Manuel Rodriguez Superior Flamenco Gipsy Kings Red

The Gipsy Kings spirit within the SUPERIOR series

With this nylon-string acoustic guitar, Manuel Rodriguez brings the spirit of its SUPERIOR series to a version inspired by the Spanish instruments played by the Gipsy Kings. The reference to Nicolas Reyes clearly defines its character: an expressive guitar designed to carry rhythmic patterns and accompany the voice. Its red finishing and GK crown logo on the bridge give it an immediately recognizable visual identity.

Handcrafted in Europe, the SUPERIOR series highlights woods with elegant grain patterns and a traditional Spanish heel construction. This construction joins the neck and body around the heel, into which the sides are integrated. It contributes to the instrument's stability and to the transmission of vibrations between its various parts, beyond its purely decorative aspect.

A guitar for flamenco rhythms and vocal accompaniment

This Manuel Rodriguez is particularly suited to intermediate and advanced guitarists looking for a characterful guitar for flamenco, rumba and Spanish music. It is ideal for accompaniment where chords need to remain clear, as well as for rasgueados and alternations between rhythmic passages and melodic phrases. A motivated beginner can also take to it, bearing its dimensions in mind.

Its 660 mm / 25.98-inch scale length provides generous vibrating length, something to consider if you are used to a shorter instrument. The 50 mm / 1.97-inch nut width leaves plenty of room for articulating notes with the fingers. The rounded GEWA armrest improves contact with the right forearm, while the top protector safeguards this area exposed to percussive playing techniques.

Solid spruce and cypress: attack and clarity

The solid spruce top promotes a precise response and well-defined attacks. It brings out the nuances between light accompaniment and more forceful playing. Cypress back and sides are a traditional combination for flamenco guitars: they contribute to a direct and clear response, helping preserve the definition of fast rhythmic patterns.

The Spanish heel contributes to the instrument's vibrational cohesion, with a fast response and sustained sustain. The GEWA armrest also plays an acoustic role: by limiting contact between the arm and the top, it prevents the arm from directly damping its vibrations. Projection is therefore less hindered by the position of the arm while playing.

The nut and bridge saddles, hand-shaped from oiled vintage bone, provide precise contact points for the strings. The 12-hole Moreno bridge facilitates string anchoring and is designed to ensure even pressure on the bridge. Hannabach 815HTC strings installed in the workshop, with carbon trebles, complete the setup by providing clear articulation for melodic lines.

Practical details for playing and maintaining your instrument

The neck of this model is made from Honduran cedar and features a double-action truss rod for adjusting its curvature. Wittner Flamenco fine-tuning pegs make tuning corrections easy while retaining an appearance suited to the instrument's aesthetics. The water-based gloss varnish highlights the red finishing and the grain patterns of the woods.

Recommended compatible accessories

To maintain the original string configuration, choose a set of Hannabach 815HTC with carbon trebles, identical to the set installed in the workshop. The supplied Manuel Rodriguez Prestige Vipera case eliminates the need to search separately for a suitable case. Its hygrometer allows you to monitor the humidity around the instrument, an important consideration when caring for a solid-top guitar.

Technical specifications

Format	4/4	Fingerboard	Ebony
Special feature	Flamenco	Neck Type	Glued
Strings	nylon	Electroacoustic	No
Nbr of strings	6	Color	Red
Top	Spruce	Finishing	Glossy
Back&Sides	Cypress	Hardware	Black

Type	flamenco-inspired nylon-string acoustic guitar	String attachment system	12-hole Moreno bridge
Soundboard	solid spruce	Nut	hand-shaped, oiled vintage bone
Back	cypress with rosewood inlay	Saddle	hand-shaped, oiled vintage bone
Ribs	cypress	Tuners	Wittner Flamenco tuning machines with fine adjustment
Construction	Spanish heel	Factory-fitted strings	Hannabach 815HTC with carbon trebles
Top protection	impact protection	String manufacture	Germany
Armrest	GEWA, rounded shape	Series	SUPERIOR
Neck wood	Honduran cedar	Manufacture	handmade in Europe
Neck adjustment	dual-action truss rod	Inspiration	Spanish guitars used on stage by the Gipsy Kings, notably Nicolas Reyes
Key	ebony	Case	Manuel Rodriguez Prestige Vipera
Scale length	660 mm / 25.98 inches	Case reference	GEWA 523.760MR
Nut width	50 mm / 1.97 inches	Case equipment	hygrometer
Bridge	rosewood with GK crown logo