2023 Mario Aracama SP/MP

This is a beautiful instrument from Mario Aracama featuring several materials with plenty of "flame". Firstly, an aged European spruce top, perfectly quatersawn with plenty of visible cross-grain silk and bearclaw markings. The back & sides are a dramatic set of flamed maple, and the neck is of flamed cedar. The fingerboard is flamed ebony (although hard to see through the dark stain). Internally, it has 5 fan struts under the top with a long, thin bar underneath the bridge saddle. Sides are lined internally with cypress, similar to the great Madrid-concert guitars first flagshipped by Jose Ramirez in the 1960s. This double-sided system helps focus the vibrating parts of the guitar mostly to the soundboard, producing improved volume and projection, as well as a warmer sound emanating from the box. As we've said many times, every Aracama guitar has a different and unique aesthetic - Mario enjoys designing rosettes and purfling to complement the visual qualities of the timbers selected for top, back and sides, so that the entire guitar has a unified wholeness unto itself. To contrast with these lighter colored materials, ebony has been used for the bindings, "tapering" center seams used in the back, foot and head, as well as in the all the purflings throughout the entire instrument. Last but not least, it is fitted with Schaller GrandTune frictionless machines with black plates with polybone oval buttons. An absolutely beautifully designed and executed instrument in terms of appearance.

As amazing at it looks, this guitar is also an absolute pleasure to play, and represents to us a fantastic example of the "Granada style" in spades: It is lightweight , and has a friendly responsiveness to it - an immediate and "bouncy" (but not harsh) attack, and a creamy, full quality of sound that follows. At the same time, it has great clarity between voices and excellent balance across all registers. It has a lovely palette of timbral colors with the slightest changes in right hand position. Basses are deep, trebles are fat and clear. Playability is very comfortable for both hands. Overall a great guitar for the player seeking a charming, traditional instrument full of southern Spanish character.

Photos taken during construction.

Currently living and building in Granada, Spain, luthier Mario Aracama became captivated with the guitar at an early age and while living in England, decided to become a luthier, subsequently attending Guildhall University. 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 where he learned further from Antonio Marin. In the following years he has 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, based on the Torres tradition. Mario was a finalist in the the first Antonio Marin Guitar Making Competition held in Granada in 2017.