2003 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez SP/CSAR

This 2003 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez is a spruce and CSA rosewood classical guitar from Granada, Spain, with a silk-covered top and no damage or cracks.

A Granada Maker Chosen by the Romeros

Pepe and Celin Romero had recently acquired several of these instruments when this guitar was made, and we expected to see several more top players playing them – which is exactly what happened.

Woods, Tuners and a Lighter Strutting

This guitar has a beautiful back with a narrow piece of Indian rosewood inserted between two pieces of stunning Central/South American rosewood. The spruce top is as quarter-sawn as possible, and covered with silk. The high-grade Fustero tuners have a design which closely matches the headstock pattern. The interior of the guitar reveals a lighter 6-strut system, making the top slightly more responsive and playable.

Sound and Condition

Volume is excellent without being boomy, and a thick, dark sound is achieved in all registers – most remarkably in the trebles. This is an exceptional concert guitar and we recommend it highly both for its concert-worthy sound and refined, unique workmanship. This is a great example from 2003, and has no damage or cracks, and only average playing wear.

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

Rafael Moreno Rodríguez: Classical and Flamenco Guitar Maker of Granada

Rafael Moreno Rodríguez (b. 1954) – "Rafa" to everyone in Granada – began making guitars at the early age of 12 under the watchful eyes of Manuel López Bellido and Antonio Marín Montero, and in those early years he also studied with Eduardo Ferrer, often called the "teacher of teachers" of the Granada school. Although unrelated to Miguel Rodríguez of Córdoba, he counts Rodríguez's guitars among his strongest influences, along with those of Santos Hernández and Benito Ferrer. After his apprenticeship he opened his own shop on the famous Cuesta de Gomérez below the Alhambra, where he stayed until 2000; since then he has worked at Jesús y María 10.

One Level of Guitar, Built Entirely by Hand

Rafa works alone and refuses to hurry. He builds every guitar from scratch – down to the bone nut and saddle, carved by hand – mostly from CSA rosewood, spruce and cedar that he bought, cut and cured himself, and he makes only one level of instrument. His classical and flamenco guitars have been played by Pepe and Celin Romero, Vicente Coves, Gerardo Núñez, Juan and Pepe Habichuela and the late flamenco singer Enrique Morente, among many others.