I recently purchased a 1988 J. Farre classical guitar (in a ukulele shop) while I was on vacation in Maui, Hawaii. Does anyone have any background information on this luthier or know where I might be able to purchase any of his other guitars? The only information I could find on the net was at:
http://www.zavaletas-guitarras.com/f...ernandezCL.htm.
I learned from the owner of that site that J. Farre's full name is Josep Farre Gonzalez. He was born in Barcelona in 1928, making him 79 if he is still living. He started his career as a cabinet-maker, and began making guitars in 1954. In 1956, he went to work at the Juan Estruche guitar factory in Barcelona where he stayed until 1974. He worked at the Tauras guitar factory, where he became the shop foreman. In 1975, he struck out on his own and set up is own workshop on Calle San Felix, Velafranca del Penedes in Barcelona. In addition to guitars, he also built laudes and bandurrias. He claims to have based his guitars on those of Jose Ramirez III, but says he also was influenced by Ignacio Fleta, who he undoubted knew. He retired from guitar making perhaps 10 to 15 years ago.