Juan Fregenal is a Spanish guitar maker based in Granada, known for traditional Spanish-style flamenco and classical guitars, and winner of First Prize for flamenco guitar at the 2025 Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition.
At a Glance
- Workshop: Granada, Spain
- Trained at: the Chacón School of Luthiery
- Style: traditional Spanish construction, with influences from the modern Granada school
- Award: First Prize, flamenco guitar, eighth Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Making Competition (2025); his classical guitar was also a finalist
From Electric Guitar to the Spanish Guitar
Like many of his generation, Juan Fregenal came to music in his early teens through the electric guitar. He learned to play solos and blues, and eventually to improvise in jazz, joining jam sessions with his musician friends. Over time, he realized that what he loved most was the acoustic sound of the guitar itself: the sensation of direct contact with vibrating wood and the feeling it gives. That naturally led him to the traditional Spanish guitar.
A Curiosity About Sound
As Juan tried different guitars, he grew curious about how luthiers control so many variables, from tonal color and articulation to dynamic range and responsiveness. Wanting to pursue his own ideas about these things, he enrolled in a guitar-making course at the Chacón School of Luthiery, where he built his first guitar. He then set up his own workshop in Granada.
Lessons from Historic Guitars
In Granada, Juan befriended a local and very passionate collector who has allowed him to study the instruments in his collection. This has deepened Juan's appreciation and love for the sound of the guitar, particularly historic, vintage, and traditional instruments. They have become the source of the qualities he seeks in his own work: delicacy balanced with great character, leaving plenty of room for the musician's own ideas, without an obsession with excess volume. He has also found great camaraderie with fellow Granada luthier Francisco Jiménez, himself an award winner at the Granada competition, spending many hours together visiting and talking about the mysteries of the guitar.
First Prize in Granada
After several years devoted to his craft, Juan won first prize for his flamenco guitar at the prestigious eighth Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Making Competition in Granada, Spain, in July/August 2025. His classical guitar was also a finalist.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where does Juan Fregenal build his guitars? In his own workshop in Granada, Spain.
What awards has Juan Fregenal won? First Prize for flamenco guitar at the 2025 Antonio Marín Montero International Guitar Making Competition in Granada, where his classical guitar was also a finalist.
Does Juan Fregenal make flamenco or classical guitars? Both. He builds largely in the traditional Spanish style, and his flamenco and classical guitars were both recognized in Granada in 2025.
