This guitar was generously donated to our non-profit charitable organization, the GSI Foundation. Guitar sales through the GSI Foundation raise money to directly benefit music education in public schools. Feel free to contact us for more information.
Angel Benito Aguado was born in Valdemorillo (Madrid, Spain) in 1949. At the early age of only 12 years old, he set about the task of building guitars in a self-taught manner. Although his father was the local priest, the family did have a woodworking shop where Angel was able to learn how to handle, prepare and sharpen the tools at their home at Villaviciosa de Odón (Madrid). After many years of building guitars he also took on repair work in his early 20s, which helped him gain insight into the various designs options found in the work of other makers. He also began building bandurrias and lutes but in the past several decades, settled exclusively on the construction of classical guitars of various models including replicas and models of his own design.
This guitar - a take on guitars made in the "Romantic" era, re-creates the authentic sound for players interested in performing period works (Giuliani, Sor, Legnani, etc) on an instrument that even resembled (visually) these old guitars yet has the power and projection of a modern, 21st-century instrument. This guitar has all the muscle of a contemporary guitar yet has the charming old romantic sound that pitches the listener (and player) into another historical epoch. Condition is excellent, almost like-new, likely thanks to the very durable finish combo of thin oil varnish on the top with lacquer for the back and sides. Playability is also very easy for both hands - Angel himself is an amateur guitarist, and so has a clear understanding of the importance of making a guitar that is easy on the performer's hands. He has an impressive roster of professional players who have played his guitars including Pablo Sainz Villegas, Carlos Perez and Jose Luis Rodrigo, just to name a few.
