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Home » Luthiers » Bernabe, Paulino (b.1932- Spain)

Bernabe, Paulino (b.1932- Spain)

Sunday, 18 September, 2005

“Some guitar makers feel they have built the best instrument ever. But I firmly believe that until this day, no one has come close to the work of Stradivarius. I don´t know what my best guitar sounds like - I haven’t built it yet.”

Not merely an incomparable luthier, Paulino Bernabé (1932) is also an extremely affable man and an excellent guitarist. The combination guitarist/luthier is rare indeed in the world of professional guitarmaking - Bernabé is a real exception. It was only while studying the guitar (among others with Daniël Fortea, a renowned pupil of Tarréga) that he discovered a passion for building guitars. Prior to his period as an apprentice to José Ramirez, the young Paulino had already acquired some experience of woodworking during a brief existence as a furniture maker.

Bernabé´s career as a luthier begins at Ramirez in 1954, a time when Andrès Segovia provided the great breakthrough for José III by playing the guitars made by Paulino’s boss and teacher. Before long, the young luthier became supervisor of the workshop. He put his initials on the guitars he built for Ramirez during this period, and instruments bearing the letters P.B. are now highly coveted collector´s items.

In 1969 Paulino set out on his own and started his own workshop in Madrid. Only then did he embark on his quest to realize ´his´ ideal guitar sound, in part by innovating some major aspects of bracing design.

Paulino Bernabé´s breakthrough year is 1973, when Narciso Yepes, one of the guitar heroes of the seventies, starts playing on a 10-string guitar built by the master. This instrument was to accompany the maestro until he died, both on the stage and in the studio. In 1974, Bernabé won the gold medal at the prestigious International Artisans Exhibition in Munich.

At the beginning of the eighties, the luthier moved his workshop into his home to allow him to work on his instruments in tranquility. From that date, the old workshop in Madrid became the domain of Bernabé’s staff. The relocation resulted in numerous new ideas and developments, including the complex interior design that has been a hallmark of this guitars since then. Bernabé continues to work in his shop, side by side with his most devoted pupil, his son Paulino jr.

Paulino Bernabé´s guitars have a loud, full bass and strong highs. Their range is perfectly balanced and they are capable of producing substantial volume. A Bernabé is highly responsive and its projection is unrivalled.

[copied from http://www.casabenelly.nl]

Played by eg. Narciso Yepes, Martha Masters, Nobert Kraft and Alexandre Lagoya.

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