Vicente Carrillo 2026 Gabriela II – Cedar, 65 cm
Vicente Carrillo’s Gabriela II is his contemporary double-top concert guitar, built around the idea of responsiveness — an instrument that speaks easily, stays balanced across the registers, and lets sound open up without resistance. In this cedar-topped version, that character leans warm and round. Notes bloom almost the moment they’re played, asking very little effort from the right hand, and the attack stays soft rather than biting. It’s a guitar that feels welcoming from the first note, with a smooth tonal surface that rewards shaping and nuance over sheer force.
That effortless response pays off especially in demanding repertoire. Rapid passages stay fluid since the player isn’t fighting the instrument to draw out tone, and slower, singing lines benefit from the cedar top’s rounded warmth and gentle attack. Carrillo’s light lattice bracing helps sustain carry evenly across the range, while the double-top construction is built to boost projection without sacrificing that quick, easy response. The voice that results is full-bodied but never heavy — present without ever turning aggressive.
For this edition of the Gabriela II, Carrillo pairs the cedar double top with a carefully chosen set of Madagascar rosewood for the back and sides. The 650 mm scale length and 52 mm nut width offer a comfortable, spacious playing feel that suits the guitar’s relaxed, low-effort voice. Altogether, this cedar Gabriela II is defined by warmth and accessibility — an instrument that opens up under a light touch, softens the edges of the attack, and leaves the player free to focus on phrasing, color, and musical flow.
Vicente Carrillo classical guitar Gabriela II – double-top specificacion:
- Top: Cedar/cedard ouble-top
- Body: Madagascar Rosewood
- Purfling: Brazilian Cedar
- Fingerboard: African Ebonty
- Neck: Cedar
- Bridge: Madagascar Rosewood
- Truss rod installed
- Finish: Nitrocellulose lacquer
- Scale: 650mm
- Nut: 52mm
- Hardshell case included
- Year: 2026
The Carrillo family’s guitar-making tradition dates back to 1744 in “Manchuela Conquense,” known today as Casasimarro — a town that’s been called “El pueblo de las Guitarras” (“The Town of Guitars”) since the 1800s. Vicente Carrillo, now the seventh generation of luthiers in the family, continues to build his instruments there.
His craftsmanship hasn’t gone unrecognized: he received the “Regional Craftsmanship Award” in 2009 and the “National Award” in 2010. His guitars stand out for their distinctive tone, balancing deep bass with clear, singing trebles. Rather than resting on tradition alone, his workshop keeps experimenting with different building techniques, pushing forward the broader understanding of lutherie as a craft.
His instruments have found their way into the hands of major international artists — among them Paco de Lucía, Tomatito, J.M. Cañizarez, El Niño Josele, Rafael Cañizares, Javier Limón, Keith Richards, and Josemi Carmona of Ketama.
But Vicente Carrillo’s impact goes beyond the guitars themselves. Through his commitment to sustaining and evolving the craft, he’s become something of an ambassador for Spain’s cultural heritage. His workshop functions as more than a production space — it’s a hub of creativity and tradition, keeping the legacy of fine Spanish guitar-making alive for the generations that follow.
