Do you remember the first guitar you made?
A small-scale one, with a fir top, cypress back and rosette, cedar neck and ebony fingerboard, dedicated to my mother, according to the family tradition. I made my first regular-size guitar for Paco de Lucía, who was a family friend, two years later. His family still keeps it.
Is there a link between your work and the area you live in?
The guitar is a symbol of Spain. Since the end of the 19th century, the so-called Madrid School, of which my family is part, has always been a paradigm of expertise. Guitars made in Madrid have a special aura, based on their supreme quality and their 100 percent handcrafted production.
© Celia Muglán
How do you balance tradition and innovation?
My inspiration comes from the artists’ music played through my guitars, and from the superb skills of my ancestors. We continue this tradition of outstanding craftsmanship. However, we never stop learning; I have always encouraged my daughter and son to be open to new ideas.
What might people not know about your craft?
Many people are surprised to know that making a guitar takes two or three months of work. They are amazed, too, that we use wood that is naturally dried for 30 or 50 years.