2002 José Marín Plazuelo "Bouchet" SP/CSAR

Made in Granada, Spain, in 2002, this José Marín Plazuelo "Bouchet" classical guitar pairs a spruce top with a striking CSA rosewood back and sides and has no damage or repairs.

José Marín Plazuelo: Light, Small-Bodied Guitars

At anywhere near this price, few makers in the world are as fine or as consistent as José, in our opinion. His instruments pair outstanding tonal qualities with expert craftsmanship and great attention to detail – and they are just plain fun to play. They follow in the tradition of Santos and Barbero, being very light and fairly small bodied.

The Marín "Bouchet" Bracing

As the name says, this is the "Bouchet" model, nearly identical to the one made by José’s well-known uncle, Antonio Marín Montero. It has the lighter 5-fan bracing and the "under bridge" brace, which lets the top flex more freely while staying structurally stable. Done properly, as in this Marín/Plazuelo system, it greatly widens the dynamic range and the tone modulation of the guitar. The French luthier Robert Bouchet, a friend and colleague of Antonio Marín, first used it, and many consider it one of the great innovations of the 20th century.

Playability and Condition

Playability is a dream, and the materials are superb, including a stunning piece of CSA rosewood for the back and sides. Condition is excellent, with only some minor wear – no repairs or damage. It has been fitted with a small endpin at the bottom as well. Simply put, Plazuelo is one of the top Spanish luthiers, and this guitar represents an excellent value for the price.

Read more: Orfeo Magazine No. 8 – The Granada School

José Marín Plazuelo: Nephew of Antonio Marín Montero

José Marín Plazuelo was born in Granada on June 13, 1960. He is the nephew of Antonio Marín Montero. In 1974, when he was just 14 years old, he started working alongside his uncle, where he and José González López learned how to build instruments. From the very beginning, José’s uncle praised his nephew’s work.

Traditional Spanish Guitars from Granada

José follows Antonio Marín’s technique and makes his guitars in the traditional Spanish way. For fifty years he made his own guitars in the Marín family workshop, beside his uncle, one of the most prestigious luthiers in the world. When Antonio retired in 2024 and closed the workshop, José and José González López moved to the center of Granada, where they now work out of Callejón Molino de San Martín 14.

José’s classical guitars are mainly inspired by the experience acquired from his uncle, while his flamenco guitars are similar to those of Francisco Simplicio (1874–1932), the legendary guitar maker from Catalonia. In 2017 José sat on the jury of the first Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, the contest that carries his uncle’s name.