Salvador Ibáñez facts for kids

Salvador Ibáñez (born 1854, died 1920) was a famous Spanish luthier. A luthier is a skilled craftsperson who builds or repairs stringed instruments. Salvador Ibáñez was known for making high-quality guitars, ukuleles, mandolins, and other instruments with strings. People really valued his instruments because they were so well-made and looked perfect.

Salvador Ibáñez's Early Career

When Salvador Ibáñez was just eleven years old, he started learning how to build guitars. He became an apprentice in a workshop located on Calle Muela in Valencia. This was the beginning of his journey as a master instrument maker.

In 1870, Salvador Ibáñez officially registered as a guitar maker. His workshop was on Calle Cubells. Two other people worked with him there: ten-year-old José Ibáñez and Magdalena Albiñana y Magraner. Later, in 1888, his name first appeared in business guides. His shop moved to Calle Jordana and then to Calle Ruzafa. From 1896 to 1927, his main shop was at Calle Bajada de San Francisco.

Instruments Ibáñez Created

Salvador Ibáñez made many different types of stringed instruments. He built bandurrias, which are like small mandolins, and lutes. He also made six-string and twelve-string guitars. Some of his guitars even had necks that could be taken off! In 1897, he made something very special: the world's first guitar with two necks.

Between 1915 and 1920, his business was called Salvador Ibáñez e Hijos. This means "Salvador Ibáñez and Sons." They had workshops on Calle Bajada de San Francisco and Calle Padre Rico in Valencia.

When Salvador Ibáñez passed away in 1920, his two sons took over the workshop. They continued to run the business until 1933. That year, they sold the workshop to Telesforo Julve, another instrument maker from Valencia. Julve bought the Salvador Ibáñez name, the workers, and the machines. He then added them to his own company. Even in 1944, Julve was still using the Salvador Ibáñez e Hijos labels on some instruments.

The Ibanez Brand Today

Before World War II, four companies in Japan imported guitars made by Ibáñez. One of the most famous importers was Yamaha. Around the time of the Second World War, a Japanese company called Hoshino Gakki started making its own acoustic guitars. These guitars were for people in Japan.

Hoshino Gakki did not have a business deal with Salvador Ibáñez or Telesforo Julve. However, they decided to sell their acoustic guitars under the name "Ibanez Salvador." Later, they simply called the brand "Ibanez." These "Ibanez" guitars became very popular in the 1970s and 1980s.

Today, Hoshino Gakki still makes both acoustic and electric guitars. They use the Ibanez brand name for all of them. However, they are now mostly known for making electric guitars.

Famous Musicians Who Played Ibáñez Guitars

Some very famous musicians have played guitars made by Salvador Ibáñez.

Julian Bream, a well-known classical guitarist, played a Salvador Ibáñez guitar.

Eric Clapton, a legendary rock guitarist, owned several original Ibáñez guitars. One of his Ibáñez guitars was sold at a special auction in 1999. It sold for a high price of US$42,000!

Sources

• Historic Guitar Markers of the Valencia School at www.zavaletas-guitarras.com
• Telesforo Julve at http://members.upc.nl/a.bogaard241/

José L. Romanillos Vega & Marian Harris Winspear, The vihuela de mano and the Spanish guitar, 2002, Guijosa.

See also

In Spanish: Salvador Ibáñez para niños