El Taller
I build my instruments using techniques and procedures which follow the traditional art of lutherie. Also, each material answer for each instrument:
Wood
UI use selected and properly seasoned wood. This means that, after the acquisition, wood planks are stored to dry naturally in the air without artificial heating which can change cell structure. Every piece of every instrument I build is carefully studied before choosing what kind of wood using and how to cut it (grain running, rings disposition, etc ...). I also always choose historical criteria such as commercial inventories to know what species were traded in each period and which were used to build instruments. Again, instruments preserved in museums give us very valuable information in this regard. So, to make the body, I use mainly European woods such as cypress, maple, birch, pear, walnut, cherry, linden... but also other from America, Africa or Asia, like Rosewood or Pao Ferro.
For tops I use almost exclusively European Spruce (Picea Abies), because it has the best characteristics and mechanical acoustic sound between all species. In the case of items subject to increased wear or mechanical stress, such as pegs, fingerboards, nut, tailpiece, or buttons, it becomes necessary to use highly resistant materials such as ebony, boxwood, pear... and even bone or horn. Due to the over-harvesting and industrial production, some materials such as ivory, tortoiseshell, and some species of tropical timber are near of extinction and its trade is now prohibited. In these cases I use substitutes that match similar aesthetic and/or acoustic role. It is the duty of everyone to do and demand fair trade and use these materials with respect to the enjoyment of generations to come. "Land is not inherited from our parents, is a loan from our children" (Seattle Red Leather Chief).
Glue
I use animal glue of high quality and purity, obtained from tendons, bones or skin. Each has different properties and I try to use them accordingly. It is diluted in distilled water bath not over 65 ยบ C for not breaking its molecular structure. However, I also use some modern aliphatic resin for gluing thin joints, because it gives high strength and an acceptable acoustical response.
Finishes
The purpose of finishing is to seal the surface of the instrument against moisture and wearing caused by use while highlighting the wood color and grain. I use organic compounds made by dissolving natural resins in alcohol or boiled linseed oil. An example is the shellac that is used in traditional guitar making and which is applied in thin layers with a pad (French polish). Also in this area I try to respect the historical criteria, for example, for medieval instruments I find much more coherent to apply beeswax or oil finish (Tung, Danish, Camelia...), giving a more natural and pleasant finish to the pieces.