2026 German Vazquez Rubio "Classic Estudio-SM" SP/PE

This is a new "version" of an old classic from GV Rubio and is a modestly priced, genuine GV Rubio guitar built in his Los Angeles based workshop. It's a top-of-the-line student/entry-level concert instrument in every way. It features striking materials - most notably a beautiful set of church-sourced palo escrito for the back and sides. The new "spin" is by calling this the "SM" model (Solo Madera - meaning "only wood"). The design concept derives from German's belief that vibration will travel just a bit more efficiently when the wood materials are uninterrupted. The upgraded materials in the "Classic Estudio SM" and its design aim to have a noticeable enhancement in sonic performance while at the same time allowing the aesthetic beauty of the natural materials be more prominent. Noticeably: the guitar lacks purfled inlays, has a simple but elegant mother-of-pearl ring rosette (also matched in the tie-block inlay), EVO gold-steel frets, racing stripe in the heel, brass-ring 7th fret marker and a hand-applied, thin "matte" lacquer finish to really show off the natural texture of the wood. As with the standard version of this model (and actually with all guitars to come out of this workshop), it sounds great, plays easily and represents a great value for the price.

German Vazquez Rubio (also known as G.V. Rubio) has been making guitars for over fifty years and has developed his own signature sound that guitarists have come to love. He was born in 1952 in Paracho, Mexico where there is an abundance of fine luthiers (with few exceptions all of the finest guitars in Mexico come from Paracho). German's first formal training began at eleven years old when he left school to help support his seven siblings and work for his uncle Manuel Rubio at his workshop. There even at his young age he made a conscious effort to make guitar building his life's work. In 1968 at the age of sixteen he made his first concert level guitar (hence his label reads 'desde 1968'). German has since been able to learn from many different master builders such as Felix Manzanero, Jose Romanillos and Thomas Humphrey. He now resides in Los Angeles, California where he builds a variety of both classical and flamenco models.