2025 Vicente Carrillo "1aF Negra" SP/AR

Built in 2025 by renowned Spanish luthier Vicente Carrillo in his workshop in Casasimarro, Spain, this beautiful Flamenca Negra 1a is a fine example of contemporary Spanish flamenco guitar making. Constructed with a spruce soundboard and attractive African rosewood back and sides, it combines the warmth, depth and richness associated with a flamenco negra with the quick response, clarity and percussive character demanded by flamenco players.

A Lattice-Braced Flamenco Negra

An interesting feature of this instrument is its lattice-braced soundboard, a contemporary approach to construction designed to enhance responsiveness, projection and tonal balance. The guitar has a slightly longer scale length, providing a firm, articulate feel under the right hand, particularly well suited to the rhythmic demands of flamenco playing. Despite its robust construction, the instrument remains comfortable and responsive, with the tonal versatility that makes a fine flamenco negra equally appealing to players who move between flamenco and classical repertoire.

Rosette, Purflings and Carved Headstock

Aesthetically, the guitar is beautifully appointed, with richly colored African rosewood, a traditional Spanish-style rosette, elegant green and contrasting wood purflings, and a matching decorative mosaic on the bridge tie block. The distinctive carved headstock is fitted with attractive gold-colored Aparicio tuning machines with ebony-style buttons, completing the instrument’s refined appearance.

Condition

Condition is virtually like new, with only a single small ding on the soundboard preventing it from being described as mint. The lacquer finish is otherwise beautifully preserved.

Casasimarro, “El Pueblo de las Guitarras”

Guitar making has been a constant tradition in the small Spanish town of Casasimarro, in the province of Cuenca, since the 18th century. The first known guitar maker in the town was Alfonso Anselmo Alarcón (born around 1744), the great-great-great-great-grandfather of Vicente Carrillo Casas (b. 1963). For many years now, the Carrillo workshop has earned Casasimarro the loving name “El Pueblo de las Guitarras” (the Town of the Guitars).

Seven Generations of Guitar Makers

The craft passed from Alfonso Anselmo to his son, Juan de Mata Alarcón, and through Juan’s daughter, Agustina Alarcón Escudero, into the Carrillo family when she married Felipe Manuel Carrillo. Their son, Blas Carrillo Alarcón (1834–1919, a.k.a. “Abuelo Moreno” – the “dark-haired grandfather”), carried on the family art – the label reads “desde 1836” – followed by Vicente Carrillo López (1881–1962) and Vicente Carrillo Cantos (1926–1971), with his wife, Gabriela Casas Fornier. Their son, Vicente Carrillo Casas, has been running the shop since 1980, the seventh generation of guitar makers in the family.

Madrid Power with Southern Lyricism

The distinctive elements of the Carrillo style have been influenced in recent years primarily by the Madrid luthiers Ángel Benito Aguado and José Romero (of the José Ramírez workshop). The guitars therefore have a big, deep and powerful quality much like the best guitars from the top Madrid shops, yet they still retain a lyrical charm found in southern Spanish instruments. In cooperation with GSI, Vicente has also made several further modifications to his guitars, and we believe these are among his finest instruments to date.