Manuel Arango (born 1994) is a Swiss classical and flamenco guitar maker based in Zurich. In 2025 he won First Prize for classical guitar and Second Prize for flamenco guitar at the 8th Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain, with guitars whose bracing goes back to a 1930s Santos Hernández and the fan braces of Antonio de Torres. GSI is Manuel's exclusive dealer in the USA.
At a Glance
- Born: 1994, Zurich, Switzerland
- Nationality: Swiss (Swiss mother, Colombian father)
- Workshop: Zurich, since 2022
- Building since: 2015
- Training: Westsächsische Hochschule, Markneukirchen, 2016–2021
- Title: Master craftsman
- Builds: Classical and flamenco guitars
- Prizes: 1st Prize classical and 2nd Prize flamenco, Granada 2025
- US dealer: GSI (exclusive)
A Swiss Guitar Maker with Colombian Roots
Manuel Arango was born in 1994 in Zurich, Switzerland, to a Swiss mother and a Colombian father. Music was always present in their household, and through his parents Manuel developed an interest in making music at a very early age. Encouraged by his father's love of Latin American music, he started playing classical guitar at age 9. As a teenager he became interested in woodworking, and he found the point where his two passions met in the art of guitar building.
Manuel's older brother, Lucas, is a professional flamenco guitarist. Since Manuel began to delve into guitar making in 2015, the two brothers have regularly exchanged ideas and worked together on instruments that suit the needs of high-level classical and flamenco players, with the focus on quality of sound, playability and classy aesthetics. Manuel's current models are the latest step in this ongoing process.
Studies in Markneukirchen and a Workshop in Zurich
After building his first instruments in Switzerland, Manuel moved to Germany, where he studied from 2016 to 2021 at the Westsächsische Hochschule in Markneukirchen, graduating with a degree in musical instrument design and building as well as the title of master craftsman. His graduation paper was on Islamic art and design in classical guitars. In 2022 he set up his own workshop in Zurich, where he has built guitars under his own name ever since.
Bracing, Rosettes and Influences
Manuel uses the same basic design for his classical and flamenco guitars. The top has seven fans arranged symmetrically, while the lower harmonic bar is tilted to shorten the treble side, which makes the system asymmetric. The idea comes from a 1930s Santos Hernández he examined during his university studies, and his fans follow the Torres style, though over the years he has made them slightly narrower and taller. The flamencos get thinner tops and a few small adjustments of their own.
For his rosettes and marquetry Manuel has studied Mudéjar art and architecture in Spain and Islamic art in general, always looking for a sense of "flow" in the mosaic. Color matters greatly to him, and the color theory of the Swiss expressionist painter Johannes Itten has been a big influence. His plantilla and headstock come from the Spanish and French traditions – most notably Torres, Daniel Friederich, Dominique Field and Santos Hernández.
First Prize in Granada
At the 8th Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada (July 30 – August 1, 2025), Manuel won First Prize in the classical guitar category and Second Prize in the flamenco guitar category. Both prize-winning guitars came to GSI.
FAQ
Where is Manuel Arango's workshop?
In Zurich, Switzerland, where he has built under his own name since 2022.
What prizes has Manuel Arango won?
First Prize (classical) and Second Prize (flamenco) at the 8th Antonio Marín Montero competition in Granada, 2025.
Does Manuel Arango build flamenco guitars?
Yes – classical and flamenco guitars on the same basic design, with thinner tops for the flamencos.
Where can I buy a Manuel Arango guitar in the USA?
GSI is Manuel's exclusive dealer in the USA.
Manuel's prize-winning guitars from Granada were our first from him, and we look forward to many more. 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.
