1994 José Marín Plazuelo "Blanca" SP/CY

Built in Granada, Spain, in 1994, this José Marín Plazuelo "Blanca" is a spruce and cypress flamenco guitar with no cracks, damage or repairs.

José Marín Plazuelo’s Flamenco Blanca

We consider José to be one of the finest, most consistent guitar makers in the world at anywhere near this price. His guitars have outstanding tonal qualities, are expertly made with great attention to detail, and are just plain fun to play. Light in weight and fairly small in the body, they carry on the tradition of Santos and Barbero. Nearly identical to the flamenco guitar made by his well-known uncle, Antonio Marín Montero, it has all the featherweight, punchy raspiness of the southern Spanish school. Playability is a dream, and materials are superb.

A Well-Played Sound

Due to its age and the fact that it has been played regularly, this blanca sounds loose and very open. Condition is excellent – no cracks, damage or repairs of any kind, just a bit of superficial playing wear. Excellent value for a top-level, expertly made southern Spanish flamenco guitar.

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.