2021 German Vázquez Rubio "Divina" No. 82921 CD/PE

This 2021 German Vázquez Rubio “Divina” No. 82921 is a classical guitar with a cedar top and palo escrito back and sides, made in Los Angeles, California, in excellent condition.

Made in the G.V. Rubio Workshop

German makes the “Divina” in his workshop in Los Angeles. German supervises every step closely, while most of the work is done by his nephew, Anthony Vázquez – for many years his assistant in the shop. As a student and entry-level concert instrument, it is top of the line in every respect.

Woods and Sound

Its back and sides are a beautiful set of palo escrito, a very fine Mexican rosewood, and they make for striking looks. It sounds great and plays easily.

The Label

Although a second-hand guitar, it is in excellent condition, with only some very minor wear in the finish. No. 82921 is written on the label, which is dated 2021 and signed by German; “Divina” is written beside the number.

German Vázquez Rubio: Early Years in Paracho, Mexico

German Vázquez Rubio (also known as G.V. Rubio) has been making guitars since 1968 – 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 went to work in the workshop of his uncle, Manuel Rubio. There, even at his young age, he made a conscious effort to make guitar building his life’s work.

“Desde 1968”

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 Félix Manzanero, José Romanillos and Thomas Humphrey. He now resides in Los Angeles, California, where he builds a variety of both classical and flamenco models. He is also the maker of the real-life guitar from the Disney/Pixar film Coco – you can read more in our article on German Vázquez Rubio and the real Coco guitar.

First Prize in Mexico

In 2000, German won First Place at the Concurso Nacional de Constructores y Ejecutantes de Guitarras, Mexico’s national guitar-making competition.