BARBERO GUITAR

Marcelo Barbero (1904-1956) began his career in Madrid, Spain, in 1923 in the workshop of Jose Ramirez I, who died that year. He , worked for Jose Ramirez ll until 1930 when he began repairing and building instruments from his own premises. ln 1936 he was called up to fight in the Spanish Civil War, before returning to Ramirez, while also moonlighting as  a repairer. ln 1944, he was hired by the widow of Santos Hernandez to ' complete numerous guitars left unfinished when Santos died. During this time Barbero also made instruments in his own name, and when he started his own workshop some years later his guitars initially showed a marked influence from Santos Hernandez. In time he moved away from the very light and bright-sounding flamenco pattern to a fuller sound intended for guitarists who wished to play solo rather than merely accompanying singers and dancers. He also made classical guitars, in rosewood rather than the cypress used for flamenco instruments.