2024 Rojas & Sanzol SP/CY

This 2024 Rojas & Sanzol is the ACTUAL flamenco guitar that won Third Prize at the VII Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain – a spruce and cypress blanca built in Italy by the Argentinian luthier couple Matías Rojas and Carmen Sanzol.

In the Tradition of the Mid-Century Madrid School

This is a true concert guitar, made very traditionally like the mid-century Madrid school (Esteso, Santos, Barbero, Arcángel). They even credit the rosette and headstock designs as inspired by the designs of Santos Hernández. The finish is shellac with added colors to evoke the "look" of guitars from the old flamenco school.

Woods, Bracing and Neck

The soundboard is made of Italian spruce from the Val di Fiemme and the back and sides are of Greek cypress. The luthiers tell us that the 3-piece back was designed to achieve the flexibility and beauty of sound found in the old Andalusian guitars of the 19th century. The bracing is a more-or-less symmetrical 6-fan system with two cross-bars above and below the bridge area (which is also supported by a patch). The mahogany neck and ebony fingerboard offer a combination that contributes to a brilliant, bright sound with great snap at the attack.

Sound and Playability

The overall lightweight build and low string height allow for comfortable playing and easy responsiveness. The sound is very traditional flamenco – raspy, with just the right amount of "flamenco sizzle," making it a great instrument for solo or ensemble playing. Overall, this guitar beautifully showcases the charm of traditional Spanish influences from a pair of luthiers with a very eclectic and extremely musical background. All in, this is an exceptional instrument by any standard.

Matías Rojas & Carmen Sanzol: Argentine Guitar Makers in Italy

Matías Rojas & Carmen Sanzol were born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where they met while studying guitar making in 2007 and began working together. Over the following years they studied with many teachers of both guitar and violin making, taught from 2016, built an "Italian Polygonal Spinet" after the 1540 instrument of the Renaissance maker Dominicus Pisaurensis, and from 2019 specialized in multi-string and flamenco guitars, working with Rodolfo Edgardo Luis Cucculelli. In 2021 they moved to Cremona, Italy, and in 2023 began to frequent Suji Kim's workshop in Parma. Today they live and work in Santa Cecilia, in the Val Trebbia (Coli, Piacenza), making their instruments entirely by hand with traditional techniques and all-natural materials.

Prize Winners in Granada

In 2024 Matías and Carmen won Third Prize in the flamenco guitar category at the VII Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, Spain (July 30 – August 1, 2024).