2015 German Vázquez Rubio "Solista-E" No. 11515 CD/IN

This 2015 German Vázquez Rubio “Solista-E” No. 11515 is a classical guitar with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, made in Los Angeles, California – a version of the “Solista”, his concert model with elite bracing.

A Concert Guitar with Elite Bracing

With the “Solista”, German took the newest bracing system from his elite guitars and built a concert model around it. It fattens out the trebles in particular, so the overall sound is warm and full. The Solista keeps the sound of the elite models with a simpler design: Indian rosewood back and sides in place of rarer, more exotic woods, a French-polished top over lacquered back and sides, and less elaborate inlay.

Playability and Label

With its very comfortable neck it plays effortlessly, and there is plenty of power for solo or ensemble playing in any concert setting. On the label: German’s signature, the year 2015 and the number 11515, with “Solista E” written beside it. By any standard, a very versatile and strong instrument.

German Vázquez Rubio: Early Years in Paracho, Mexico

German Vázquez Rubio (also known as G.V. Rubio) has been making guitars since 1968 – over fifty years – and has developed his own signature sound that guitarists have come to love. He was born in 1952 in Paracho, Mexico, where there is an abundance of fine luthiers (with few exceptions, all of the finest guitars in Mexico come from Paracho). German’s first formal training began at eleven years old, when he left school to help support his seven siblings and went to work in the workshop of his uncle, Manuel Rubio. There, even at his young age, he made a conscious effort to make guitar building his life’s work.

“Desde 1968”

In 1968, at the age of sixteen, he made his first concert-level guitar (hence his label reads “Desde 1968”). German has since been able to learn from many different master builders such as Félix Manzanero, José Romanillos and Thomas Humphrey. He now resides in Los Angeles, California, where he builds a variety of both classical and flamenco models. He is also the maker of the real-life guitar from the Disney/Pixar film Coco – you can read more in our article on German Vázquez Rubio and the real Coco guitar.

First Prize in Mexico

In 2000, German won First Place at the Concurso Nacional de Constructores y Ejecutantes de Guitarras, Mexico’s national guitar-making competition.