Manuel Rodriguez Exótica Santos Pavo Real Electro-Acoustic Spruce/Santos EX-SS-EA glossy

Exótica ACADEMIA: A "Madrid Heritage" Classical Modernized for the Stage

Within the Manuel Rodríguez family, the direction is clear: preserve the DNA of the traditional Spanish classical guitar while meeting the current needs of musicians. The ACADEMIA Exótica series follows this philosophy by highlighting luthiery inspired by the Madrid school (workshop linked to Madrid since 1905), with a finish level aiming at "accessible high-end" for the discerning guitarist.

This Exótica Santos Pavo Real Gloss edition embraces a very distinctive aesthetic, driven by Santos rosewood and an eco-friendly high-gloss polyurethane finish. The luthiery details reinforce the impression of a carefully crafted instrument: wood mosaic rosette, body purflings in genuine mahogany wood, and a Santos veneered headstock that extends the visual identity of the body. Most importantly, it retains a central element of the traditional classical guitar: the genuine Spanish heel, appreciated for the sense of vibrational coherence between neck and body.

To this traditional base, Manuel Rodríguez adds decidedly contemporary choices: cutaway for easier access to high registers, GEWA armrest for comfort, and integrated electronics designed to amplify nylon strings without altering the acoustic balance. The result: an electro-acoustic classical guitar designed to transition from the living room to the stage with equal ease.

Who Is the Exótica Santos Pavo Real For?

This 4/4 electro-acoustic classical guitar primarily targets intermediate to advanced guitarists seeking an expressive, reliable instrument ready to be amplified. The 4/4 size and "classical tradition" playing markers make it a comfortable foundation for working on right-hand precision, voice clarity, and dynamic control, while maintaining true ease of adaptation for musicians coming from electro-acoustic folk guitars.

The cutaway changes the game as soon as playing requires exploring higher positions: melodies at the top of the neck, fingerstyle arrangements on nylon, Latin solo passages, or modern runs reaching the highest frets. Style-wise, it excels in classical repertoire, Latin, ballads, and fingerstyle on nylon strings, whether played acoustically or plugged in for rehearsals and on stage.

With its standard scale length and classical-style nut width, it maintains a pleasant string spacing: an asset for arpeggios, tremolo, tight left-hand chord work, and overall improved control and intonation. It encourages clean playing while remaining sufficiently "modern" ergonomically to support regular practice.

Clear and Structured Sound, From Acoustic Playing to Amplification

The sonic personality of this Exótica is primarily based on its solid European spruce top. On a classical guitar, spruce is prized for its clarity and responsiveness: notes start quickly, attacks are crisp, and the guitar maintains excellent clarity when layering basses, inner voices, and melody. This is exactly the type of response expected for working on dynamics, finger articulations, and phrasing in both classical repertoire and contemporary arrangements.

The back and sides in Santos rosewood (laminated) complement this foundation by providing a sense of depth and harmonic richness. The laminate also offers a very practical daily advantage: good body stability and increased resistance to environmental changes, while preserving a full and "enveloping" sound that enhances bass and supports treble.

The construction with a genuine Spanish heel contributes to the feeling of a "single-block" instrument, with homogeneous vibration transmission between neck and body. In practice, this translates into a sense of coherence across the entire range, easy-to-control dynamics, and natural sustain that helps melodic lines sing. To ensure intonation accuracy, the compensated bridge is a real plus: intonation remains more stable, which is immediately noticeable on sustained chords and high-position passages.

Plugged in, the guitar relies on the duo of MR by ARTEC SQ-3 preamp and Solid-Flex pickup, designed to respect the balance of a classical guitar. The goal is to maintain a natural sound without harshness, with a response suitable for live performance and recording. This setup is ideal for guitarists wanting to simplify their rig (less dependence on external microphones) while retaining a credible "nylon" identity, especially for fingerstyle playing and subtle dynamics.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To stay as close as possible to the original feel and sound balance, prioritize high-tension nylon strings in a classic 4/4 format. This model comes equipped with Hannabach 815HTC Silver Special (CARBON trebles): choosing the same gauge is a safe option if you want the same feel under the fingers, the same attack, and a consistent response when plugged in.

Technical specifications

Type	4/4 electro-acoustic classical guitar	Fingerboard	ovangkol
Top	solid spruce (European spruce)	Bridge	ovangkol, 6 holes
Back and sides	Santos rosewood (Machaerium Scleroxylon), laminated	Nut	vintage bone (ivory color)
Cutaway	yes	Saddle / inlay	vintage bone (ivory color)
Armrest	GEWA	Compensated bridge	yes
Rosette mosaic	wood	Tuners	gold-plated, black buttons and shafts (with or without lyre depending on model)
Body purflings	genuine mahogany wood	Strings	Hannabach 815HTC Silver Special with CARBON trebles, high tension, made in Germany
Finish	eco-friendly polyurethane varnish, high gloss	Preamp	MR by ARTEC SQ-3
Neck	mahogany	Pickup	Solid-Flex
Genuine Spanish heel	yes	Series	ACADEMIA
Scale length	25.6" / 650 mm	Model	EX-SS-EA Exótica Santos Pavo Real Gloss
Nut width	2.05" / 52 mm	Manufacture	Europe
Headstock	Santos veneered