NMM 10912.  Guitar by Lorenzo Pimentel, Pimentel & Sons, Albuquerque, New Mexico, June 2001. Grand Concert (classical).  Brazilian RW 6 NSO. Paul Szmanda Collection, 2005. This Grand Concert classical guitar was made in 2001 by Lorenzo Pimentel, marking the 50th anniversary of the instrument-making workshop he founded with his wife, Josefina. To mark the occasion, the guitar features a gold 50 set with diamonds on the headstock. Originally from Durango, Mexico, Pimentel studied guitar making with his brothers in Ciudad Juárez before moving to Carlsbad, California, in 1951. While initially working as a baker, he began to make guitars. In 1962, the Pimentels moved to Albuquerque, where the business is still located. Today Lorenzo builds instruments with four of his sons, Rick, Robert, Agustin, and Victor. Gustavo and Hector work as professional guitarists, based in Albuquerque. The Pimentels’ work is characterized by fine woods, artistic inlays, and innovative construction. Note:  Click on any image on this page to see an enlargement. Front, Side, and Back Views Inscriptions:  Printed in brown ink on paper label, the text superimposed over faint image of vihuela and lute, with single line border, the given names, model, serial number, and dates written in blue ballpoint pen: L. Pimentel / PIMENTEL / OF ALBUQUERQUE / 50 / Model Grand Concert / Serial No. Brazilian RW. 6 NSO [sic] / Date June 2001 Signed in silver ink on back of peghead, under finish:  Especially Made for / Paul Zmanda / By / Pimentel & [ampersand in form of E with vertical line] Sons / 2001 Inlaid in 14k gold on head with four meleé diamonds set into the number, 5: 50 Inscription Images Front and Back Views of the Body Soundboard:  two-piece German spruce, fine grain. Back:  two-piece book-matched Brazilian rosewood. Ribs:  two-piece, book-matched Brazilian rosewood. Head:  slotted, mahogany peghead veneered with triple-layer rosewood over holly over rosewood. Neck:  Honduran mahogany; flared heel. Fretboard, Peghead, Neck, and Bridge Trim:  Heel cap:  rosewood. Fingerboard:  African ebony; 19 nickel-silver frets under E-, B-, A-, E-strings; 18 nickel-silver frets under G- and D-strings. Nut:  bone. Bridge:  Brazilian rosewood; bone saddle; rectangular abalone inlay on string anchor surrounded by 14k gold wire and blue-dyed holly strips, and bone edging. Tuners:  two sets of Waverly gold-plated, steel, worm-gear, machine heads with white plastic rollers, ebony heads with turquoise cabochons set in ends, the plates stamped with floral design, the upper end of plates terminating in lyres. Endpin:  none. Finish:  clear. Neck Heel, Soundhole, End Graft Inlay:  Binding:  rosewood with four-ply, blue-dyed holly, 14k gold, red-dyed holly, and ebony purfling strip trim on top, three-ply holly and ebony purfling strip trim on ribs and back. Rosette:  light hardwood, red-dyed hardwood, blue-dyed hardwood, ebony, and 14k gold square custom mosaic with S motif, surrounded on each side by strips of ebony, blued-dyed holly, 14k gold, and thin mosaic comprised of alternating, angled strips of holly and ebony. Back stripe:  rosewood strip surrounded on each side with two strips of holly and one strip of ebony purfling. Head inlay:  purfling (ebony-14k gold-ebony) along sides; 14k gold 50 on head with four meleé diamonds set into 5. End graft:  rosewood strip surrounded on each side with two strips of holly and one strip of ebony purfling. Interior:  Linings:  kerfed Spanish cedar. Neck block:  Spanish cedar; extended foot on back side. End block:  spruce, the grain running perpendicular to plane of top and back. Top bracing:  spruce ladder braces; two braces in lower bouts parallel to center joint; soundhole reinforced with dark brown softwood. Back braces:  three Spanish cedar back braces. Back graft:  Spanish cedar. Measurements:  Total guitar length:  1018 mm (40″) Back length:  505 mm (19-11/16″) Upper bout width:  294 mm (11-3/4″) Waist width:  248 mm (9-13/16″) Lower bout width:  381 mm (15-5/32″) Rib height (including edging) at heel:  99 mm (3-31/32″) Rib height, at waist:  100 mm (4-1/8″) Rib height, at end block:  100 mm (4-3/32″) Head length:  184 mm (7-5/16″) Head width, top:  79 mm (2-31/32″) Head width, bottom:  67 mm (2-13/16″) Neck length (nut to ribs):  328 mm (12-29/32″) Neck width, nut:  52 mm (1-15/16″) Neck width, heel:  62 mm (2-3/8″) Soundhole diameter:  86 mm (3-3/8″) Vibrating string length (nut to bridge edge):  high E:  660 mm (23-5/8″); low E:  659 mm (24-19/32″) Return to Pimentel Guitar Checklist National Music Museum The University of South Dakota 414 East Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 ©National Music Museum, 2006 Most recent update: October 23, 2007 You are the 368th visitor to this page since October 12, 2006 The University of South Dakota Return to Top of Page