Liam & José Luis Romanillos - 1982
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Overview
Overview
About the luthier
José Luis Romanillos Vega was born in Madrid in 1932 and began his cabinet-making apprenticeship at the age of thirteen. In 1956, he moved to England and worked in hospitals in Epsom and London. Five years later, he built his first Spanish guitar in London. Encouraged by the English guitarist Julian Bream, he established his guitar-making workshop in Semley, Wiltshire, in 1970. Romanillos’ guitars soon gained worldwide recognition for their tonal quality and elegant aesthetics, admired by musicians for their pure sound and harmonic balance. The Daily Mail called him “the Stradivari of the guitar,” while the Italian magazine Sei Corde named him “the most important living stringed instrument maker.”
About the guitar
This 1982 guitar by Liam Romanillos was built under the direct guidance of his father, José Luis Romanillos, in the renowned Semley workshop. Accompanied by a hand-signed letter from Liam, the instrument confirms José Luis’s involvement in its construction. The master’s influence is clearly reflected in numerous details, including the beautifully crafted Robert Bouchet-style rosette, the precise V-joint at the neck, the carefully arranged bracing, and the tasteful marquetry elements.
Constructed with a fine Swiss spruce top and stunning cypress back and sides, the guitar displays a deeply Spanish tonal character. Lightweight and extremely responsive, it offers a colorful, rich tonal palette and remarkable ease of play. Its balance is superb, and the sustain of the trebles is astonishing—especially for a cypress instrument. The first string sings generously, with shimmering overtones that add depth and warmth. This is a lively and mature guitar, a rare and expressive masterpiece, and a precious testament to the Romanillos legacy.
Condition
The condition of this instrument is outstanding. The soundboard, back, and sides are all free of cracks and maintain their original French polish finish. There are only minimal playing marks, consistent with gentle use over time. A single, professionally repaired crack is present on the fingerboard, which is purely cosmetic and fully stabilized. Overall, the guitar presents itself as a very clean, well-preserved example of Romanillos’ tradition.
Watch the presentation video of this particular guitar below, where you will find a lot of additional information about its playability and sound.
| Luthier: | Liam & José Luis Romanillos |
| Construction year: | 1982 |
| Top: | Spruce |
| Body and sides: | Cypress |
| Scale: | 645 mm |
| Nut: | 52 mm |
| Weight: | 1186 grams |
| Air resonance frequency: | G |
| Tuners: | Landstorfer |
| Strings: | Knobloch 400ADC |
| Case: | Hiscox Pro II |
| Condition: | Excellent |
Video overview
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