Marian
(Made and dated on the label to 2006)
“Marian” is played on the disc by Antigoni Goni in La Maja de Goya, Alborada, l’hereu Riera, Danza española No. 6 Rondalla aragonesa, and Valses poéticos.
“Marian” was specifically built as José’s own personal instrument. From the very beginning of his career he always wanted to make a guitar for himself, and in fact he built his first guitar for that reason. But somehow he never could manage to keep one of his guitars permanently for his own use, always passing them on to guitarists more gifted than he was. Finally, after nearly fifty years, this guitar was built and kept as his very own. He dedicated it with two handwritten notes inside the guitar to his wife Marian, who supported him for so many years in every respect. A third handwritten note stated that it was partly assembled during the summer course in 2007.
On the old-style label the printed location “Semley. Wits.” is visible under the handwritten location “Guijosa”, to the upper edge the name of the guitar “Marian”, in the center the signature of the maker and the year “2006”, all handwritten by the maker.
The guitar consists of 2-piece book-matched soundboard from spruce (Picea excelsa) with slightly irregular straight grain and multiple marks of “Bearclaw-spruce” (germ. “Haselfichte”). The rosette with the “Arches of the Mezquita” motive.
The 2-piece book-matched back and the sides in perfect straight grained spanish Cypress (Cupressus sempervivens).
The neck from Spanish Cedar (Cedrela odorata) is joined to the head in a so-called V-joint. The front of the head is plated with rosewood and decorated with a center strip.
Copyright text © Gerhard Oldiges