Biography
German Vazquez Rubio (also known as G.V. Rubio) is one of the most talented and prestigious luthiers in the world today. 2018 marks his 50th anniversary as a luthier and in the course of his career he has developed his own signature sound that guitarists have come to love.
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German was born in 1952 in Paracho, Mexico where there is an abundance of fine luthiers (with few exceptions all of the finest guitars in Mexico come from Paracho). German’s first formal training began at eleven years old when he joined his uncle Manuel Rubio at his workshop. There, even at his tender age he made a conscious decision to make guitar building his life’s profession. In 1968 at the age of sixteen he made his first concert level guitar (hence his label reads “desde 1968”). German has since been able to learn from many different master builders susch as Felix Manzanero, Jose Romanillos, David Daly, and Thomas Humphrey.
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German now resides in los Angeles, California where he works out of his shop. He is a very quiet and humble person with an insatiable work ethic. He makes several different models and believes that “the guitarist is always right’ and will custom make each guitar to the preference of the customer. His workshop is always open to the public so you can see him working on your guitar at every stage of construction. German is also available for guest lectures and lessons at his shop in Los Angeles.
Disney / Pixar's Coco Guitar
Most recently German was chosen by Cordoba Guitars and Disney / Pixar to make the real life Coco guitar for the now academy award winning Pixar film Coco. Tim Mcklaucic CEO of Cordoba Guitars says he approached German because he feels "He is the finest luthier in North America."
Disney / Pixar invited German to the Disney lot to see the unfinished Coco movie in partial storyboard format to understand the concept of the movie. After that German received several renderings of the Coco guitar to begin his design.
Pixar came to the Vazquez Shop in Los Angeles to film "The Making of the Real Guitar" found on the special features of the Coco Blu Ray also featuring Ernesto Nemesio one of the Artists that helped design the animated coco guitar. In 2017 after nine months of investigation and developement German produced Real Coco guitar No. 1.
The Coco guitar is custom made from top to bottom with custom one of a kind colors, abalone shell and 24k gold inlays, as well as woods from German's own esteemed reserve stock. Per request of Cordoba guitars each Coco guitar is made to function as a world class concert guitar with the sonic properties you would expect from German Vazquez Rubio's elite concert models.
The real Coco guitars have been exhibited in the Pixar museum as well as museums in Mexico and Conventions like D23 and the 2018 winter NAMM. Esteemed guitarist Federico Ramos performed the Oscar winning song "Recuerdame" with Real Coco guitar No. 3 on the 2018 Academy Awards show with Gael Garcia Bernal. Media outlets from China to South America have conducted numerous interviews with German and it has helped thrust him into the world spotlight.
German has received much acclaim for his work with Disney especially in his home town of Paracho, Michoacan Mexico. On February 2018 the municipality of Paracho held a two day event in honor of German for his contribution to the renewed tourism and increased economic income of the town. The event included a host of activities including a parade, classical guitar recital, cultural performances, museum exhibit, autograph signing sessions, and award ceremony. A traditional hand made hot air balloon called "globo de cantoya" was also made and released in his honor. It was a magnanimous event that left German and his family speechless and very touched.
German was commissioned to make a limited number of twenty real Coco guitars which were all sold before their construction.
SHOP PERSONNEL
ARMAND ARNAZZI
Armand Arnazzi is the Managing Director for German Vazquez Rubio Guitars and has been working with German since 2000. Trained in classical and flamenco guitar and having a nose for business he is considered in invaluable asset by German. Aside from being in charge of sales, pricing, and logistics, he is also integral to new guitar design and development as well as the hiring of personnel, public relations, and marketing. Armand studied classical guitar at SDSU under Brian Kilmer and Fred Bennedetti and was also a student of Flamenco guitarist Paco Arroyo.
Armand continues to perform and record professionally on a regular basis.
ANTHONY VAZQUEZ ALVAREZ
Anthony Vazquez Alvarez is German's nephew. Son of luthier Ruben Vazquez Rubio, Anthony was introduced to the art of lutherie when he was very young. His father Ruben would give him chores of cutting abalone shell inlays, and prepping wood for building. As a young teenager Anthony began working in German's shop and has since become one of German's most experienced apprentices. Some of Anthony's responsibilities at the shop involve french polish of shellac and nitrocellulose lacquer finish repair, as well as helping with construction of German's Estudio model.