The Spanish luthier Felix Manzanero was born in Madrid in 1937. He had learned a little about guitar making from Modesto Borreguero (1893-1969)-- who been trained by Manuel Ramirez (1864-1916)-- and was a friend of the family. So, at the age of 14, when he learned that the Ramirez shop was looking for someone, he applied. Felix Manzanero began his apprenticeship under José Ramirez II (1885-1957) doing varnishing and building bandurrias, and working along side Alfonso Benito and Jose Ramirez III, the only others in the shop. While at Ramirez he secretly made his first guitar out of scraps of wood he saved. When Jose Ramirez III saw it, he was impressed, and then allowed Felix to build guitars, eventually promoting him to a master craftsman. After 12 years there, Felix started his own business and workshop. Felix Manzanero was one of the foremost luthiers of classical and flamenco guitars in the Madrid school. His classical guitars won such prestigious prizes as First Place in Acoustics in the Concurso Internacional de Maestros Guitarreros in Tarbes, France in 1989. He is also mentioned as among the best guitar makers in Spain in books by Cano, Evans, Mairants, Morish, and Urlik.
When Felix Manzanero (1937-2019) retired in 2010, his son, Ivan Manzanero, (b. 1960), who built his first guitar in 1979 under his father’s supervision, took over the shop. Ivan has carried on his father’s tradition and builds concert quality guitars that would make his father proud.
His flamenco and classical guitars are completely handmade using traditional methods, and the finest quality woods. The wood he uses is at least 25 years old, giving guitars a special sound, and guaranteeing they won't crack or warp.