Paulino Bernabe　[パウリーノ・ベルナベ] Original model

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:REISCHEL
String Height(1st):2.5mm
String Height(6th):3.5mm

〔Luthier Information〕
Paulino Bernabé I (1932–2007) was a master guitar maker from Madrid, Spain. He was also an accomplished guitarist himself and is known to have studied guitar performance under Daniel Fortea, a prominent disciple of Francisco Tárrega.

As a luthier, Bernabé earned the deep trust of José Ramírez III and served as workshop foreman at the Ramírez workshop from the 1950s through the 1960s. During this period, he played a crucial role in supporting the golden age of this world-renowned brand, firmly establishing his name in the history of classical guitar making.

After becoming independent in 1969, he continued to build guitars based on traditional methods while developing his own distinctive approach. In 1974, he was awarded a Gold Medal at the International Crafts Exhibition held in Munich, Germany.
He is also widely known among classical guitar enthusiasts as the maker of the famous 10-string guitar that came to be played by Narciso Yepes.

Although Paulino Bernabé I sadly passed away in 2007, the brand has since been carried on by the second generation and continues to enjoy a strong international reputation as one of Madrid’s most respected guitar makers.

〔Instrument Information〕
Classical guitar built in 1988. Scale length is 650 mm.

This instrument delivers a powerful, weighty sound with truly impressive projection. It features the hallmark Bernabé response—an extremely distinctive attack in which dense sound is released instantaneously—producing a pleasingly firm, almost percussive tonal character, reminiscent of striking solid wood.

The volume is abundant, with consistent sound pressure from bass to treble, allowing the brilliance of the high register to emerge naturally. Balance across all registers is excellent, and the sheer power of the sound is often compared to that of a Fleta, making it truly striking.

Finished entirely in shellac. The tuning machines are by Reischl. The neck is straight and offers excellent playability, with virtually no fret wear. String height is set at 2.5 mm on the 1st string and 3.5 mm on the 6th string, with approximately 1.0 mm of remaining saddle height for future adjustment. While the string tension is set on the firmer side, overall playability remains very comfortable.

As the instrument is over 35 years old, minor signs of normal use are present. These include a shallow dent on the treble side of the neck near the 3rd fret, light playing marks around the soundhole, a single dent at the center of the lower bout on the top, and several small shallow dents on the treble side. None of these significantly affect the appearance. There is no history of cracks or repairs, and the guitar remains in very good condition.
A hard case is included.