2026 Mario Aracama SP/AR

This 2026 Mario Aracama classical guitar, with an aged European spruce top and African rosewood back and sides, was handmade in the Alpujarra mountains near Granada, Spain, with cypress-lined sides in the tradition of the great Madrid concert guitars.

Aged Spruce and Dark, Swirling African Rosewood

This is a beautiful instrument featuring lovely materials – an aged European spruce top, perfectly quartersawn with plenty of visible cross-grain silk, and a dramatic set of African rosewood for the back and sides with beautiful, dark swirling grain patterns. As we've said many times, every Aracama guitar has a different and unique aesthetic: Mario enjoys designing rosettes and purflings to complement the visual qualities of the timbers selected, so that the entire guitar has a unified wholeness unto itself.

Double Sides in the Madrid Tradition

The top has five fan struts with a bar underneath the bridge saddle. The sides are lined internally with cypress, similar to the great Madrid concert guitars first made famous by José Ramírez in the 1960s. This double-sided system helps focus the vibrating parts of the guitar mostly on the soundboard, producing improved volume and projection, as well as a warmer sound emanating from the box. Despite the double sides, the guitar still retains a lightweight feel, in contrast to its Madrid counterparts.

Sound and Playability

This guitar is a pleasure to play. It has a friendly responsiveness to it – an immediate but not harsh attack, and a velvety, full quality of sound. It has a lovely palette of timbral colors with the slightest changes in right-hand position. Basses are deep, trebles are firm and clear. Playability is 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.