2019 Mario Aracama CD/CO

This 2019 Mario Aracama classical guitar pairs a Western red cedar top with figured cocobolo back and sides, built near Granada, Spain.

Cedar and Figured Cocobolo

A beautiful instrument with a Western red cedar top and back and sides of cocobolo, with dramatic figuring in the grain and some subtle flashes of lighter-colored sapwood. The top has five fan struts with a bar underneath the bridge area. Ebony fingerboard, cedar neck, and – as on every Aracama – a rosette and purflings designed to complement the woods.

Sound

Friendly and responsive, with an immediate attack that stays gentle and a velvety, full sound; the right hand finds a lovely palette of colors. Deep basses and rich, thick trebles, with great clarity between the voices. Very comfortable for both hands. A charming, traditional instrument full of Spanish character.

Mario Aracama: From London to Granada

Mario Aracama became captivated with the guitar at an early age and, while living in England, decided to become a luthier, attending Guildhall University in London. There he graduated in Musical Instrument Technology, specializing in traditional classical and flamenco guitars under the tutelage of David Whiteman. In 2003 he relocated to Granada, Spain, where he learned further from Antonio Marín Montero.

The Granada School and the Torres Tradition

In the following years Mario enjoyed a fruitful exchange of ideas with his friends Michael Ritchie and Jose Vigil, which has also influenced his style. True to the Granada aesthetic, Mario builds a light and vibrant instrument with lightly braced tops, based in the great Spanish tradition in the line of Torres. Every guitar built by Mario features a different, original – but very traditional and tasteful – design.

A Workshop in the Alpujarra Mountains

Today Mario lives and builds in the beautiful Alpujarra mountains near Granada. GSI is proud to be Mario's exclusive dealer in the USA.