1968 Marcelo Barbero (Hijo) SP/IN

Marcelo Barbero Hijo built this classical guitar in 1968 in the Madrid workshop of his mentor, Arcángel Fernández, with a spruce soundboard and Indian rosewood back and sides.

In the video above, Mak Grgic plays Carlo Marchione's solo arrangement of Ennio Morricone's "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" on this guitar.

Built for the House of Arcángel Fernández

Inside is the label "Marcelo Barbero (Hijo) para casa Arcángel Fernández". Marcelo Hijo, son of the great Marcelo Barbero, was in his early twenties in 1968, working in the shop of his mentor – who had himself been a disciple of the elder Barbero. It is a fine example of an instrument from one of the most famous workshops in the history of Spanish guitar making.

A Classical with Flamenco Fire

The sound is wonderfully dark, with bold basses and strong trebles – very much like an old spruce-top Miguel Rodríguez from the same era. It has the raspy, open and vibrant voice of a great mid-century flamenco while keeping the warmth and lyrical beauty of a fine classical guitar. Condition is excellent, with the original finish throughout.

Marcelo Barbero Hijo: Trained by Arcángel Fernández

Marcelo Barbero Hijo (c. 1944–1946 to 2007) was the only son of the legendary Madrid flamenco guitar maker Marcelo Barbero. He was still a boy when his father died in 1956, so he never worked with him; instead he was taken in and trained by his father's only pupil and successor, Arcángel Fernández, who was both a father figure and a maestro to him and passed on everything he had learned from the elder Barbero.

Guitars "Para Casa Arcángel Fernández"

Marcelo Hijo spent his whole career at Arcángel's side in his workshop in the Lavapiés quarter of Madrid, just a couple of blocks from his father's old shop. His guitars carry a label reading "Construida por Marcelo Barbero (Hijo) para casa Arcángel Fernández" – built by Marcelo Barbero (son) for the house of Arcángel Fernández – and they follow the plans, woods and standards of the guitars Arcángel built alongside them: light, fast and powerful flamencos, along with a smaller number of classicals, in the great Barbero tradition.