ALBUQUERQUE, NM (ANS) -- Sitting on the corner of Lafayette and Aztec Rd. in the Monte Alta neighborhood, stands one of Albuquerque’s finest institutions: Pimentel and Sons, Inc.

Lorenzo Pimentel, Guitar Maker

What began as a one-man business in 1951 has now turned into a family company with over 8 employees, making some of the finest, hand-made guitars in the world.

Lorenzo Pimentel established Pimentel Guitars after years of guitar apprenticeship in Mexico and Texas.

According to Lorenzo, “he had never played a guitar, let alone worked on one, before joining his half brothers at a guitar workshop in Juarez, Mexico.” It was in Mexico he learned the basics of guitar workmanship.

After leaving Mexico for El Paso, Texas, Lorenzo began to work at a bakery, and part time, for a guitar repair shop. It was in Texas Lorenzo made his first guitar. Though, as he confesses, “it stood like the leaning Tower of Pisa.”

Later, he, and his young family, left Texas for New Mexico.

The Pimentel Luthiers

As was his custom at the time, he worked at a bakery and a guitar workshop. Taking up residence in Carlsbad, New Mexico he began to build guitars for friends and family. The demand for his work began to increase. It was in Carlsbad that Lorenzo decided that he wanted to make guitars over bread.

In 1962, after a vacation to Albuquerque (where “he fell in love with the mountains”), Lorenzo moved his family to the Duke City.

In Albuquerque, Lorenzo was able to find a job at a bakery, but later left the bakery for full-time guitar craftsmanship, establishing his workshop in the heart of New Mexico’s largest city.

Now, almost 82 years old, Lorenzo has his guitars in museums, in the hands of some of the finest classical and flamenco guitar players around, as well collectors spread throughout the world.

Yet, as Lorenzo reminds me, “I want to make the best guitars in the world. I don’t want to rest on what I have done. I continue to seek a perfect and beautiful sound.”

As I write this, the State of New Mexico has legislation on its agenda to make the Pimentel and Sons guitars the official state guitar.

Not too bad for a fellow that never played a guitar when he started creating his masterpieces.

Lorenzo Pimentel is known for fine workmanship on the whole guitar. He is especially recognized, however, for his rosettes- the artistic inlay surrounding the sound hole.

One rosette, in particular, stands out: The Chimayo Rosette.

The Chimayo Church, New Mexico

According to Lorenzo, he was at a Church service in the historic, Chimayo Church, known as the El Santuario de Chimayo. Chimayo is a name that comes from the Tewa Indian word for “landmark.”

The Chimayo Church is what some call, “the most important pilgrimage in the United States.” It receives over 300,000 visitors per year.

As Lorenzo watched men and women sprinkled dust (a tradition at the Church), he noticed beautiful patterns of crosses and crowns.

Lorenzo took that image from the Church, and began to create a rosette for his guitars. The result was striking.

Since that time, Pimentel and Sons have garnered many acknowledgments and awards for the beautiful, artistic inlay work, a tradition the craftsman still adhere to today.

As I was given a tour of the workshop by Rick Pimentel, I had the opportunity to interview the other brothers, and later, Lorenzo, himself.

I couldn’t help but think that this workshop is one of the last old-world, handcrafted, guitar luthiers in the country.

To me, Pimentel and Sons is not just a state treasure, but also a national treasure, representing excellent craftsmanship, history, and just as importantly, the humanity of work well done.

To learn more about Pimentel and Sons, go to the 5 part You Tube interview at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfSoT1wlUV8

Brian Nixon is a pastor, writer, musician, and family man. He currently lives in Albuquerque, New Mexico.