1981 José Romanillos "La Golpista" SP/CSAR

This 1981 José Romanillos "La Golpista" No. 587 is a classical guitar in spruce and CSA rosewood from his Semley, Wiltshire, workshop in England – a guitar of the "5" series, with no cracks or repairs.

No. 587, a "5" Series Romanillos

Its label number places it in Romanillos' "5" series – guitars structurally based on Sérgio Abreu's 1930 Hauser I, a series that began in 1973 with Julian Bream's #501.

Sound

This instrument has all the qualities of an exceptional Romanillos – in short, a sweet and lyrical tone with excellent separation. The volume is excellent and yet it's almost "noiseless" – string noise and nail noise are absorbed and not amplified, allowing the notes themselves to sound unhindered.

Classic Romanillos Aesthetic

The guitar has the classic Romanillos aesthetic – the Moorish arches in the headshape and in the mosaic of the rosette. The instrument is a bit on the smaller side, very reminiscent of the classic "Torres" and early Hauser I styles, of which Romanillos is perhaps the greatest champion.

Condition

Condition is excellent, with no cracks or repairs. The finish is original, with only some normal signs of playing wear. Suitable for either performer or collector, a masterpiece from one of the top luthiers of the 20th century.

Orfeo article on José Romanillos

José Luis Romanillos: From Madrid to Semley

José Luis Romanillos Vega (1932–2022) was born in Madrid and at thirteen years of age was apprenticed to a Madrid cabinetmaking firm. In 1956 he moved to England to work in a hospital in Epsom and a few months later in a hospital in London. Five years later he made his first Spanish guitar in London. In 1970 he set up a workshop as a guitar maker in the village of Semley, Wiltshire, encouraged by the English guitarist Julian Bream, and it was here that he built the legendary 1973 guitar that Bream would concertize and record on for many years.

"The Stradivari of the Guitar"

Romanillos guitars have received recognition from guitarists at an international level, including Carlos Bonell, Gilbert Biberian and Antigoni Goni, among many others. The British "Daily Mail" called him "the Stradivari of the guitar" and the Italian magazine "Sei Corde" "the most important living stringed instrument maker".

Author and Teacher

In 1995 he retired from full-time guitar building and moved to Guijosa, Spain – a rural district annexed to Sigüenza, in the northern part of the province of Guadalajara. He published several important books, including his biography and study of Antonio de Torres and a dictionary of stringed musical instrument makers and guitar makers of Spain titled "The Vihuela de Mano and the Spanish Guitar". He also famously and tirelessly gave courses and lectures on Spanish guitar making in numerous countries. José Luis Romanillos died in Sigüenza on February 12, 2022.