Paracho, Michoacán: a wonderful guitar-making tradition

Paracho has earned its title as the guitar capital of the world. Craftsmen here have produced beautiful hand-made guitars for generations!

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Simply put, Paracho de Verduzco is the guitar capital of the world. There’s generations of luthiers (craftsperson who makes string instruments) living in Paracho who have perfected the art of making México’s emblematic instrument. Top notch artists get their guitars here. There’s even a giant guitar greeting you in this town as you drive in.

In Paracho, you are born into the shop where your family makes guitars. This is how you end up with generations of guitarreros (guitar makers) making guitars there!

A guitarrero learns the skill of making guitars starting in their childhood. Guitar making is a tradition that is passed down from generation to generation.

There’s a guitar festival and competitions that bring out the best of the best in Paracho!

Looking for an authentic Paracho guitar? You can find them in the US through my Monarca Imports project, which directly helps our Michoacán artisans export their are throughout the world!

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Paracho and the movie ‘Coco’

Did you know that a former Paracho resident was called upon by Pixar to design the emblematic guitar used in the movie Coco?

That’s right! German Vazquez, one the most prestigious luthiers in the world, was born in Paracho.

A few years back, the giant guitar that greets visitors entering Paracho showcased the design from this now world-famous guitar.

I’d love to see Ernesto de la Cruz’ and Hector Rivera’s (characters from ‘Coco’) expression when entering Paracho 😊

How did Paracho begin making guitars?

Today, Paracho is known for its luthiers who craft amazing, handmade guitars. We know this is a tradition that has lasted many generations, but, how did it get started?

Vasco de Quiroga

Some believe that the first bishop of Michoacán, Vasco de Quiroga, got it all started.

Dating back to the XVI century, Vasco de Quiroga made a name for himself in México. His contributions to the indigenous people of Michoacán included teaching them a trade while instilling in them Christian values.

The indigenous population found in their bishop the person who protected them and whom they loved and respected as a father, which is why they called him: Tata Vasco.

So the story tells that Paracho’s guitar-making tradition goes back to the 1500’s when Vasco de Quiroga taught this skill to the Purépecha indigenous people of Michoacán.

There’s a monument of Vasco de Quiroga in Paracho’s main square in homage to him, and the skills he taught the Purépecha.

However, more recent studies trace this guitar-making tradition to a different source.

Fustero Amezcua Family

Based on recent studies, and knowing that the guitar is a direct relative of the jarana and túa (guitar-like instruments), it is believed that the Fustero Amezcua family started making modern-day guitars in Paracho at the end of the 19th century.

There are photographs in existence of earlier versions of guitars dating from 1840 to 1918. The Fustero Amezcua stopped making túas and began making a different version of the guitar (guitarra séptima) between 1918-1929.

Later on there was another evolution in the making of the guitar in Paracho coming from Mr. Erasmo Lopez Chacon around 1910~1920, who learned this trade from Mr. Toribio Amezcua Caro and Felipe Fustero (other Mexican luthiers).

In the 1930’s, Mr. Lopez Chacon took a course with Spanish teachers where he learned to build with the style of Mr. Antonio Torres and made what today is known as the modern guitar in Paracho.

Looking for an authentic guitar from the guitar capital of the world? You can find them in the US through my Monarca Imports project, which directly helps our Michoacán artisans!

Travel with Iván

Meeting two generations of Paracho luthiers

When we visited Paracho, we were lucky enough to meet a family during a local guitar competition. The husband, Marco Antonio Alfaro Jimenez, entered his guitar at the competition. It ended up placing in the top 3 of the contest. I ended up purchasing his guitar to give to my dad.

While we were admiring the guitars, Marco Antonio’s daughters were taking care of our little one, who was 2 years old at the time. We stayed in touch during the years, and we are now great friends!

Marco Antonio and his wife Concepción have two daughters. His guitar shop is located in his dad’s house, where he spends hours with his family while making guitars.

Marco Antonio Alfaro Jimenez and his dad, Mr. J. Jesus Alfaro Ceras, have been making guitars for decades. Marco Antonio describes what being born into the shop means to him. He essentially grew up learning how to make a guitar throughout his childhood.

Marco Antonio’s mother and father side of the family are guitarreros. His dad’s family moved to Paracho from San Juan Parangaricutiro after a volcano erupted and covered the town in lava. You can visit this site today, where you can still see remains of the church still standing!

Since then, the family has continued to build beautiful handmade guitars.

Making a guitar

Making a guitar by hand is a very long process that requires a lot of skill. It is imperative to be very precise and patient to make a great instrument.

“The difference between a handmade guitar and a machine-made guitar is that on the handmade guitar you transmit the essence of the person who makes it”

Marco Antonio Alfaro Jimenez, Guitarrero

It all starts with the tapa

The first part of the process to build a guitar is to work on the front part of its body, or tapa, where the sound hole sits. This, along with the rosette, will give the guitar its stunning appearance.

The tapa is entirely done by hand in Marco Antonio’s shop. It takes several hours of precision work to get it done just right. This part of the guitar is essential in defining its character and personality.

The rosette (sound hole)

The ring around the sound hole is called a rosette. The rosette will also give the guitar a very distinctive look. In his premium guitars, Marco Antonio uses a stile from Jose Luis Romanillos, a late Spanish master guitar maker, to adorn the tapa.

Bringing it all together

To bring the whole body together, one must carefully calibrate it to ensure it is going to keep its shape and seal right in order to deliver the right quality of sound. A series of supports or internal fortifications are installed, called huanokuas, which is Purépecha (local dialect in Michoacán from the indigenous people) for ‘bar’ or ‘reinforcement’.

The neck and headstock are then installed. This is the part of the guitar where the fretboard (or finger board) is located. The fretboard is where you will be “fretting” the guitar, which is the act of putting your fingers in the right place nearby the frets to generate the musical notes.

The final touches

Lastly, the guitar is painted and strung. The stain the guitar receives will help enhance the wood’s natural colors. It is during this stage in which the guitar gets the final touches!

Quality control is very important!

As if the process didn’t require high precision already, each step needs to be performed at a specific temperature and humidity level. Humidity is often controlled by heating the shop to ensure the hardness of the wood is managed during the calibration process.

The wood is extremely important. It needs to be hard enough to help drive the sound, but soft enough to be properly molded. Mexican Rosewood is the type of wood you’d find in a nice, quality guitar from Paracho!

Each guitar exhibits its deep roots of Paracho, and the generations of people who work them. Marco Antonio and his father ensure each of their guitars get their personal touch, and showcase the pride that comes with making guitars in Paracho, the guitar capital of the world.

Where to get a guitar from Paracho

You can visit one of the several shops in Paracho, Michoacán, to find your hand-made beauty. However, authentic, handmade guitars made by Marco Antonio can be purchased here in the US!

I’ve partnered up with him to showcase his amazing work to the world through my Monarca Imports project, which benefits artisans from Michoacán. Each purchase directly benefits his and his dad’s shop. His guitars are simply amazing and unique!

Please take a look at Marco Antonio’s guitar collection here in the US!

Monarca Imports has helped a total of 6 families of artisans across Capula, Paracho and Santa Clara del Cobre showcase their beautiful pieces to the rest of the world! It’s my way to help give back.

Visiting Paracho

Paracho is considered a pueblo mágico, and is located about 50 minutes from Uruapan, and about 2 hours from Morelia, Michoacán.

When I visit Michoacán, I generally like to visit Morelia for a few days, and then go to Patzcuaro. From Patzcuaro, Paracho is about 1.5 hours away by car. For more details on what to visit in this state, take a look at my article Top Things to do in Michoacán.

Paracho, like many other towns in México, has a charming main square with a cathedral. There’s also a nice market where I recommend eating. It was tasty!

Collaborators

This article was put together with the help from Marco Antonio Alfaro Jimenez, luthier in Paracho. ¡Gracias, a ti y a toda tu familia, amigo!

Also, the amazing images of the guitar-making process were taken by an Uruapan-based photographer named Gabriel from Gasvy Fotografia. He has been helping me with my Monarca Imports project!

Thanks both for your amazing collaboration, and for your amazing hospitality!

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