Historic Guitar Makers of the Cádiz School

These biographies of historic Spanish luthiers in Cadiz are works in progress. If you have additional materials, information, sources, photographs, or corrections you wish to share, please contact me. (Reference Works)

Josef Sebastián Benedid Díaz (Cádiz, active 1760-1836)

Don Josef Benedid, a luthier from Cádiz, was born February 10, 1760. In 1791, he married Ana Diaz, and they had nine children, at least three of whom, José, Joaquín, and Mateo followed in their father's footsteps. Don Josef was one of the most important makers of the Cádiz school, and among the early users of fan bracing. He is also believed to have been the teacher of the elder Pages. He had a series of workshops: calle San Francisco 66; Plazuela del Paillero; Calle de la Portería; calle San Augustín 85; Campo de Capuchinos 10, and was living on calle Laurel when he died October 20, 1836.

José Benedid (Cádiz b. 1827 - d. Havana 1899)

Mateo Benedid Díaz (Cádiz, b. 1800 - d. 1878)

Mateo Benedid, was born in Cádiz in 1800,  a son of Josef Sebastian Benedid Diaz (1760-1836) and was trained by his father. He married María de los Dolores Mendoza Sosa in 1825,  He had his shop on the calle San Agustin, No. 76. He died on Juanary 15, 1878.

Joaquín Benedid Díaz (Cádiz, b.c. 1814 - d. 1854)

Joaquín Benedid Díaz was born about 1814 in Cádiz. He was a son of the guitar maker, Josef Sebastian Benedid  Díaz, and learned his craft from his father. A couple of addresses are associated with him: calle de la Cruz Verde, 139 (1836); afterwards calle de la Palma, 139. He appears not to have married, and died at the age of forty in 1854.

Andrés Benítez (Cádiz b.c. 1675 - d. 1759)

Andrés Benítez was born in Puerto de Santa María, Cádiz around 1675. He was a guitar maker, and taught Francisco Perez his craft. He was living on the calle del Bestuario when died April 11, 1759 at the age of 84.

Francisco Bonichi y Sala (Cádiz b. 1827- d.1892).

Francisco Bonichi, nicknamed Don Poncho, was born in Cádiz in 1827. Beginning his working career as a carpenter, he seems to have drift into guitar making in the mid-1850s. From 1858-1873, he had his workshop at calle la Palma, 5, and then until his death in 1892 at calle Ruiz de Bustamante, 5. 

Manuel Bonichi y Sala (Cádiz b. 1826- d. after 1881)

Manuel Bonichi y Sala was born in Cádiz in 1826, and was the elder brother of Francisco. Like Francisco, he started as a carpenter. Circa 1866-68, he joined his brother and they probably shared his workshop at calle la Palma 5, and seems to have continued to work with his brother at his workshop on calle Ruiz de Bustamante 5 probably until his death sometime after 1881. He does not seem to have married.

Diego Costa (Cádiz, active c. 1715)

Diego Costa was guitar maker in Cádiz active at the beginning of the eighteenth century. According to his label his shop was on the calle Casta, No. 21. 

Diego Costa Benjumeda  (Cádiz, b. 1817 - d. after 1860).

Diego Costa Benjumeda was born in Cádiz, July 24, 1817 and worked as a carpenter until he married the daughter of the master guitar maker,  José Maria Guerra in 1839. Apprenticing with his father-in-law, by 1843 is appears as a guitar maker working with José Maria Guerra at in workshop on Cuna Vieja 181. In 1844, he set up his own workshop at calle de Cobos 74 where he worked until 1852. He probably died after 1860.

Antonio Castro López (Cádiz, b. c. 1851-d.?) (active 1860s)

Antonio Castro López was born in Cádiz in 1851, and was the son of Francisco de Paula Castro, from whom he received his training, and by 1866 seems to have joined his father's workshop on calle de Santa Elena 13, and continued to work there until his father's death in 1867. It is not know where he went afterwards.

Francisco de Paula Castro (Cádiz, b. c. 1812-d.c.1867)

José María Castro López  (Cádiz, b. 1844 -d. after 1880) active 1860s-1880.

José María Castro López was born in Cádiz in 1844, a son of the guitar maker, Francisco de Paula Castro. He was trained by his father and worked in their workshop at Santa Elena 13 until his father's death in 1867. From 1875-1879, he had his own workshop at calle de la Torre, 52, and was making guitars and bandurrias.

Julio Castro López (Cádiz, b. 1847 -d. ?) active 1860s

Julio Castro López was born in Cádiz in 1844, a son of the guitar maker, Francisco de Paula Castro. He was trained by his father and worked in their workshop at Santa Elena 13 with his brothers until  their father's death in 1867. Afterwards, it is uncertain what he did.

Federico Dañino Wanden-Dike (b. 1816, Active cerca 1850)

Dionisio Guerra (Cádiz, b.c. 1755 - d. c. 1805)

Dionisio Guerra was a guitar maker active in Cádiz during the second half of the eighteenth century. Several addresses are connected with him. He appears to have had a workshop on the calle del Veedor, in 1780  on the Calle de San José, in 1801 at the calle San Bernardo 45. In 1806, his widow was living on the Calle de San José. Dionisio trained his younger brother Josef, as a guitar maker.  Although Dionisio was a member of the Cádiz school, he was not among the early users of fan bracing.

Francisco Guerra Flores (Cádiz, b. c. 1828-d. after 1865).

José Maria Guerra Rodríguez (Cádiz, b.c.1794-d. after 1851 ).

José Maria Guerra was born in Cádiz in 1794. He was the son of José Guerra Pina, a guitar maker. He probably apprenticed with his father, but probably build under his own label until after his father died c. 1830. He seems to have lived for a period in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, but in 1835 moved back to Cádiz. Several addresses in Cadiz are associated with José: Calle de Pasquin, 11 (1839); Calle de los Blancos (1844); Calle de la Cuna Vieja, 181 (1844); Calle de Veronica 80 where he had his workshop from (1844-1847), then at Veronica 20 (1848-49), then at Veronica 156 (1850). In 1851, his workshop was at Calle San Miguel, 40. He had six children, of which Manuel, and Francisco appear to have become guitar makers, another daughter married Diego Costa, another guitar maker.

Josef Guerra Pina (Cádiz, b.1770 -d. after 1829 ).

Josef Guerra Pina (whose first name was also spelled Joseph or José) was born in Cádiz on May 12, 1770. He was the younger brother of Dionisio Guerra by some 15 years, and learned his craft from his brother, the master guitar maker in his workshop on the calle de Veedor. In 1812, he had a workshop on the calle de San Joseph, 94. Sometime around 1816 he moved to Jerez de la Frontera were he lived next at least 1826. In 1829, he appears again to have returned to Cadiz, although he maintained a residence in Jerez de la Frontera. He was the father of Jose Maria Guerra Rodríguez, who followed in his footsteps. The label the guitar show reads Josef Guerra me hizo en Cadiz Calle S. Josef, Año de 1798. Photo courtesy of Ramond Attard

Manuel Guerra Flores (Cádiz b.c. 1827-d. 1899)

Manuel Guerra Flores was born in Cádiz around 1827, and was a son of José Maria Guerra, a guitar maker, and doubtlessly his teacher. In 1835, the family moved back to Cadiz, and continued living with his parents until about 1850. In 1851, we find him working with his brother, Francisco at Calle de San Juan, 73. By 1858, he seems to have gone out on his own, and had his workshop at calle de los Balbos, 42. In 1862, we find his workshop at calle de Comedias, 5. He in 1863, he appears to have rejoined his brother, Francisco at Bilbao 1. In 1867, he briefly had a workshop at Plaza Nieves 4, and then, probably following the death of his brother returned to Bilboa 1, where he worked until he died in 1899.

Antonio Pagés López (b. Osuna, Sevilla 1762 - d. ?? Cádiz)

Antonio Pagés López, a son of Juan Pagés, was born in Osuna, Sevilla in 1762. In 1774, the family to Cádiz. He worked with his father until at least 1794 in his workshop at calle Arco de Garaicoechea, no. 45. He later opened his own workshop on the Real Isla de Leon, (San Fernando, Cádiz).

Francisco Pagés López  (b. Osuna, Sevilla 1773 - d. after 1835 Havana?)

Francisco Pagés López, a son of Juan Pagés, was born in Osuna, Sevilla in 1773. In 1774, the family moved to Cádiz. In 1793, he married Francisca Josefa Benedid,  the daughter of the master guitar maker, Mateo Benedid. He seems nevertheless to have continued working in his father at calle Arco de Garaicoechea, no. 45. until at least 1801. He seems to have immigrated to Havana, Cuba. In 1804, we find him at calle de San Ignacio, no 70, Havana. In 1815 he was in the Real Cuidad de San Fernando; in 1835 he was again in Havana, at his old address.

Joaquín Pagés López (b. Cádiz 1779 - d. 18??)

Joaquín Pagés López, a son of Juan Pagés, was born Cádiz in 1779. Trained by his father, and worked in his father's workshop at calle Arco de Garaicoechea, no. 45. until at least 1810. In 1811, he married María de la Concepción Teresa Butrón and opened a workshop at Bulas Viejas, 122. In 1819, we find him at callejon del los Descalzos.

Joséf Pagés López (B. Osuna, Sevilla 1762, d. Cádiz, 1830)

Joséf Pagés López, a son of Juan Pagés, was born in Osuna, Sevilla in 1762.  In 1774, the family moved to Cádiz.Traned by his father, he probably worked in his father's workshop at calle Arco de Garaicoechea, no. 45. into the 1790s. By 1801, however, he had opened his own workshop at calle de la Armagura, no 13. Around 1816, he moved his shop to Calle de Sacramento, 177. The year he died his workshop was at Calle del Solano, no. 8, but this may not have been his last workshop, as his widow continued to run his guitar shop at calle de la Carne 4 after his death in 1830.

Joseph Pagés  (b.Ecija 174?- Cádiz d. after 1819)

Joseph Pagés, brother of Juan Pages, was probably born in Ecija, Sevilla, and seems to have been the first to go to Cadiz, probably around 1760.  A leading member of the Cádiz school,  Joséf also was among those experimenting with and developing fan bracing. Starting with systems of three braces, like the early guitars of Sanguino and Benedid, his later instruments used five. The Pagés are mention by the composer Dionisio Aguado has among the makers he would recommend.  He was active from the 1790s to 1819.

Juan Pagés  (b. 1742-d.1821, Cádiz, active c. 1775-1821)

Frederico Peirano (Cádiz, b.c. 1833 d. ??)

Frederico Periano was born in San Fernando, Cádiz, around 1833. He seems to have been apprenticed at an early age to Juan Perfumo, as he was listed in 1844, as living with this maker. He seems to have begun to build guitars under his own label in middle  the nineteenth century. He had a shop on the Calle de Allien, no 170; and another label from 1853 gives his address as calle de la Torre, no 25.

Juan Perfumo Masnea (Cádiz, b.c. 1800- d. 1860)

Francisco Pérez Rosales (b. Carmona C1713 -d. 1791, Cádiz, active c. 1760s-1790s)

Francisco Pérez Rosales was born in Carmona, Sevilla in 1713. He apparently apprenticed at age 12 or 13 with Andrés Benítez (1675-1759), a Cádiz guitar maker. By the time in married in 1745, he seems to have established himself as a guitar maker. From 1760 until his death, he had a workshop at Calle San Francisco, 42.  He was also among the early users of fan bracing which are found in his guitars as early as the 1760s. 

Enrique Recio Gibilán (Cádiz, b. 1832-d.1865)

Francisco María Recio Beltrán (Cádiz, b. 1810 - d. after 1866)

Francisco María Recio Beltrán was born in Cádiz, April 19, 1810. His father, José Recio Perini was a carpenter. Nothing seems to be know about his formation as a luthier, but it is probable that his elder brother made the transition and then taught him. When he married Josefa María Caballero Moscoso, he had a master's carpenter's shop at callejon de Peñalva, 155. In 1844, he was living on the calle del Herrón. From 1850 to 1854, he was living at Plaza de Viudes, 101, but in 1859 moved to no 25 on the same street. Between 1864-66, he appears to have shared a  workshop wiith his nephew, José, at calle Flamencos 7.

José María Recio Beltrán (Cádiz, b. 1806 - d. after 1858)

José María Recio Gibilán (Cádiz, b. 1830c-d. after 1865)

José Recio Gibilán was born in Cádiz Oct, 1 1830, and was a son of the guitar maker, José María Recio Beltrán,  He was trained by his father, and worked his father's workshop at calle de la Palma 77, until he married María de la Pastora Prat in 1851. After his marriage he opened a workshop at calle Santa Elena, 330. In 1856, he moved his workshop to Calle San Leandro 4. Widowed around 1858, his brother Enrique, also a widower, joined him. The two men shared this workshop until 1860 when Enrique remarried. In 1864, José's shop was at Plaza Nieves, 5; and in 1865 it was located at calle Flamencos 7.

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