At an early age, Paco Santiago Marín began to learn the art of classical guitar lutherie alongside his legendary uncle, Antonio Marín Montero. Over 50 years have passed and today, Paco Santiago makes some of the most wonderful classical guitars in the world.
Paco’s guitars are artisan masterpieces and have a clear, elegant, lyrical, balanced, and powerful sound. An outstanding craftsman, Paco limits his output to two guitars at a time. While at his shop recently, Paco showed me one of his very special guitars – the second guitar that he ever made – from 1967. How the guitar came back to him, exactly 40 years later, is a wonderful story.
It begins in 1968 while Paco was serving in the Spanish Navy. During those years, Paco would earn additional income by giving guitar and solfege lessons to his commanding officer’s daughter and subsequently his captain’s wife. It was during this service, when he was financially hard-pressed, that Paco sold his own guitar to the captain. Paco eventually completed his military service and went on with his career.
It was not until 40 years later, in 2007, that someone contacted Paco to tell him they had one of his guitars. This gentleman had received the guitar as part of an inheritance from his father, and he was looking for Paco so that he could give the guitar a restoration and assess its value.
When the guitar was brought to Paco’s shop, he soon realized that this was the guitar that he had sold 40 years earlier to his captain. Fortunately, Paco and the gentleman were able to negotiate a price and Paco bought back the guitar.
Here are some photos I took over the years, including Paco holding his 1967 guitar, and two beautiful historic photos that Paco shared with me.
Antonio Marín Montero and Paco Santiago Marín. Granada, Spain ca. 1965.
Paco Santiago Marín. Granada, Spain 2015 & 2013.
Paco Santiago, Billy Arcila & Mar Camina López. Granada, Spain 2014.
Paco with the second guitar he ever made, labeled “Sobrino de A. Marín 1967″
Granada, Spain 2013.
Antonio Marín Montero and Paco Santiago Marín. Granada, Spain ca. 1965.
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