0’s Collection
Built by Pepe Romero
This guitar collection was a great idea that my father, Pepe, had as soon as I made my first guitar and decided that I would dedicate myself to building guitars. I have been blessed to find the career that I feel that I was meant to do and that I absolutely love. I made my first guitar with Dake Traphagen as a way to honor my grandfather Celedonio. When we strung that first guitar in Dake’s workshop I knew that I had found my professional future. I was lucky enough to go on to study with Manuel Contreras II, José Romanillos, Miguel Rodríguez, Yuris Zelins and most extensively with Edmund Blöchinger.
I am inspired by the incredible guitars which I grew up with made by Miguel Rodríguez, Santos Hernández, Domingo Esteso and Antonio de Torres. I have my own way of building which is a result of all of my incredible teachers and the great guitars that I grew up with. My father, uncles Celín and Ángel, and cousins Celino and Lito have given me priceless feedback on almost every guitar that I have made which has helped me immensely to grow as a builder.
I dedicate every guitar that I build to my grandfather Celedonio who never got to play a guitar of mine, but who I know is with me in spirit.
- Pepe Romero
photos by Felix Salazar
