Antonio Morales Nogués
Antonio Morales Nogués was born in July 1956 in Monesterio (Extremadura). After a short period in Seville, he moved to Palma de Majorca at the age of 15, where he lives today. His interest in guitar making developed early, shaped by his work as a child in a cabinetmaker’s workshop.
His fascination with guitars led him to connect with George Moore Bowden, a respected guitar maker based in Palma, who accepted him as a pupil. A close friendship developed between them. Morales was deeply impressed by Bowden’s extensive knowledge and passion for the instrument and soon dedicated himself completely to guitar building.
Master and student worked together for years with great enthusiasm, putting into practice the ideas and insights Bowden had gathered through decades of research. Bowden approached guitar building as a lifelong investigation, and each of his instruments reflected the results of his studies. Through this shared work, the guitars created in their workshop developed into a distinctive design.
After Bowden’s death, Morales became the successor to his master’s school of guitar making. Bowden entrusted him with his wood, plans, tools and accumulated knowledge, enabling Morales to continue the tradition and build guitars that reflected the quality both men had envisioned.
The Craft
Classical guitar construction at concert level demands years of accumulated knowledge: how individual pieces of timber vibrate, how bracing patterns affect tonal balance, how small changes in geometry shift the character of an instrument. A finished concert guitar typically represents several hundred hours of hand work. Every decision — wood selection, arch height, brace dimensions — shapes what a player can do with the finished instrument.
