2021 Pepe Romero "640" SP/CY

This 2021 Pepe Romero Jr. "640" is a short-scale spruce and cypress classical guitar built in the tradition of Miguel Rodríguez of Córdoba, with enormous power and an effortless feel.

A Romero Family Legacy

This guitar was made by Pepe Romero Jr., son of the great guitarist of the same name. It is a fantastic concert instrument by any standard, with enormous power, an extremely quick response, and an effortless feel under the hands.

Built Light in the Miguel Rodríguez Tradition

The guitar is very lightly built, recalling the legendary instruments that came out of the Miguel Rodríguez workshop in Córdoba, Spain, where Pepe Jr. spent time in 1997. Although its tone is "classical," its response and playability are much like those of a southern Spanish flamenco guitar.

Short-Scale Playability

The guitar plays very easily, with a smooth neck and large, rounded frets. The shorter scale of the "640" is an absolute joy to play, and not only for players with smaller hands: it's a pleasure for any hand size.

Concert Power and Quick Response

This guitar has huge volume and enormous power. It produces an incredible amount of sound with minimal effort, and its extremely quick response makes it feel alive at the slightest touch.

Near-Mint Condition

The guitar is in excellent condition, with no damage or repairs and barely any wear in the finish. It's what we'd call "minty" for its age.

Further Reading

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 Dale 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.