1987 Miguel Rodríguez SP/HR

This 1987 Miguel Rodríguez is a spruce and Honduran rosewood classical guitar made in Córdoba, Spain, by Miguel Rodríguez Jr. and his son Pepe – a powerful concert instrument from the workshop’s best-known period.

A 1987 Miguel Rodríguez Classical Guitar from Córdoba

This is a first-rate guitar from one of the most revered workshops of the 20th century. Miguel Rodríguez instruments are played by numerous concert players around the world, most notably the Romero family, who have been using Miguel Rodríguez guitars since the late 1950s.

Power and Playability

It has enormous power, excellent sustain and a very fast attack (like a flamenco). It’s also very easy to play – partly thanks to the slender, comfortable neck shape, and partly to its shorter scale, which is rare for Rodríguez. The setup is optimal, and not just for the left hand: the guitar is so energetic and powerful that it’s very easy on the right hand as well.

Condition

Apart from two well-repaired (and book-matched) cracks in the upper bout of the back, the guitar is in excellent condition for its age.

With its quality (and quantity) of sound, superb playability and unmatched aesthetic beauty, this is an extremely exciting instrument to own and play – for collector and performer alike.

The Rodríguez Family of Córdoba

The classical and flamenco guitars of Miguel Rodríguez have been the favorite pick of many leading concert artists, most notably all members of the Romero family. In actuality, when speaking of Miguel Rodríguez, one is really making reference to a family of four guitar builders spanning three generations, all working in Córdoba – deep in Andalucía, the region of southern Spain that gave birth to the modern Spanish guitar in the person of Antonio de Torres.

Four Makers, Three Generations

The workshop was founded by Miguel Beneyto Rodríguez (1888–1975, also known as “Miguel Sr.”). His twin sons, Rafael Rodríguez Serrano (1921–1965) and Miguel Rodríguez Serrano (1921–1998, also known as “Miguel Jr.”), worked alongside him, followed by Miguel Jr.’s son, José Rodríguez Álamo (1949–1996, also known as “Pepe”). The guitars of Miguel Sr. were lightly built and small-to-medium-bodied, with a very expressive, lyrical and singing quality to the sound and overwhelming projection. As the twins rose to prominence in the 1950s and 1960s, the guitars evolved into a more consistent, streamlined style with larger bodies, still quite lightweight. The later period of Miguel Jr. and Pepe (1970s–1998) – the time of the “Churchdoor” and the decorated “Centenario” guitars – is perhaps the best known, with longer scales, deeper bodies and an even lighter bracing system, yet always with a fast, flamenco-like response and a warm, romantic and soulful Spanish character.

Miguel Rodríguez Guitars and the Romero Family

All members of the Romero family have performed on these instruments for decades, and their own artistic development and expression are immutably linked to them – a lifelong relationship that wrote one of the great chapters in the history of the guitar. As Pepe Romero has told us, “What the jet engine did for aviation, the Rodríguez family did for the guitar.” You can read more in our article on the Rodríguez family of guitar makers.