The Spanish luthier José Lopez Bellido was born in Granada in 1943. From childhood, he was drawn to music, and formed a group that toured Spain and other European countries for some years. Tiring of the life on the road,  he began an apprenticeship with Eduardo Ferrer building bandurrias and guitars. He worked for Eduardo Ferrer, on and off, for 14 years, and eventually married one of Eduardo's daughters.

After he left the Casa Ferrer, he worked for a time with his brother Manuel, and also studied with the guitar maker Antonio Marin Montero for a while. In 1968, he established his own shop. Over the years, he has trained Antonio Raya Pardo and Bernd Martin. Jose's guitars are entirely hand crafted, using the traditional system of construction, that of Ferrer, Santos Hernandez, and Ramirez, etc.

His classical and flamenco guitars are used by many famous guitarists in Europe, Japan, and America.