2006 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez SP/IN (ex Vicente Coves)

This 2006 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez is a spruce and Indian rosewood concert classical guitar from Granada, Spain, owned by concert and NAXOS artist Vicente Coves, in excellent condition with no damage or repairs.

Vicente Coves' Guitar

This particular instrument was owned by concert and NAXOS artist Vicente Coves of Granada. The headstock is shaped after the pomegranate fruit – a tribute to the city of Granada, which is actually the Spanish word for "pomegranate." It is fitted with a 20th fret for the high C natural.

Sound and Condition

It has the characteristic sound of Moreno Rodríguez' guitars – big volume without being boomy and a thick, dark sound across all registers. This is an exceptional concert guitar in excellent condition with no damage or repairs, and we can easily recommend it highly both for its concert-worthy sound, provenance and refined, unique workmanship.

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.