2025 Mario Aracama SP/IN

This 2025 Mario Aracama classical guitar combines a European spruce top with Indian rosewood back and sides, made by hand in the Alpujarra mountains near Granada, Spain.

European Spruce and Indian Rosewood

A beautiful new instrument with European spruce for the soundboard and a lovely set of Indian rosewood for the back and sides. The fingerboard is ebony and the neck cedar, and as always Mario designed the rosette and purflings to suit these particular woods – a sleek, elegant design executed with clean craftsmanship.

Double Sides for Power and Focus

The sides are doubled on the inside with 1.2 mm of cypress for added rigidity, giving every note more power and focus. Even so, the guitar feels extremely lightweight, which makes it responsive and easy to play, particularly for the right hand.

Sound and Playability

This guitar is a pleasure to play: friendly and responsive, with an attack that is immediate but not harsh and a velvety, full sound behind it. Small changes of right-hand position open up a lovely range of colors. The basses are deep and the trebles thick and rich, with great clarity between the voices and enough volume to fill a hall of any size. Very comfortable for both hands. Overall a great guitar for the player seeking a charming, traditional instrument full of 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.