Malaga is just over an hour away from Granada so yesterday I popped down to check out “Guitar Fair” to see if next year I should plan to go.  Very well organized and nice looking, there were two separate spaces, one for acoustic instruments and the other for electric.  I have to say I was pleased to see lots of public and a nice atmosphere.  Here is a photo of Andres Marvi in front of his stand.   I am still not convinced that it is the place for fine classical guitars for a number of reasons.  The noise from the electric pavillion was such that it was not possible to try out a classical or flamenco guitar and also I am never happy to see the distinctions so blurred between guitars made in an individual shop and mass production.  There were “luthiers” who operate factories, “luthiers” who sell guitars with their own labels made by factories alongside guitar-makers who build and sign their own work.  It seems to me that the two are not in the same class and the lines should be very clear.

I happened to visit on the day that the organization was giving its awards for contributions to music and lutherie and the photo shows my first teacher José Ángel Chacón accepting his award for his work both as an educator and a builder.  All in all a great initiative on the part of José Luis Mármol and with luck we will see it again next year with some positive changes.