"My family...my uncles, have been guitar makers all their lives. I started with them when I was very young, around 12 years old or so...I started going with them to make guitars. I learned with them."
~ Vazquez Rubio
Germán Vazquez Rubio began building guitars as a teenager in 1968, the very same year that The Music Emporium first opened its doors. His instruments have been a fixture here since the early 2000s.
We are proud to represent this internationally recognized, award-winning luthier and TME house-fave classical builder.
Rich, Expressive Tone
Whether you're playing classical repertoire or modern fingerstyle, these guitars respond with warmth, clarity, and dynamic nuance - they sing with character and depth.
Luthier-Built Tradition
Each guitar is hand-crafted by German Vazquez Rubio, one of today’s most respected classical and flamenco builders, carrying forward generations of Spanish guitar-making heritage with a personal touch.
Effortless Feel
Vazquez Rubio’s attention to balance, neck profile, and setup makes every instrument feel inviting under the fingers, offering a fluid, articulate playing experience for serious players.
Vazquez Rubio Guitars FAQ
Common questions about Vazquez Rubio classical and flamenco guitars, where to try them near Boston, and how to choose.
Where can I try a Vazquez Rubio guitar near Boston?
The Music Emporium in Lexington, Massachusetts has been carrying Vazquez Rubio guitars since the early 2000s, making us one of his longest-standing U.S. dealers. German Vazquez Rubio began building guitars in 1968 - the very same year The Music Emporium opened its doors - a coincidence that feels fitting given how long his instruments have been a fixture here. We keep a curated Vazquez Rubio selection at our showroom near Boston, open Monday through Friday 11am-5pm and Saturday 10am-5pm.
Who is German Vazquez Rubio?
German Vazquez Rubio is a Los Angeles-based luthier who began learning the craft around age 12 from uncles who had been guitar makers all their lives. He started building professionally in 1968, drawing on a deep family tradition rooted in Spanish guitar making. Today he is internationally recognized and award-winning, respected as one of the finest classical and flamenco guitar builders working in the United States.
What makes Vazquez Rubio guitars special?
Each guitar is built entirely by German himself, drawing on decades of accumulated craft and a family tradition that traces back generations in Spanish lutherie. His instruments are known for warmth, clarity, and dynamic nuance in tone, and for exceptional balance and neck feel under the fingers. Whether the instrument is built for classical repertoire or modern fingerstyle, the response is expressive and articulate at every dynamic level.
What Vazquez Rubio models does The Music Emporium carry?
Current inventory includes three new instruments: the Crossover Estudio Cutaway in European spruce (designed for steel-string players crossing into nylon, with a narrower neck profile and cutaway for upper-register access), the Estudio in cedar over Palo Escrito (a Mexican rosewood species with its own warm, resonant character), and the Hauser model in German spruce over Indian rosewood - a concert-grade instrument built in the tradition of Hermann Hauser I, whose instruments became the standard for classical guitar building in the 20th century.
What is a crossover classical guitar and is it right for me?
A crossover classical guitar is designed to bridge the gap between nylon-string and steel-string playing. Compared to a traditional classical guitar, a crossover typically has a narrower nut width, a flatter fingerboard radius, and sometimes a cutaway - features that feel more familiar to steel-string players. The Vazquez Rubio Crossover Estudio is a good option for players who want the tone and feel of a hand-built nylon string without committing to a full classical neck profile. Our staff can walk you through the differences in person.