José Luis Romanillos - 1984 "La Pagés"
José Luis Romanillos - 1984 "La Pagés"
Overview
Overview
About the luthier
José Luis Romanillos Vega was born in Madrid in 1932, where he began his apprenticeship as a cabinetmaker at the age of thirteen. In 1956, he moved to England, working first in a hospital in Epsom and later in London. Five years after relocating, Romanillos crafted his first Spanish guitar in London. Encouraged by the renowned English guitarist Julian Bream in 1970, he established his own guitar-making workshop in the village of Semley, Wiltshire.
Romanillos quickly gained international acclaim for both the sound quality and aesthetic beauty of his guitars. His work is known for its pure tone and harmonic balance, capturing the essence of the subtle “Spanish sound.” The Daily Mail referred to him as “the Stradivari of the guitar,” while the Italian magazine Sei Corde called him “the most important living stringed instrument maker.” Throughout his career, he also taught courses on Spanish guitar making around the world and delivered lectures on the history and development of the vihuela de mano and the Spanish guitar. In 1995, Romanillos moved to Guijosa, near Sigüenza, in Spain. Alongside his wife Marian, he published *The Vihuela de Mano and the Spanish Guitar*, a comprehensive dictionary of Spanish stringed-instrument and guitar makers.
About the guitar
This stunning guitar, named La Pagés, is a true masterpiece from Romanillos’ celebrated 1980s period. Built in 1984 in Semley, it stands as a testament to his dedication to craftsmanship and tonal excellence. One of the rare few made with CITES-certified Brazilian rosewood for the back and sides, it also features exquisite marquetry on the back, enhancing its visual elegance.
The top of the guitar has a professionally repaired crack, stabilized by the Danish luthier Kenneth Brögger, ensuring the instrument remains in excellent playing condition. Tonally, this guitar offers exceptional clarity and balance across all registers, with a breathtaking subtlety in its tonal colors. The sound is both powerful and refined, embodying the pure Spanish tradition that Romanillos perfected. This unique instrument is a rare and valuable piece, making it a must-have for discerning collectors and professional musicians alike.
Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you will find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.
Luthier: | José Luis Romanillos |
Construction year: | 1984 |
Construction type: | Traditional |
Top: | Spruce |
Back and sides: | Brazilian rosewood (CITES certified) |
Finish: | French polish |
Air body frequency: | G # |
Scale: | 650 mm |
Nut: | 52 mm |
Weight: | 1440 grams |
Tuners: | Rodgers |
Strings: | Knobloch - EDC 34.0 |
Condition: | Excellent |
Case: | Hiscox Pro II |
Details about GPSR:
Classical Guitar
José Luis Romanillos
Siccas Guitars GmbH, Roonstr. 31, 76137 Karlsruhe, Germany, www.siccasguitars.com, info@siccasguitars.com
Note: For antique guitars, the GPSR does not apply.

























Video overview





