Angel Benito Aguado

Angel Benito Aguado Guitars at GuitarsOnline

The Luthier - Angel Benito Aguado

Born in Madrid, Spain, in 1949, the luthier Angel Benito Aguado began to work as a carpenter, learning the fundamentals of wood working when he was but a young boy. At age 12, he built his first guitar By the time he was twenty-five, he had established himself as professional guitar maker. For many years Angel collaborated with the celebrated Spanish maestro, Jose Miguel Moreno, building for him and the ancient music ensembles he directs a variety of historical plucked stringed instruments: vihuelas, baroque guitars, lutes, theorbos, and romantic guitars.

Angel is unique among guitar makers in that he cannot be claimed by any of the guitar Schools, being largely self- taught.

He collaborated early in his making career with Jose Miguel Moreno and his wife Lourdes.

He continues to build such historical instruments, as well as concert classical guitars by hand using traditional methods and designs. Although he has drunk deeply from the Madrid school well, he does not build the large bodied guitars associated with the Madrid school. Rather, although they are not copies, his handmade classical guitars are inspired by those of Antonio Torres (1817-1892) and show exquisite workmanship, are wonderfully playable, and possess a rich, refined tone.

Out of this early collaboration date many of the early music guitars, but the early music clarity and sensitivity carries over into the building of his contemporary guitars such as the Marizapalos, Marieta and Espanoleta.

They are all incredibly easy to play on the left hand and incredibly musical. Although the Marizalos is only an advanced Study model it boasts 1AA grade aged tone woods and has superb clarity and musicality and real concert presence this would explain why so many Madrid conservatorium students use a Marizapalos to undertake the arduous and long guitar qualification and also why on a Friday evening his workshop is abuzz with both established concert performers and up an coming players.

I was impressed the first time I arrived at Angel’s workshop to find how well-tuned and balanced Angel’s creations are.

The notes cascade and “play nicely” with each other with a tinkling musicality that is refreshing; add to this the ease of playing and this becomes an enchanting guitar that you can just let your fingers drift up and down the fretboard, even on the difficult pieces you’re still trying to bed down.