Description
Carlos Juan Busquiel is one of those rare modern builders who bridges the lineage of Torres and Romanillos while still leaving his own unmistakable stamp. Built in Spain in 2004, this #171 classical is the real deal: a cedar top paired with Central and South American rosewood back and sides, French polished by hand, 650 mm scale and a 52 mm nut. It’s not just materials on paper: this set of CSA rosewood has provenance straight out of guitar folklore, sourced from the workshop of Francisco Salvador Jiménez, the great-grandson of Antonio de Torres. This is one of the last guitars Carlos made with that stash of wood, and it shows in every note.
The sound is exactly what you’d hope for from a Busquiel: thick, weighty trebles, basses with body and authority, and a clarity that cuts through without ever feeling clinical. The whole instrument feels lightly built and alive under the hands, yet with a firmness of tone that holds up whether you’re playing Renaissance repertoire, modern works, or anything in between. Projection and power are there in spades, but always wrapped in that lush, traditional Spanish voice.
Busquiel’s background (trained under Rafael López Porras and guided by José Luis Romanillos) is evident in the build: Torres-inspired fan bracing, elegant proportions, and a feel that keeps faith with the tradition while pushing it forward. He’s handled and studied guitars from Arias, Ramírez, Santos Hernández, Simplicio and more, and you hear that education in the balance and refinement here.
An exceptional classical guitar with a serious backstory, and a piece of wood history that won’t come again. Comes in its original case.
Serial: 171
Made in Spain