14 images Created 1 Nov 2010
Mexico-Michoacan-Paracho, the best guitars of the world
MEXICO-PARACHO. THE WORLD'S BEST GUITARS
Paracho, a legendary Tarascan village of guitar makers in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Michoacàn, is probably the world's capital of guitars. Paracho artisans have been perfecting their craft, the best handmade guitars of Mexico, for over 200 years. Each guitar, made from finest woods, has it's own unique styling and beautiful craftsmanship. In Paracho, with a population of around 15,000, work between 1000 and 1200 guitar makers, the main street is lined with stores and workshops selling guitars but only a couple of the workshops on the main street belong to the better makers. Paracho's makers divide their production into three classes and the great bulk of makers produce popular guitars directed at the national market. Estudio guitars are better built instruments, usually with local woods such as palo escrito. Not much more than a dozen build true concert guitars, and these makers, generally speaking, have benefited from classes given in Paracho by world class luthiers from Spain, Germany, and the USA. Some of these makers, like Abel Garcia, have acheived world class reputations and have long waiting lists with prices that match those of Spanish builders.
Paracho, a legendary Tarascan village of guitar makers in the Sierra Madre Mountains of Michoacàn, is probably the world's capital of guitars. Paracho artisans have been perfecting their craft, the best handmade guitars of Mexico, for over 200 years. Each guitar, made from finest woods, has it's own unique styling and beautiful craftsmanship. In Paracho, with a population of around 15,000, work between 1000 and 1200 guitar makers, the main street is lined with stores and workshops selling guitars but only a couple of the workshops on the main street belong to the better makers. Paracho's makers divide their production into three classes and the great bulk of makers produce popular guitars directed at the national market. Estudio guitars are better built instruments, usually with local woods such as palo escrito. Not much more than a dozen build true concert guitars, and these makers, generally speaking, have benefited from classes given in Paracho by world class luthiers from Spain, Germany, and the USA. Some of these makers, like Abel Garcia, have acheived world class reputations and have long waiting lists with prices that match those of Spanish builders.
