2022 German Vázquez Rubio "Solista" No. 11422 CD/IN

This 2022 German Vázquez Rubio “Solista” No. 11422 is a classical guitar with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, made in Los Angeles, California, French polished throughout.

About the “Solista”

German developed the “Solista” to bring the bracing of his top, elite models to a concert guitar of simpler design. Its effect is a fuller tone – especially in the trebles – and a warm sound across the whole register. German introduced the elite bracing in this simpler design without lowering the standard of sound, using Indian rosewood rather than more exotic woods for the back and sides and keeping the inlay plainer.

Playability, Condition and Label

The neck is smooth and comfortable, so it plays with ease, and it has the power for any concert setting, solo or in ensemble. A 20th fret gives the high C natural. This particular guitar is French polished throughout, although the model normally has lacquered back and sides. The label is signed by German, dated 2022 and numbered 11422, with “Solista” 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.