Stephen Hill ~ Luthier

The Flamenco Guitar

At 18 I started my making with a strong interest in Flamenco, wanting to build myself a good guitar to play so I could travel to spain and learn. Having completed a course with Paco Pena in Cordoba I travelled Andalucia for many months, ending up finally in Granada.

Traditionally it has seemed that only the spaniards make true authentic flamencos, the making of which demands much more than just craftsmanship. A great flamenco guitar has at its heart a soul strongly shaped by the elements from its native land Spain, earth, air fire and water. It must be capable of great finess and sensitivity, coupled with driving force and brittle attack, able to evoke the ancient roots of flamenco in both the cante and baile, as well as solo. I have been gaining acceptance as a flamenco maker, in and outside of spain due perhaps to my love of flamenco, understanding of spanish culture and I am also a fluent spanish speaker which has helped me cross the barriers.

I construct using the traditional combination of spruce and mediteranean cypress, producing a lightly built but powerful earthy instrument for solo playing or accompaniment.

My cypress has come from Spain, Italy, Turkey, and even southern France but some players opt for a flamenco negra built using rosewood for the back and sides instead of cypress. This gives a more sustaining and darker sound, good for concert use. Currently 50% of my production is for flamenco guitars.

I currently live in the south of Spain, in a village called La Herradura, working on my guitars and giving one month masterclasses in guitarbuilding.

Flamenco Players such as Emilio Maya, Juan Martin, Jeronimo Maya, Enrique del Melchor, Paco Fernandez, Philip John Lee, and Paco Pena have all tried my guitars and have given their approval!

Please read an article in classical guitar magazine

Images

front

side

Head

Rosette

Music

Andrew Robinson

ricardo de la juana

ricardo de la juana 2