Manuel VELAZQUEZ
1976/1981
German Spruce soundboard
Brazilian rosewood back and sides
Ebony fingerboard, 650 mm string length, 52 mm nut width
$14,000
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Manuel VELAZQUEZ
Velazquez workshop Puerto Rico - R2 - the "Raphael"
Year unknown, perhaps 1964
German Spruce soundboard
Brazilian rosewood back and sides
Ebony fingerboard, 650 mm string length, 52 mm nut width
Landstorfer Tuning machines
$6600
Built in the Velazquez workshop in Puerto Rico under the guidance of Manuel Velazquez, this instrument has most of the unique characteristics of the master; clarity, depth, nuance, brilliance. This is a remarkable guitar.
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Manuel Velazquez
Manuel Velazquez was born in Puerto Rico in 1917. He began his career as a furniture maker, and built his first guitar at the age of 12. He learned the craft from a brother who repaired violins and guitars, and from a relative in Spain who sent him written instructions. Impressed by Velazquez's developing workmanship, guitar maestro Jorge Rubiano encouraged him to devote himself entirely to guitar making.
In 1942, Velazquez moved to New York City where he initially worked at a shipyard, and later opened his workshop. Here he developed a fine reputation as a luthier due to the brilliant tone and impeccable craftsmanship of his guitars. In order to satisfy the growing demand for his instruments, he quit his cabinet making job in the shipyard and established his workshop in Manhattan where this guitar was made.
Velazquez returned to his native island of Puerto Rico in 1962. Here, sponsored by a government agency, he began to build guitars again in larger quantities until his return to New York in 1966.
After his return to New York in 1967, Velazquez worked alone, limiting his production to 10 to 15 guitars a year. Due to personal reasons, Velazquez again moved back to Puerto Rico in 1972, with his wife, three daughters, and son. He continued to produce guitars with the same dedication and quality that has given him worldwide recognition. The shape of the guitar and the depth of the body always remained traditional, patterned after Hauser's guitars.
In 1982, Manuel Velazquez again returned to the United States, this time settling in Arlington, Virginia, to be close to his first grandchild. Here he furthered his reputation as one of the master luthiers, gaining honorable tribute in 1989 by the Philadelphia Classical Guitar Society, Inc.
Velazquez moved to Florida in 1991 to retire. There he helped his son, Alfredo, begin a career as a guitar maker, as well as one of his daughters, Graciela. Due to the continuous demand for his instruments, he frequently returned to his workshop to fulfill "a few special orders". He died on April 4, 2014.The shape of the guitar and the depth of the body remained traditional, patterned after Hauser's guitars. Manuel
Manuel Velazquez was a world-class builder of the Spanish style guitar. Today, his guitars are sought and praised by professional guitarists from all parts of the world, many of whom consider his work second to none. A number of his colleagues have rated him as perhaps the greatest luthier working outside of Europe. Velazquez guitars have been owned by many notable guitarists, including Paul Simon, Jorge Morel, Rey de la Torre, Harry Belafonte, Ichiro Suzuki, Earl Klugh, and Eliot Fisk.