1989 Marcelino Lopez "1899 Salvador Ibáñez" SP/IN

In addition to building traditional "Torres" style guitars, Marcelino Lopez also built many other historical instruments based on pre-Torres designs including vihuelas, Baroque guitars, Baroque and Renaissance lutes, and even other non-guitar-esque instruments such as viola da gambas, harps, harpsichords, clavichords and various period-styled violins and violas. This guitar, made in 1989, is a meticulously built copy of an 1899 Salvador Ibáñez guitar - which was in Marcelino's vast collection of historical instruments, so he was able to study the original first-hand when building this replica. Salvador Ibañez (1854-1920) was a luthier working in the coastal Valencia area who in 1883 established his workshop that eventually become a large production facility in the following decades, producing a myriad of stringed instruments including bandurrias, lutes, mandolins and ukuleles in addition to a wide variety of guitar models, some with simple appointments and others with extreme amounts of inlay and decoration.

This instrument is a full-sized guitar by modern standards yet has a noticeably lightweight build which gives it a lively character with punchy, immediate attack and an old-world sounding voice. It is very comfortable and easy to play (the nut width is 48 mm making it very easy on the left hand especially) and has surprisingly large volume. The guitar is in excellent condition with no damage or repairs, only some very mild wear in the finish. It is concert ready for any performance situation. This is a fantastic "period style instrument" by one of Spain's most enduring and experienced legends.

Includes custom hardshell case fitted to the dimensions of the instrument. This instrument was in Marcelino Lopez's private collection and was only sold after his passing in 2018.

Orfeo Magazine: Marcelino Lopez Nieto

Interview: Marcelino López Nieto

The late Marcelino López Nieto was one of Spain's most respected builders of the 20th century. He was originally a performer of the guitar, and had been a student of Daniel Fortea (who was himself a pupil of Tarrega). His professional background was initially in cabinetmaking, so given his skill set, it was a natural transition to guitar making, a path taken by many builders throughout history. He befriended Mathilde Ruiz (the widow of Santos Hernandez) after the passing of Santos in 1943, and was able to spend time in his workshop before setting up his own shop in 1947. He is also known for having worked with Hernandez y Aguado in the early 1970's and has since built several "Hernandez y Aguado" models over the years. Although a Madrid maker, Marcelino Lopez never allowed himself to fall under the shadow of the the larger, sturdier style of guitar making more typical of the Ramirez school, always preferring to build in the traditional style of Torres, keeping to the smaller body design without the use of double sides, and mostly building spruce tops, with French polish finish.