Paulino Bernabe　[パウリーノ・ベルナベ] Especial

Product Description

Neck:Cedro
Fingerboard:Ebony
Finish(Top):Shellac
Finish(Back & Sides):Shellac
Tuning Machines:Rubner
String Height(1st):2.9mm
String Height(6th):4.1mm

［Profile］
Paulino Bernabe I (1932–2007) was a distinguished guitar maker based in Madrid, Spain. He was also an accomplished guitarist and famously studied under Daniel Fortea, a prominent pupil of Francisco Tárrega.

Bernabe began working as an apprentice in the workshop of José Ramírez III in 1954. By the latter half of the 1950s, his abilities had earned him the position of foreman, making him one of the key craftsmen behind the golden age of the Ramírez workshop. Guitars he built during this period bear the “PB” stamp, and, together with the “MT” stamp of fellow master craftsman Mariano Tezanos Martín, these instruments are regarded as particularly important examples among vintage Ramírez guitars.

Bernabe became independent in 1969 and continued developing his own distinctive instruments while remaining rooted in traditional Spanish guitar-making methods. In 1972, he built the famous 10-string guitar for Narciso Yepes, which Yepes would use throughout his career. The 10-string concept itself, however, had originally been developed by José Ramírez III in collaboration with Yepes and completed in 1964. In 1974, Bernabe was awarded a Gold Medal at the International Craft Fair in Munich, Germany.

Although his work initially developed under the strong influence of the Ramírez tradition, Bernabe established a distinctive approach to tonal design, particularly through innovative internal construction. From the 1990s onward, his instruments increasingly featured elaborate aesthetics and a substantial, richly detailed character, exemplified by high-end models such as the Imperial and Royal series introduced around 2000. He established himself as one of the leading high-end makers of the Madrid school.

His son, Paulino Bernabe II (born 1960), grew up around his father's workshop and formally began his apprenticeship at the age of 17. After more than 20 years of training and working alongside his father, he took over the brand following Paulino Bernabe I's death in 2007. Today, Paulino Bernabe II continues his father's tradition while developing a broader range of instruments suited to contemporary players, and the brand remains one of the prominent names of the Madrid school.

［Instrument Description］
This is a 2001 Paulino Bernabe I Especial, pre-owned. During this period, Bernabe offered several models in his higher-end range, with instruments differentiated by materials and specifications. The Especial was one of the more widely produced models alongside the Concierto, and is recognized as a representative example of the Bernabe sound of this era.

The internal bracing is particularly distinctive. Two harmonic bars are positioned above and below the soundhole, with a thin oval reinforcement plate between the upper bar and the neck block, as well as a circular reinforcement surrounding the soundhole beneath the rosette. Below the soundhole, two diagonal bars connect the central area beneath the harmonic bar to the lower bouts of the treble and bass sides. Two symmetrical closing bars are positioned toward the bottom of the instrument, creating a diamond-shaped structural arrangement around the bridge plate.

Within this diamond-shaped area are three longitudinal braces following the grain of the soundboard, together with a reinforcement plate approximately the size of the bridge plate. The lowest bass-side brace is divided by the reinforcement plate, making four sections in total. This distinctive bracing layout was a standard feature of the Especial model during this period. The braces are approximately 10 mm wide and up to 7 mm high, with a largely symmetrical construction. The resonance is set slightly above G.

The Bernabe sound of this period is known for its powerful, percussive attack, strong projection, and distinctly woody character, typical of the Madrid school. This instrument retains those characteristic qualities while offering an unusually refined and concentrated sound. The tone has excellent depth without excessive spread, and the response is highly sensitive to the player's touch. Its clear articulation, refined expression, and rich tonal nuance make this a particularly outstanding example of the model.

Another characteristic of Bernabe's design is the relatively consistent sound pressure from bass to treble, allowing the upper register to come naturally to the foreground and enhancing melodic lines. This instrument demonstrates this quality particularly well. Rather than relying on sheer weight or thickness, the bass maintains a clear identity through its contrast with the treble, creating a balanced and spacious tonal field. This works especially well in classical repertoire, where the instrument maintains coherence while responding effectively to contrapuntal textures.

There is no history of major repairs such as cracks or modifications. The original finish is Bernabe's characteristic shellac finish with a thin lacquer layer over the ground, and there is no history of refinishing.

The soundboard has playing marks and scratches overall, with somewhat more concentrated wear in the treble area and below the bridge plate. There is also some finish wear where the player's right elbow contacts the instrument. The back and sides show fine scratches and finish wear from contact with the player's arm and chest, although the remainder remains relatively clean and is consistent with its age.

The back of the neck has age-related finish wear and several minor dents, none of which affect playability. The neck has a very slight forward bow, within a normal range. The frets show wear from the 1st to 8th frets, particularly from the 1st to 5th, but this does not currently affect playability or tone.

The neck has a slim D-shaped profile with a compact feel in the hand. String height is 2.9 mm on the 1st string and 4.1 mm on the 6th string at the 12th fret, with approximately 0.5 mm of saddle remaining. The neck angle is well set, and the string tension is not particularly high, so the instrument feels comfortable in the left hand despite the measured string height.

The original Rubner tuners are fitted and remain fully functional. The body weight is relatively substantial at 1.91 kg.