2006 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez "Negra" SP/CSAR

This 2006 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez "Negra" is a spruce and CSA rosewood flamenco guitar from Granada, Spain, with a maple center strip – as great an example as you can find of his best flamenco work.

Different from His Classicals

Rafa's flamencos are built completely differently from his classical models – in construction, sound and design – yet this one keeps the same beautiful 18-hole bridge and rosette. The body is slightly thinner than the classical model, and the materials are incredible, starting with a very striking set of CSA rosewood for the back and sides and a maple strip down the center of the back.

Sound and Condition

It has a proper flamenco bridge and neck setup like his blancas, and much of their personality too: crisp, aggressive attack and shocking volume. The rosewood then brings a very woody, earthy character and noticeably longer sustain. This guitar is in excellent shape with one hairline (completely invisible from the outside) crack on the back expertly repaired by GV Rubio. Otherwise, just some normal playing wear in the finish from regular usage. The flamenco guitars of Rafael Moreno are simply incredible guitars for the price, and this is as great an example as you can find of his best work.

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.