May 10th: The Guitar Maker

In a one of the Granada blogs I described walking through “Guitar Street” and admiring the flamenco guitars in the windows of the closed shops. On another day the shops were open and I went in to have a closer look and try one. It had a nice tone, but was it worth the money? Unsure, I left it.

But the idea of buying a flamenco guitar in Spain grew on me, and with the internet to help research what would be worth buying, I came up with the Burguet Guitar factory in Valencia. Here’s a picture from their website featuring Amalio Burguet, the master craftsman himself: probably as substantial as Mr Kipling, I thought, but good marketing.



They had replied to my email a few weeks previously to say that they do sell direct from the factory, so as Valencia is only an hour away from Javea, off we went to have a look. Little problem: haven’t brought the camera. The factory address was in a busy industrial complex on the outskirts of Valencia. No quirky little cottage industry here, but a modern medium sized unit that looked neat, tidy and wholesome externally, and had their business been in food products, you would have been happy to sample their pork pies.

We press the bell and are admitted by automatic door, revealing a stairs that indicates the direction of travel. So up we climb. The air is full of the aroma of wood and glue. I now have to take back all my Mr Kipling comparisons, because, rounding the corner at the top of the stairs, we come face to face with Amalio Burguet himself – instantly recognisable from the internet publicity. We are welcomed in and his daughter shows me the guitars I am interested in. One in particular appeals. It has a lovely tone, and at something like half the retail shop price.

Fortunately for me, another customer also in the showroom happens to be an ace flamenco guitarist. He has been playing amazing pieces all the time we’ve been there. Well, if you don’t ask…
He’s very amenable and takes my short-listed guitar, launching into some unbelievably intricate flamenco. He pronounced the guitar perfectly satisfactory. After that it was a done deal, and Jane bought it for me. You can see below it is a beautiful instrument, and I am delighted with it, but this may not be the sentiment of the neighbouring campers!