Mario Romero was born in Montellano, Sevilla in 1977. He is the son of Manuel Romero Macias (b. 1935), and was trained by his father. Mario has taken over his father’s workshop, now that the elder Romero has retired. Like his father, Mario is an old school luthier, building entirely by hand. As a guitar maker, his guitars take inspiration from those of Santos Hernandez (1874-1943). Manuel Romero uses prime materials to make his guitars—as this guitar truly illustrates. The top is made of premium grade German spruce , and has an almost crystalline purity of tone. It is perfectly quarter sawn, with nice medular rays running cross the fairly tight grain. The wood has been obviously drying for decades, and is already open and transparent. The back and sides are made with a spectacular example of Madagascar rosewood. This guitar sings in every register, and has wonderful basses, a responsive mid-range, and lyrical, full, rich trebles.