2023 Mario Aracama SP/MP

This 2023 Mario Aracama classical guitar pairs an aged, bearclaw European spruce top with flamed maple back and sides – Mario's first maple guitar for GSI – built near Granada, Spain.

A Guitar Full of "Flame"

This instrument features several materials with plenty of "flame". Firstly, an aged European spruce top, perfectly quartersawn, with plenty of visible cross-grain silk and bearclaw markings. The back and 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). To contrast with these lighter-colored materials, ebony has been used for the bindings, the "tapering" center seams in the back, foot and head, and all the purflings throughout the instrument. An absolutely beautifully designed and executed instrument in terms of appearance.

Construction: Five Fans and Cypress-Lined Sides

Internally, the top has five fan struts with a long, thin bar underneath the bridge saddle. The sides are lined internally with cypress, similar to the great Madrid concert guitars made famous by José Ramírez in the 1960s – a double-sided system that focuses the vibration on the soundboard for more volume and projection and a warmer sound from the box. Last but not least, it is fitted with Schaller GrandTune frictionless machines with black plates and polybone oval buttons.

The "Granada Style" in Spades

As amazing as 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 – 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

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.