2011 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez SP/MP

This 2011 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez is a spruce and maple classical guitar from Granada, Spain, with tap plates added – a powerful concert instrument that crosses easily into flamenco.

Power with an Old-World Voice

Few guitars by this maker have this much sound: it is huge, comparable to the most powerful lattice-braced or sandwich-top instruments of today, yet the voice stays rich, traditional and old-world Spanish. The headstock is carved in Rafa's classic pomegranate shape, his tribute to Granada ("granada" means "pomegranate"). A solid concert guitar that we recommend highly for its concert-worthy sound and its refined, unique workmanship.

Condition and Setup

Condition of the instrument is excellent with only some modest wear in the finish (and a nick in the tip of the headstock), and tap plates have been added to this guitar, making it useful in both classical and flamenco settings – setup is currently for classical, but it could easily be lowered for flamenco playing.

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.