Andrés González González

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Andrés González González builds alone in his Buenos Aires workshop, and his guitars are a synthesis of the styles of the two great influences on his work, Daniel Friederich and Andrea Tacchi, the latter being, in his own words, his principal mentor. Born in Uruguay, he carries his origins in the most visible place a luthier can put them: his rosette is a tribute to the great Uruguayan artist Joaquín Torres García, creator of Constructive Universalism, and to his friend Abel Carlevaro. And by what Andrés calls a twist of fate, Carlevaro's widow, Vani Leal, has authorized him as the only luthier in the world permitted to build the Carlevaro model, working from the plans drawn for Contreras and Kreul.

He works with three models. The Traditional is built from Friederich's own construction plans, interpreted with his own aesthetics; the balsa core double top is a system he has developed over years into the most personal part of his research; and the Carlevaro model carries that singular authorization. Every guitar stands, as he puts it, on a three legged stool: sound that is resonant, projecting, responsive, and balanced; ergonomics shaped over long hours at the neck, fingerboard, and action until the instrument feels effortless; and craftsmanship, because a guitar is an artistic object as well as a tool. As Friederich put it, the concept of beauty changes with the times, but the concept of something well made remains.

We came to know Andrés's work through his beautiful Instagram photographs, but what truly struck us was hearing Carolina Barenbaum play his balsa core double top: an unmistakable personal identity and an obvious passion for sound run through everything he makes. He builds about nine guitars a year, with a waiting list beyond two years and some of the finest musicians now recommending his work, especially his spruce Traditionals and red cedar double tops. We are proud to represent his guitars exclusively in North America. The first González built for us is being planned together with Andrés now, with workshop photographs to follow along the way, and our expert team is glad to talk with players who want to stay close to it.