Paulino Bernabé Roman (born in 1960) is a world class maker is the son of Paulino Bernabé Almendariz (1932-2007). Paulino literally grew up in his father's shop, and began formally working with his father in the early 1980s. They continued to work side by side until the elder Bernabé died, and over time their work became indistinguishable. Paulino Jr. is a not only a superb craftsman, but is constantly seeking to improve both construction methods and various sound qualities of the guitar. In the years since his father's passing, Paulino has gained international recognition as a world class maker. 

Although the model 5 is the least expensive guitar that Bernabémakes, it is a fully professional concert guitar. As Paulino explained his approach to me, "it takes almost as much time to build an estudio model as it does a top model (artistic decorations aside), so why waste time building a guitar of inferior materials." Even in his model 5, he uses top grade woods that one expects in a concert guitar.  What changes as one goes up his line is that the materials become ever finer, ever rarer, and at the top nearly impossible to find-- woods that may be up to a century or more old-- woods with spectacular grain or unique figures. While there are appreciable differences in quality of sound as one climbs up his latter of models-- heard primarily as increasing clarity and richness of tone--the model 5 offers the same instantly recognizable Bernabé character--a bold, firm Spanish sound, great volume and projection that has earned Bernabé global recognition.