2000 José Marín Plazuelo SP/CY

Made in Granada, Spain, in 2000, this José Marín Plazuelo flamenco blanca has a spruce top and cypress back and sides, and its original wooden pegs come with it.

A Flamenco Blanca by José Marín Plazuelo

At anywhere near this price, few makers in the world are as fine or as consistent as José, in our opinion. His instruments pair outstanding tonal qualities with expert craftsmanship and great attention to detail – and they are just plain fun to play. Like Santos and Barbero before him, José builds them very light and fairly small bodied. José’s flamenco is nearly identical to the one made by his well-known uncle, Antonio Marín Montero, and it has that featherweight, punchy raspiness of the southern Spanish school. Playability is a dream, and materials are superb.

Sound, Tuners and Condition

This guitar has had some play time on it, and the sound is therefore nice and loose and very open. Condition is excellent – no cracks or damage – however, it was converted from wooden pegs to tuning machines several years ago for easier tuning (the original wooden pegs are included with the guitar). Otherwise, only a normal amount of respectful playing wear. This is a great flamenco built deep in the heart of Andalucía.

Read more: Orfeo Magazine No. 8 – The Granada School

José Marín Plazuelo: Nephew of Antonio Marín Montero

José Marín Plazuelo was born in Granada on June 13, 1960. He is the nephew of Antonio Marín Montero. In 1974, when he was just 14 years old, he started working alongside his uncle, where he and José González López learned how to build instruments. From the very beginning, José’s uncle praised his nephew’s work.

Traditional Spanish Guitars from Granada

José follows Antonio Marín’s technique and makes his guitars in the traditional Spanish way. For fifty years he made his own guitars in the Marín family workshop, beside his uncle, one of the most prestigious luthiers in the world. When Antonio retired in 2024 and closed the workshop, José and José González López moved to the center of Granada, where they now work out of Callejón Molino de San Martín 14.

José’s classical guitars are mainly inspired by the experience acquired from his uncle, while his flamenco guitars are similar to those of Francisco Simplicio (1874–1932), the legendary guitar maker from Catalonia. In 2017 José sat on the jury of the first Antonio Marín Montero Guitar Building Competition in Granada, the contest that carries his uncle’s name.