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Product Description

Neck：Cedro
Fingerboard：Ebony
Finish：top /Shellac 　back & sides/Shellac
Tuning Machine：Barnett
String height：1string　3.5mm／6string　4.0mm

[Profile]
Pablo Sanchez Otero (b. 1986) is a luthier based in A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. Originally trained in architecture, he shifted his focus to woodworking and guitar making, inspired by his love for the craft and music. He studied furniture design locally before training under Jean Pierre Sardin in Barcelona (2009) and furthered his skills in early instrument making, including violins and Renaissance lutes. Pablo attended masterclasses with renowned luthier José Luis Romanillos, whose meticulous approach deeply influenced his work.

He also studied acoustic and electric guitar making in the UK and completed instrument restoration training at ILSA in Belgium, where he taught until 2019. Now back in A Coruña, he creates and restores instruments, blending traditional Spanish Torres-style craftsmanship with fresh, nuanced sound and elegant design. His work includes classical guitars, bouzoukis, mandolins, ukuleles, and acoustic guitars, gaining recognition both in Spain and internationally.


[Description]
We are pleased to present ‘La Retornada’, a guitar crafted by Pablo Sanchez Otero, completed in the summer of 2024 and bearing serial number #32.

This instrument was originally started during Otero’s teaching years at ILSA in Belgium, and was not initially intended for sale. Instead, it was displayed at several guitar festivals, making it a rare and special piece in his collection. Built to the same specifications as his signature Torres model—based on Antonio de Torres’s 1888 SE114—it reflects Otero’s unique design sensibilities while honoring the Spanish luthiery tradition.

The soundboard is made of European spruce, and the back and sides are crafted from genuine wild Indian rosewood, harvested in the 1950s and exported to the UK. Its naturally striking grain is a standout feature. The finish is a delicate hand-applied shellac, giving the guitar a quiet elegance and modern refinement unique to Otero’s aesthetic.

The bracing pattern closely follows Torres’s SE114 design: two harmonic bars above the soundhole, one below, and thin reinforcing plates on both treble and bass sides. A pair of short diagonal braces mirrors the curve of the sides. Below the waist, there are seven symmetrical fan braces, supported at the bottom by two V-shaped closing bars. The resonance pitch is set slightly above F♯.

The neck features a slim, C-shaped profile that feels compact by Spanish standards—comfortable even for players with smaller hands. The action measures 3.5 mm (1st string) and 4.0 mm (6th string) at the 12th fret. While the treble side is slightly higher, the moderate string tension maintains playability. There is 2.5–3.5 mm of saddle height remaining for further adjustment. The instrument weighs 1.43 kg.

Tonally, this guitar offers a unique sense of spatial depth. Its deep, grounded bass and crisp treble tones are brought to the forefront, while the midrange provides subtle support. Each voice in polyphonic passages emerges with sculptural clarity. Though powerful in sound—as expected from Indian rosewood—it retains a calm and organic quality, giving music a rich, atmospheric presence.

The name ‘La Retornada’, meaning “The One Who Returned”, reflects the luthier’s personal journey—having traveled from Spain to the UK and Belgium, and ultimately returning home to A Coruña, where this exceptional guitar was completed.