Manuel Rodriguez Superior Flamenco Gipsy Kings Yellow

The Spirit of the Gipsy Kings’ Stage Guitars

Part of the SUPERIOR by Manuel Rodriguez series, this guitar asserts a strong Spanish identity. Its design is based on the instruments used on stage by the Gipsy Kings, particularly Nicolas Reyes. The cypress, yellow finishing and GK crown logo on the bridge highlight this heritage without reducing the instrument to its appearance: its construction also focuses on the responsiveness and comfort required for rhythmically engaged playing.

Like the other SUPERIOR instruments, it is handmade in Europe and features a Spanish heel construction. This construction joins the neck and body around the heel, to which the sides are attached. It promotes overall stability and vibration transfer. The water-based gloss varnish and the hand-finished bone nuts and saddles complete a build crafted with close attention to detail.

For Flamenco Rhythm Playing and Expressive Guitarists

This nylon-string acoustic guitar is particularly suited to intermediate and advanced players drawn to flamenco, rumba and accompaniment in the spirit of the Gipsy Kings. It is well suited to rasgueados, percussive chords and melodic lines that need to remain clear within a powerful rhythmic setting. A motivated beginner can also take it on, while bearing in mind its 26-inch / 660 mm scale length, which is longer than that of many classical guitars.

The 50 mm / 1.97-inch nut width provides spacing suited to right-hand fingerwork. The rounded GEWA armrest improves contact between the forearm and the instrument while limiting damping of the top. The impact protection on the top provides additional protection for energetic playing, while the Wittner Flamenco tuning pegs allow for fine tuning without sacrificing the appearance of traditional tuning pegs.

Solid Spruce and Cypress: A Lively, Articulated Response

The solid spruce soundboard top promotes a clean attack, good projection and detailed reproduction of nuances. The cypress back and sides give the instrument a clear, direct tone traditionally sought in flamenco. This combination helps chords retain their definition and allows notes to stand out in fast passages. The back also features a rosewood inlay that enhances its appearance.

The Spanish heel contributes to the instrument’s mechanical continuity, providing a fast response and sustained sustain. The Honduran cedar neck, fitted with a two-way truss rod, carries an ebony key. The vintage oiled bone nut and saddle, hand-adjusted, provide precise bearing points for the strings. The armrest also helps preserve the top’s freedom to vibrate when the forearm rests on the guitar.

The 12-hole Moreno bridge facilitates string tying and reduces the risk of slippage during installation. Its design aims to provide even string pressure on the bridge. The Hannabach 815HTC strings installed in the workshop, featuring carbon trebles, complete this pursuit of precision and presence. The overall design therefore prioritizes clear articulation, making it useful for alternating rhythmic accompaniment with melodic passages.

Recommended Compatible Accessories

To retain the original setup, a set of Hannabach 815HTC strings with carbon trebles is the most straightforward replacement choice. The Manuel Rodriguez Prestige Vipera case is already included, so there is no immediate need to look for a suitable case. Its hygrometer allows you to monitor the humidity around the instrument, an important consideration when caring for a guitar with a solid top.

Technical specifications

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

Type	flamenco-inspired acoustic classical guitar with nylon strings	Bridge	rosewood, Moreno 12-hole design
Back	cypress with rosewood inlay	Bridge decoration	GK crown logo
Sides	cypress	Nut	vintage oiled bone, hand-filed
Construction	Spanish heel	Saddle	vintage oiled bone, hand-filed
Top protection	impact protection	Pegs	Wittner Flamenco fine-tuning pegs
Varnish	high-gloss, water-based	Armrest	GEWA, rounded shape
Neck wood	Honduran cedar	Original strings	Hannabach 815HTC with carbon trebles, made in Germany and fitted in the workshop
Neck reinforcement	ebony inlay	Series	SUPERIOR
Truss rod	dual-action	Manufacture	handmade in Europe
Key	ebony	Inspiration	Spanish guitars used on stage by the Gipsy Kings, notably Nicolas Reyes
Scale length	26 inches / 660 mm	Case	Manuel Rodriguez Prestige Vipera
Nut width	50 mm / 1.97 inches	Case equipment	hygrometer