The Guitarr Workshop

The studio opened its doors on July 1, 1957. Arcangel Fernandez, after learning the trade of cabinet-making in one of the prestigious workshops in the Salamanca barrio of Madrid, and after working as a flamenco guitarist, met the great guitar maker, Marcelo Barbero. At that time, in the 1950’s, Marcelo was considered the the greatest guitar maker in Madrid, heir of the school of the unparalleled Santos Hernandez.

For a year and a half Marcelo hired the young Arcangel as an assistant. He participated in the construction process, preparing the wood pieces, making final touches on the instruments and doing some repairs. He hadn’t constructed a guitar from start to finish during this time. After Marcelo died in 1956 Arcangel finished the work that had been started and later starting making his own instruments in the studio, with the permission of Marcelo’s widow. Thanks to his talent and hard work Arcangel quickly became famous in the guitar-making world. A few years later, the son of Marcelo joined Arcangel and they worked together for 40 years. Great guitarists like Paco de Lucia, John Williams, Alirio Diaz and modern as Irene Arutyunyuan Grisha Goryachev Alexander Aznavwrian and have performed his music with the unique sound of a guitar Arcangel Fernandez

During all these years la “casa Arcangel Fernandez” remained at the same time studio and shop. In addition to Arcangel’s and Marcelo Barbero hijo’s guitars, the shop displayed and sold guitars made by Manuel Caceres, Lorenzo Alvarez and Felix Manzanero, among others. From 1997 to 2011 Arcangel Fernandez and Manuel Caceres collaborated in the construction of guitars.