2013 Pepe Romero SP/MP

This 2013 Pepe Romero Jr. is a classical guitar with a spruce top and maple back and sides, made in San Diego, California, by the son of guitarist Pepe Romero.

Huge Volume, Flamenco-Like Response

This guitar has huge volume and an extremely quick response. Although its tone is “classical”, its response and playability are much like those of a southern Spanish flamenco guitar – likely thanks to its lightweight build for its size. For many years now, Pepe’s guitars have been compared in this respect to the great instruments of Miguel Rodríguez.

Reverse Fan Bracing and a Brass Nut

Since his 170th instrument, Pepe has adopted a reverse fan system (fans radiating from the bridge area, rather than from the soundhole) for his standard model, after studying an early-1970s Rodríguez with this very system. Pepe feels this opens the instrument up and gives it a unique, distinctive quality of sound that appeals greatly to his sense of style. This guitar also features a brass nut (which Pepe has used on every guitar starting with #200), adding an extra helping of clarity and brightness to the sound.

Playability, Rope Purfling and Condition

Playability is very easy, with a smooth neck and large, rounded frets. This guitar also features elaborate detailing in the purfling, with a lovely rope pattern that frames the instrument beautifully. Although used, it is in excellent condition with no damage or repairs, only some minor checking in the finish from the passage of time.

Pepe’s private waiting list for new instruments is several years, so we are pleased to be able to offer this fine instrument now.

Orfeo Magazine No. 10 – West Coast Luthiers

A Family Steeped in the Guitar

Pepe Romero Jr. is the son of the great guitarist Pepe Romero and the grandson of Celedonio Romero, patriarch of the legendary Romero guitar family. He grew up surrounded by his father’s collection of masterpieces by Antonio de Torres, Domingo Esteso, Santos Hernández, Hermann Hauser, and Miguel Rodríguez. These instruments set the standard for everything he would later aspire to as a maker.

Apprenticeship and Mentors

At 18, Pepe Jr. began an apprenticeship with Dake Traphagen. His education continued with some of the most respected makers of the era. In 1997, shortly before Miguel Rodríguez’s death, he spent time in the Rodríguez workshop in Córdoba. He also studied with José Luis Romanillos and Manuel Contreras II, and learned from Yuris Zeltins and Edmund Blöchinger. He and Blöchinger became close friends and even built two guitars together.

A Traditional Spanish Approach

Pepe Jr.’s construction draws heavily on the methods of Miguel Rodríguez, while his aesthetic and tonal ideals also reflect the work of Santos Hernández and Domingo Esteso. He builds entirely by hand using the traditional Spanish method. He dedicates every instrument he makes to his grandfather, Celedonio Romero.

International Demand

Pepe Jr. has now built more than 400 guitars. His instruments are in high demand among concert performers and collectors around the world, and he has a waiting list of about four years for new guitars.