the founders of the modern Granada school. Manuel's brother, José López Bellido (1943–2024), learned the craft here before opening his own separate workshop in the city.
The Bellido Workshop at a Glance
- Workshop: Granada, Spain
- Founded: 1957, by Manuel López Bellido
- Manuel's teacher: Eduardo Ferrer
- Makers today: Manuel, Jesús and Mauricio Bellido
- Family: José López Bellido (1943–2024), Manuel's brother, who had his own workshop
- Manuel's pupils: his brother José, his sons Jesús and Mauricio, and many Granada makers
- Builds: classical and flamenco guitars, entirely by hand
- Featured in: Orfeo Magazine No. 8, The Granada School
Manuel López Bellido and the Founding of the Workshop
The story of the Bellido Workshop began in 1957, when Manuel López Bellido started building guitars under the guidance of the Granada master Eduardo Ferrer, who helped him through his first years of making string instruments. Over the following decades Manuel passed on his passion and knowledge, teaching his brother José and, later, his own sons Jesús and Mauricio – along with a good part of a whole generation of Granada luthiers.
Montero-Bellido: The Partnership with Antonio Marín Montero
Antonio Marín Montero and Manuel López Bellido are regarded as the two leading founders of today's Granada school – and what is not so well known is that they began their full-time professional careers together. In 1960 the two set up shop as partners, building guitars at first under various "house" brand names, and later under their own names as well as jointly under the "Montero-Bellido" label, much like Hernández y Aguado in Madrid. A whole generation of younger makers passed through their doors as apprentices, including Rafael Moreno Rodríguez, José López Bellido, Paco Santiago Marín, Juan Miguel Carmona and José Marín Plazuelo, and their guitars attracted the attention of players such as Regino Sainz de la Maza, Sabicas, Paco de Lucía and Diego del Gastor.
José López Bellido (1943–2024)
Manuel's brother José learned to build guitars in the family workshop, with advice from Eduardo Ferrer, before setting up his own separate workshop on Gomérez, the street that climbs up to the Alhambra. He became one of Granada's most respected makers of flamenco and classical guitars and the teacher of Antonio Raya Pardo – you can read his full story on his own page.
Jesús and Mauricio Bellido
Manuel's sons both grew up in the workshop, and today they build alongside their father. Jesús Bellido began working there as a young teenager and within a few years was building guitars under his own name; he is known and respected for traditional, small-bodied classical and flamenco guitars, typical of the Granada school, as well as for his tributes to Antonio de Torres.
Mauricio Bellido also learned the craft from his father and builds his own guitars in the family tradition. Together, Manuel, Jesús and Mauricio run the Bellido Workshop today.
Handmade in Granada
Every Bellido guitar is made entirely by hand, from the careful selection of the wood to the final setup of the strings. Each member of the family builds his own guitars individually, but all follow the same principles of quality, precision and dedication – the deeply handcrafted approach that has made the Bellido name one of the most respected in the Granada school, and that has carried the city's guitar-making tradition around the world.
The Bellidos in Orfeo Magazine
Orfeo Magazine No. 8 – The Granada School
The Bellido family is featured in this issue on the makers of the Granada school.
Bellido Guitars at GSI
Many Bellido guitars have passed through our doors over the years. You'll find guitars currently in stock by clicking the "Guitars In Stock" button in the header of this page as well as earlier examples in our Museum by clicking the "Guitars In Museum" button.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Bellido Workshop?
Manuel López Bellido, who began building guitars in Granada in 1957 under the guidance of Eduardo Ferrer.
Who builds Bellido guitars today?
Manuel Bellido and his sons Jesús and Mauricio, each building his own guitars by hand.
Was José López Bellido part of the Bellido Workshop?
José (1943–2024) was Manuel's brother and learned the craft from him, but he had his own separate workshop on Gomérez in Granada.
