Historic Guitar Makers of Córdoba
These biographies of Historic Spanish guitar makers are works in progress. If you have additional materials, information, sources, photographs, or corrections you wish to share, please contact me. (Reference Works)
Miguel Rodriguez Beneyto (Córdoba 1888-c.1975).
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Miguel Rodriguez Beneyto was born in Córdoba in 1888. In his early teens, he
began playing string instruments including the guitar and bandurrias. His
interest in music soon led him to make instruments. Although it is widely
claimed in print that he apprenticed with Rafael Casana, a luthier who had been
trained by José Ramirez, the family apparently denies this. When he was about 18
years old, Rodriguez set up his own workshop on the calle Barberos. About three
years later, he moved his shop to the calle San Fernando. In 1939, he
again moved his workshop to its ultimate location on Alfaras. In 1933, Manuel
was joined in his workshop by his 12 year old twin sons, Rafael and Miguel Jr.
In time, the instruments from the workshop were made collaboratively. Rodriguez
was a fastidious craftsman. For example, he kept wood from each guitar he
made so that should it ever need repair, he could repair it with the same wood
with which it had been made. Among the stories that Juan Montero Aguilar (a
guitar maker in Córdoba who knew him) told me is that on one occasion Don Miguel
to visit him with one of his sons, and was admiring the very clean work Juan was
doing on the interior of a guitar he was building. His son wondered aloud "Why
bother, no one will see it?" to which the elder Rodriguez replied, "the maker
can see it, that's enough." Miguel Sr. died in the mid-1970's. Rafael tragically
died at the age of 44. Today the Rodriguez classical and flamenco guitars are
highly sought-after and continue to soar in price. It is my understanding that
Miguel Jr. died recently.
Castro Marin Sound Gallery Sample 1968 Miguel Rodriguez flamenca negra guitar |
Miguel Rodriguez Serrano (Córdoba, b. 1921- d. 1998)
Miguel Rodriguez jr. was the son of Miguel Rodriguez. At age 12, Miguel and his twin brother, Rafael, began their apprenticeship with their father. In 1945, Miguel married Rafaela Alamo Urbano, and they had two children, Miguel and José. Miguel's brother, Rafael died in 1965, so following his father's death in the mid-1970s, Miguel Jr. took over the workshop.
Rafael Rodriguez Serrano (Córdoba, b. 1921- d. 1965)
Son of Miguel Rodriguez, from the age of 12 Rafael was trained by his father--along with his twin brother, Miguel. Unfortunately, Rafael Rodriguez died tragically in 1965.
José ("Pepe") Rodriguez Alamo (Córdoba, b. 1941- d. 1996)
José Rodriguez Alamo, know as "Pepe," was the son of Miguel Rodriguez Serrano. Although his brother, Miguel, choose an industrial career, he continued in the family business, and was not only an active guitar maker until his death in 1996, but also a professor in the conservatory of music in Cordoba.
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