2023 Francisco Jiménez CD/IN

Granada, August 2023: Francisco Jiménez (centre) with his First Prize (classical) and Third Prize (flamenco) certificates, between David Collett of GSI (left) and Vicente Coves

This 2023 Francisco Jiménez is the ACTUAL guitar that won First Prize in the classical category at the VI Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain, in August 2023 – a classical guitar with a cedar top and Indian rosewood back and sides, built in Granada.

Inspired by Stradivari's Royal Quartet

We are extremely thrilled to have this guitar here. For this instrument, Francisco chose some very old and well-selected materials – Indian rosewood for the back and sides and cedar for the soundboard. The rosette has a motif of rhombuses and circles made of bone, typical of the Baroque, inspired by the "Stradivarius Palatinos" – a set of five stringed instruments made by Antonio Stradivari around 1700 that are kept in Madrid's Royal Palace. In particular, 4 of these instruments, known as the "Royal Quartet", feature the elaborate decorations that Francisco used for his inlay work on this guitar. In addition to the rosette, these motifs are also found in the decoration of the tie block on the bridge, framed in natural mother of pearl.

Traditional Construction and a Warm, Lyrical Sound

The construction is very traditional, with a 7-fan system, and it is lightly built with a low body resonance, producing a rich, deep bass and warm, lyrical trebles – much like a great, older guitar. As always, Francisco paid close attention to the neck shape and to the neck/head and neck/heel transitions, so the guitar is comfortable and easy to play. A superbly built instrument that looks as beautiful as it sounds – we are very happy to be working with this fine maker, and this guitar is a joy to play and to listen to.

Photos of this guitar taken just before shipping to GSI

Francisco Jiménez: A Self-Taught Granada Guitar Maker

Francisco Jiménez was born in Granada, Spain in January 1997. From an early age he developed a great interest in music and crafts. At the age of 17, motivated by the desire to build a guitar for his older brother (who is a flamenco guitarist), he began his self-taught journey in guitar construction. At the same time, he began his musicology studies and graduated as a sound technician.

Influenced by Torres and the Madrid School

Throughout these years he had the opportunity to see and study some of the most important guitars of the Spanish school, which greatly influenced his style in the tradition of the great makers of the past. He cites as his biggest influences Antonio de Torres, Vicente Arias, Manuel Ramírez, Santos Hernández, Domingo Esteso, Marcelo Barbero and Francisco Simplicio.

First Prize in Granada

After several years of working at his craft, Francisco was awarded First Prize for his classical guitar (and Third Prize for his flamenco) at the prestigious sixth Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Making Competition, held in Granada, Spain in August 2023.