Juan Alexander Grupalli – 2021 Torres

Description

Juan Alexander Grupalli has been making classical guitars for almost 25 years. He lives and works in his workshop in a small town called Xonrupt-Longemer in the center of the Vosges Mountains in France. Juan Alexander began his career by learning from the renowned guitar makers Joaquín García Fernández (Spain) and Stephen Hill (England). He later earned his guitar-making diploma at the Newark School of Lutherie in England. Following the Spanish tradition, he draws inspiration from guitar makers such as Antonio de Torres, Hermann Hauser, and Ignacio Fleta.

This unique, lightweight guitar is crafted in the style of Antonio de Torres, with a spruce top and maple back and sides. It is fully french polished with a very transparent shellac, so that the natural colours of the wood are revealed very well and the fascinating reflections of the annual rings can be admired. Some beautiful construction details such as the mother-of-pearl dots on the bridge and the green shades of the rosette are also reminiscent of Antonio de Torres’ aesthetic universe.

With its low natural frequency, which is slightly lower than F, this guitar unfolds fantastic basses that surround the player and captivate the listener. Ideal for Spanish repertoire, the sweet yet rich trebles have a richly textured character and sing beautifully. It is an overall lovely and classy guitar that will delight any Antonio de Torres aficionado.