Manuel Delgado is a third-generation Mexican-American luthier devoted to traditional styles of string instrument construction. Manuel considers himself part of the “Old World Luthier” tradition because he builds instruments by hand, using old methods with very little to no use of power tools. Manuel makes over 40 different types of musical instruments, including bajo quintos, baja sextos, jaranas, vihuelas, guitarrones, jarachos, requinto romántico, Hawaiian ukuleles, bouzoukis, dobros, classical guitars, and more. With each, he forgoes the use of molds, standard forms, or CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machines. For Delgado, every piece of wood is unique and is treated individually. Manuel explains, “It is a dying art because everything is done by machine and mass production now.”
The Delgado family began building stringed instruments in 1928 in Torreón, Mexico. Manuel’s grandfather, and then great uncle and father, made handmade guitars and other string instruments, eventually moving the shop to Juarez, Mexico, and from there to East Los Angeles. Manuel began working in the shop at age seven and built his first guitar by the time he was twelve. Manuel picked up the mantel of the family trade in the late 1990s. In 2005, he moved the business to Nashville. His instruments are highly sought after and have been sold to members of Los Lobos, Old Crow Medicine Show, Arlo Guthrie, Ozomatli, and many other notable musicians. In addition to his work as a luthier, Manuel is also an active community member and arts leader. While he makes instruments used across genres, he sees the specific opportunity his art form plays in highlighting Latino music. He explains, “I believe this is an important role for the Latino community and it brings a pride to our community when our business is celebrated for the accomplishments we have in the world of multiple genres of music, many of which historically do not recognize the Latino/Hispanic influence.”
Apprentice Lila Delgado, Manuel’s nine-year-old daughter, desires to continue the family business and art form with the same devotion to craftsmanship as those who have preceded her. Like her older sister, she would also like to build her first instrument at 9-years-old. Lila has been watching her father and her sister and is eager to begin her journey of instrument building: “I want to work on my first complete instrument because it is important to me to keep my family’s tradition going. My goal is to build a ukulele and beat my sister’s record!”
