2020 German Vázquez Rubio "Divina" No. 91620 CD/PE

This 2020 German Vázquez Rubio “Divina” No. 91620 is a classical guitar with a cedar top and palo escrito back and sides, made in Los Angeles, California; Ashley Lucero plays Piazzolla on it in the video above.

German’s “Divina”

This model is made in the G.V. Rubio workshop in Los Angeles. Although it is built under the strict supervision of German Vázquez, most of the work is done by his nephew, Anthony Vázquez, who has assisted in the shop for many years. As a student and entry-level concert instrument, it is top of the line in every respect.

Palo Escrito Back and Sides

Most striking of its materials is the back and sides: a beautiful set of palo escrito, one of the finest rosewoods of Mexico. It is easy to play and sounds great.

Condition and Label

German’s label – “Constructor, Desde 1968” – is signed, dated 2020 and numbered 91620, with “Divina” written beside it.

In the Video Above

Ashley Lucero plays Astor Piazzolla’s “Verano Porteño” on this guitar.

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.