2014 Jose Marin Plazuelo "Negra" SP/IN

Recent Plazuelos are some of the most beautifully constructed guitars in Spain, and this one is no exception. The wood selection, workmanship, and finish are superb. The aesthetics are pure elegance. Playability, neck and fretwork are top class. Volume and response are huge, and the voice, while well suited to solo flamenco play, could easily cross over to Spanish and Latin classical works, or even Brazilian bossa. It is in excellent condition with no prior damage or repairs, only some very minor wear in the finish, frets are in great shape and overall the condition is excellent. The action is perfect, and the sound is huge, open and well-aged. It has a particularly big bottom end and a brilliant, bitey attack in all registers. It is very lightweight, especially for this luthier and feels/sounds more like a mid-century flamenco than a guitar built in 2014. Overall a fantastic example from this legendary builder in every way.

Orfeo Magazine #8 - The Granada School

José Marín Plazuelo was born in Granada, on the 13th of June, 1960. He is the nephew of Antonio Marín Montero. In 1974, when he was just 14 years old, he started working alongside his uncle where him and José González López learned how to build instruments. From the very beginning, José’s uncle praised his nephew’s job. José follows Antonio Marín’s technique, he makes his own guitars in a traditional Spanish way. Nowadays José makes his own guitars even though he shares the workshop with his family, including his uncle who is one of the most prestigious luthiers in the world. José’s classical and flamenco guitars are mainly inspired by the experience acquired from his uncle.