Carlos Juan Busquiel – 2013

Description

Carlos Juan Busquiel began playing the guitar at age 12, although he formal studied violin. His interest on luthery began when, self-taught, he embarked on the construction of an electric violin for personal use. It was a very simple instrument, but it helped him to enter the world of violin making. The next step was the construction of an acoustic violin, based on the “Kruse” Stradivari. By then he met in Cadiz master guitar maker Rafael Lopez Porras, who introduced him in the art of guitar making. Rafael was his first teacher and conveyed him the passion for the construction of the Spanish guitar. From that moment, Carlos was dedicated only to build guitars and was able to complete his training with Grandmaster Jose Luis Romanillos and Jaume Bosser. To meet Romanillos and listen to his advice was decisive for Carlos, he could develop the concept of “Spanish guitar” and know its traditional construction features, based on the designs of Antonio de Torres. Later, José Luis Romanillos also gave advise to Carlos during the construction of a Torres replica.
This guitar has a European spruce top and Indian rosewood back and sides. The spruce has been carefully selected, and is well quartered and seasoned. The construction is very traditional, following the guidance and ideas of José Luis Romanillos, who is as well inspired in Torres. The top is fan braced and very light, as well as the overall construction. It’s a very comfortable guitar when played, and offers very deep basses and rounded trebles that project very well, offering what many consider “the Spanish sound”.
The rosette is made using a central ring of Spanish walnut root, surrounded by strips of rosewood and sycamore that also form a half herring bone. The purflings are also made by sycamore and rosewood strips. The head shape is a homage to José Romanillos, who has been a good teacher and inspiration for me, also occasionally used by master Miguel Simplicio. It’s decorated with meander inlays, as used by Antonio de Torres. The machines are handmade in Croatia by Marinko Baljak, and are of the finest available, goldplated with ebony inlay and pegs.