Ginés Martínez

Vael de Ginés

Luthier

©Sergio Miguelez

©Pilar Martinez

©Sergio Miguelez

Instruments from nature and man

Ginés crafts unique and personalised instruments
The name of his workshop comes from the Hispanic Vaélico god
His pieces are often used by artists on stage

Ginés Martínez started studying musicology, but his passion for craftsmanship led him to dedicate himself to instrument making full-time. "One day, I was walking through the city, and I noticed a shop window with a guitar, and at the back was an older man with glasses perched on the tip of his nose and an apron full of dust. I entered that shop, and at that moment, I was captivated by the smell of wood, the tools, and the guitars that were there. From that moment, my only thought was that if that man could build guitars with his hands and be in such a wonderful place as that workshop, why could I not do the same?" explains Ginés. Over time, he had several masters, including Jesús Reolid, José Ángel Chacón, José Catoira, Ginés Marín González, and Sergi Marti. "The name of my workshop embodies a philosophy rooted in the connection with nature, simultaneously preserving it. I strive for a harmonious balance between human skill and respect for our natural environment."

Interview

©Sergio Miguelez

Did you already have an inclination for craftsmanship and music in your childhood?: From the beginning, I felt love at first sight for this profession. Even as a child, I loved creating things with my hands: gathering sticks, stones, and mud and imagining it was a castle or a boat. All that imagination merged with music because, as a child, I also started playing various instruments, such as the trumpet and the guitar.
At what point did you combine these two passions?: These two passions came together in my adolescence, although I was not familiar with the luthier profession. I began to build some small instruments like reed flutes, drums, and the occasional didgeridoo. I chose this profession because it combined two things I loved: music and creativity.
What skills should a luthier like you have?: In my work, I specialise in creating highly customised guitars. For this, it is essential to have developed skills such as design and extensive knowledge of materials to achieve both excellent sound quality and unique aesthetics.
How do you innovate when creating your instruments?: In my case, all the fingerboards of my guitars are cut using CNC technology, which means that when playing, the frets are cut with millimetric precision, thus gaining tuning accuracy on a guitar.

Ginés Martínez is an expert artisan: he began his career in 2014 and he started teaching in 2022