2008 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez SP/CY

This 2008 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez is a flamenco blanca in spruce and cypress from Granada, Spain – a dedicated flamenco guitar with a raw, throaty voice.

A Dedicated Flamenco Blanca

His flamenco guitars are played professionally by his close friends Pepe and Juan Habichuela. This guitar is great all around, from the impeccable workmanship to the sound and playability. Although completely different from his classical models in terms of construction, sound and design, it shares the same beautiful 18-hole bridge style, rosette, and Indian rosewood strip on the back. It has a thinner body and a very cleverly shaped tap plate, as well as a proper flamenco bridge and neck setup.

Sound

This is a dedicated flamenco guitar throughout, as is the sound – very loud, raw and throaty, yet still clear and beautiful. This dry, aggressive sound quality and beautiful aesthetics really make this guitar stand out.

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.