2012 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez CD/CSAR

This 2012 Rafael Moreno Rodríguez is a cedar and CSA rosewood classical guitar from Granada, Spain, with "reversed" fan strutting – and Pepe Romero and Vicente Coves were in the shop taking photos while it was built.

Over 50-Year-Old CSA Rosewood

This guitar has a beautiful back with a narrow piece of Indian rosewood inserted between two pieces of stunning CSA rosewood, which is over 50 years old. It is fitted with high-grade Rubner tuners from Germany.

Reversed Fan Strutting

The interior of the guitar reveals Moreno Rodríguez' standard lighter 6-strut system but with a twist – the fanning of the struts is "reversed" (so that they become wider as they approach the soundhole, radiating away from the foot). This is a system that Pepe Romero Jr. has been doing exclusively since 2009 (although he does it with 7 fans) after coming into the possession of a rare 1970 Miguel Rodríguez guitar with this very system employed. To our ears, this seems to assist in making the top of this guitar more responsive and looser, yet with more clarity and focus to each note.

Sound and Condition

Volume is also excellent without being boomy, and a thick, dark sound is achieved in all registers – most remarkably in the trebles. This is an exceptional concert guitar and we recommend it highly both for its concert-worthy sound and refined, unique workmanship and aesthetics. Although a used guitar, it is in excellent condition with only minor signs of playing wear.

Photos taken with Pepe Romero during this guitar's construction

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.