Archtop live
Hear the instrument in a real performance, with all its dynamics and nuance.
Lutherie workshop · Madrid
Music
begins in the wood.
Handmade guitars and violins, piece by piece, in a workshop where woodworking and music have long gone hand in hand.
01
Handmade
Every instrument is built from start to finish at the workbench, without shortcuts.
02
Self-taught craft
Years of woodworking, specialist courses and plenty of practice lie behind every piece.
03
String instruments
Classical and archtop guitars, violins and electric instruments: making, repair and setup.
Sound test
An archtop has to be heard.
Two performances to hear the guitar’s character: its acoustic response, the detail in every note and its amplified voice.
Another voice for the archtop
A second take to appreciate its range, projection and personality.
Acoustic take · 01
Acoustic take · 02
Electric take
Videos are played from YouTube. Audio files load only when you press play.
The luthier
From woodworking to lutherie, unhurried.
Onofre came to lutherie by two paths that eventually met: woodworking, which he taught himself over many years, and music, which had always been close by. At some point, he stopped seeing wood as merely material and began seeing it as an instrument in waiting.
The rest came from specialist courses, taking instruments apart and putting them back together to understand why they sounded the way they did, and many hours at the bench. That learning remains active: every guitar and violin leaving the workshop is also a new question about the wood from which it is made.
Materials
Carefully selected woods, with respect for the way each one behaves.
Detail
Purfling, inlays and finishes considered piece by piece, never as a production run.
Sound
Every adjustment is made with the instrument’s sound and playability in mind.
Gallery
What comes off the workbench.
A selection of guitars, violins and the making process itself, as it happens in the workshop.
Services
Three ways to work with you.
From a new instrument made to your requirements to the setup your current one needs.
Custom builds
Guitars and violins made from scratch, piece by piece.
Every instrument begins with a sketch and a conversation: wood, scale length, sound and form are decided with you before a single gouge is used. The whole process, from selecting the wood to assembly and varnishing, is done by hand in the workshop.
Repair and restoration
Cracks, knocks, loose joints and older instruments that deserve to keep sounding.
From a crack in the soundboard to the complete restoration of an inherited instrument. The original is respected, using techniques and woods compatible with the instrument.
Setup and adjustments
Truss rods, nuts, fretwork and electronics so the instrument responds as it should.
Truss-rod adjustment, nut and bridge shaping, fret levelling and polishing, plus electronics inspection or installation.
Frequently asked questions
Before you bring in your instrument.
Some common questions about commissions, repairs and restorations at the workshop.
How long does a custom guitar take to build?
Each instrument is considered individually. The first step is understanding what you are looking for, how you would like the instrument to be and which features matter to you, so we can decide together on the best approach.
Do you provide repair estimates?
Yes, with no obligation. Ideally, bring in the instrument or send detailed photos of the issue so we can offer an initial assessment.
Do you work on instruments by other makers?
Yes. Guitars and violins, electric or acoustic and from any maker, come through the workshop for setup or restoration.
Contact and commissions
Let’s talk about your instrument.
Tell us what you need—a commission, a repair or a simple setup—and we will reply with an initial assessment or estimate.