Manuel Contreras

The prestigious cabinetmaker Manuel Contreras set up his own guitar building workshop in 1962, on number 80 of calle Mayor. He soon stood out for his ideas and his ways removed from the conventional norms which dominated the world of guitar design. In 1974 he launched his innovative “Double Top” model, of great beauty and powerful sound. This was followed by the “Guitar-Harp” and the “Alto Guitar”, a favourite of Japanese Niibori Orchestra.

 In 1983 he created the “Carlevaro”, which has no waist on the bass side and no sound hole on the harmonic top. He also created the “Sounding Back Support”, designed for concerts held in large halls, for chamber music and performances with orchestra.

His son, Manuel Contreras II took the baton from his father in 1994. Since then, aside from continuing the family traditions, the luthier has reinvented some models and created others, such as the 10th anniversary model, winner of the International Guitar Contest dedicated to the master Joaquín Rodrigo. Since 2011, the business has been run by María Contreras.

 Both the 1st and 2nd class guitars as well as the professional Flamenco ones are handmade using carefully selected materials. Already considered a brand, pieces by Manuel Contreras, senior and junior, have been and still are distributed all over the world, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Japan and South Africa, and they have received several awards and accolades.